Post-traumatic stress disorder or as is commonly called, PTSD, is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some of the symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about a terrifying event.
Some who have gone through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. Symptoms can sometimes get worse, last for months or even years, and may interfere with day-to-day functioning.
By getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop is critical in reducing symptoms and improve function.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with LCol Chris Linford (Ret'd) who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 33 years. During his service, he completed three operational deployments - The Gulf War in 1991, Rwanda in 1994, and Afghanistan from 2009-2010.
In 2004, he was diagnosed with PTSD. With proper treatment, he returned to health and went back out serving his country. While serving in Afghanistan, his PTSD returned. This led to him writing a book about his experience - “Warrior Rising- A Soldier’s Journey to PTSD and Back” which was published in 2013.
Today, he and his wife Kathryn are National Ambassadors of Wounded Warriors Canada, a national charity providing innovative programming for veterans and first responders with PTSD and their spouses/partners. They are actively involved in promoting Wounded Warriors Canada programs called “COPE” or Couples Overcoming PTSD Every Day and the Trauma Resiliency Program or TRP.
Tune in to listen to LCol Linford's story. His years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, PTSD, the specific event that caused it, getting better, the return of PTSD, and the impact on his family. He shares tips to help those suffering from PTSD, Wounded Warriors' COPE and TRP programs and their impact and how someone who is suffering from PTSD can be a part of these programs.
You can help support these programs and the work that Wounded Warriors Canada is doing by donating at WoundedWarriors.ca or subscribe to Vanguard magazine, the organisation behind this podcast. We recently partnered with Wounded Warriors Canada to give a portion of each subscription to our bi-monthly magazine to them to help support Canada’s ill and injured Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders, and their families.
Go to vanguardcanada.com/subscription, to subscribe today to help support a great cause.