Summary: PTSD has always been associated with military trauma. The sacrifices that our military men and women make once leaving the military continues throughout their lives, especially for those who suffer from symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Only as recently as 1981 has PTSD been officially recognized as a mental illness, and since 9/11 has it become more widely acknowledged in the civilian population as well. PTSD Statistics show that up to 8% of the population is suffering from its crippling effects at any given time. Suffering from PTSD doesn’t mean you can’t live a brilliant, rewarding life and positively influence others who share the same illness. It just means you have to find creative options for how to reduce stress of PTSD symptoms and feel better so that you can live a life you enjoy. My guest on today’s show is a combat veteran who found himself physically and emotionally on the verge of breaking. Unlike so many battles before, this one was different. He was fighting the physical and emotional battles of PTSD without the assistance or direction that he so needed. Determined not to lose this war, Chris Crawford decided to change how he approached life as a whole; he found healing through natural means. Today, Chris shared the secrets and successes that anyone can realize if they commit themselves to changing direction. Next on the show I talked to combat veteran Scott Lee. Scott joined me to discuss how, even as he continues his journey to heal, he is actively helping other veterans find their joy and passion through the arts. As the Project Director of Veterans PTSD Project, he provides a means for the culimination of “Military Experience and the Arts” which encourages creative, cathartic expression by military veterans as well as peer-reviewed scholarship about veterans issues. About my guests: Chris Crawford is a 100% service connected disabled vet with PTSD, TBI and other issues including stomach and respiratory ailments. He is also herbalist. At his peak of 18 pills, a breathing machine, a rescue inhaler, and no help from the VA, Chris decided to take control of his own health and is now 100% medication free. He is a certified Reiki practitioner and is self-taught in acupressure and therapeutic massage to use on himself and others in place of invasive and harmful treatments. Chris has no products to sell but rather chooses to teach others the art of self-healing. Scott Lee is an Army veteran and blogger who writes about veteran’s issues at PTSD: A Soldier’s Perspective. Recently as a freelance writer he joined the staff of Heroes Fallen Studios, Inc. interviewing Korean War veterans for a graphic novel project commissioned by the Department of Defense.
