Photo Credit: Tessa Reisner
(*This article is about a very sensitive topic, and the information was gathered with utmost care. This article may cause triggers.*) Losing loved ones, the loss of limb or body parts, sexual assault, everyone has gone through something traumatic. Officer Gailey, a police officer and a teacher at Bear River High School said,“As first responders we see things no one should have to see.” Post-traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD is a real problem that no one can get away from. Even though we know about its effects and ways to treat it, PTSD still takes its toll on the lives of first responders, veterans, and even students who have experienced something traumatic. PTSD can affect anyone for so many different reasons. Brandon Webecke experiences PTSD when he drives. Here is his story: Two years ago, on I-15, heading home from a concert, my mom and I saw a car swerve, a flash of something, and then another car run off the road. We stopped to help because my mom is an EMT. The driver wasn’t moving. He appeared lifeless; he had been shot in the head. Next to the man was his college-age son. I tried to calm the son down as my mom gave medical attention to stop the bleeding. We waited until the cops and ambulance got there. We had no idea where the shooter went and if he would come back to finish the job. After that day, I can't get rid of the sight of the man slumped over in the driver's seat, or his son trying to wake him. PTSD happens unexpectedly, you can’t plan for it. Traumas that can lead to PTSD may include: violent assaults, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, fires or natural disasters, automobile accidents, senseless acts of violence, and other shocking events. Students can experience a wide range of traumatic events that can affect them in many harsh ways. Some traumas can affect students individually. Other traumatic events can affect an entire school. PTSD-like symptoms can begin at different times depending on the person. It can range anywhere from right after the trauma, to weeks or months after it. Students with PTSD may show the following: they may seem irritable, anxious, cranky, or angry. They may seem detached or depressed, they might have problems paying attention or concentrating, or problems sleeping. The horrors people have to go through, from first responders to students can leave a lasting impact on them for the rest of their life. Dave Parnell, a retired firefighter from Detroit once said, “I wish my head could forget what my eyes have seen.” If you suspect that you or someone close to you is going through something like this, talk to a mental health professional. Written By: Brandon Webecke
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March 2023
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