US Army Veteran Jonathan Bohannon doesn鈥檛 hesitate when asked if聽he believes that聽healing from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is possible.
鈥淵es, definitely 鈥� 100 percent,鈥� he says.
Bohannon聽is a student in HBU鈥檚 Online program, earning聽a聽Master of Arts in聽Psychology.聽He knows first-hand the kind of聽challenges that military members and veterans face.聽Bohannon joined the Army in 2006, and聽trained聽for the work of being a combat medic.聽He went on to聽be stationed overseas, and聽completed聽tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.聽For his service, he聽received a Combat Medical Badge.
When he聽finished聽his service in 2012, the husband,聽and now father of three,聽set a plan for what he would聽do next at home in Houston.
鈥淚 was set on going to school聽to become a nurse,鈥� he said.聽鈥淲hen I was taking anatomy and physiology聽and聽looking at pictures of trauma, it started bringing me back to those memories聽of what I had seen and experienced.聽It started out with nightmares and bad coping. At the time, I was drinking to cope. I had to come to terms with everything.鈥�
Bohannon attended聽veterans support groups, and with God鈥檚聽prompting, quit drinking. He switched his major to psychology,聽deciding to focus on helping people heal from the inside out. He聽graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Houston.聽When he learned about HBU鈥檚聽master鈥檚聽program聽with a Christian emphasis, Bohannon was thrilled.
He describes聽his experience 鈥� one聽he聽has in common聽with many others:聽鈥淲hen you go over there, something wakes up,鈥� he said.聽鈥淭here鈥檚 that old saying, 鈥楾here is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.鈥櫬燭hen, when you come back, you ask yourself, 鈥榃hy me? Why did I get to come home when some of my buddies didn鈥檛?鈥� There is a void spiritually. It doesn鈥檛 matter how many medications they throw at you, or how many psychological sessions you have.鈥�
A faith-foundational聽approach, including a relationship with Jesus Christ, is what servicemen and women really need, Bohannon said.聽That鈥檚 why he likes HBU鈥檚 program.
鈥淭he secular counseling system can聽sometimes聽feel chaotic and confusing,鈥� he said. 鈥淗BU has their ear to the ground, and are being trailblazers.聽There鈥檚 so much potential for veteran care in the Christian context. That鈥檚 why I chose HBU Online to navigate those waters.鈥�
There are a number of factors to consider when working with military professionals.聽One of the first things聽servicepeople聽must come to terms with upon returning to civilian life is聽adjusting to聽a different environment, Bohannon said.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in the military, you聽have a mission, you聽look out for each other,聽and everyone knows you鈥檙e a solider,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou come back,聽you have to find your way聽and you don鈥檛 have anyone looking out for you.鈥�
However, trials have a silver lining.聽Bohannon refers to the work of Dr. George聽Bonanno, author of 鈥淭he Other Side of Sadness,鈥澛燼nd聽a professor at Columbia University, who asserts that traumas can widen one鈥檚 capacity to handle hardship. Difficulties can develop resiliency and emotional flexibility.
鈥淥ne example is Jesus Christ,鈥� Bohannon said. He explained that after Jesus鈥� 40 days of fasting and being tempted in the wilderness 鈥� perhaps the most difficult time in his life up to that point 鈥� Jesus聽began the most fruitful time of his life and ministry.聽鈥淗e had a mission. His mission was to bring His Father鈥檚 Word down,鈥澛燘ohannon said.
Bohannon reflects on his own struggles: 鈥淚 am a veteran with PTSD. The minute I acknowledged my PTSD, I was able to聽turn to God. Being aware of the problem helps people not to be in denial, and therefore they are able to work toward resiliency,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am here to fight for other veterans with PTSD.鈥�
Similarly, Bohannon wants to see good coming聽after聽veterans鈥櫬燾hallenging and聽painful聽experiences.聽He asserts that veterans want to be understood, but they also simply want to have a mission.
鈥淚 advise聽getting them聽involved in church or volunteer service,鈥� Bohannon said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what they want 鈥� to serve 鈥斅爐hat鈥檚 why they joined the military.聽They don鈥檛 want to be coddled. They want to be challenged and they want to meet people who aren鈥檛 just in bars.聽They want to see what鈥檚 on the other side of the tunnel.鈥�
There are many challenges聽to overcome in military and veteran care,聽particularly聽the suicide rate and unhealthy coping mechanisms聽like substance abuse.聽Yet, Bohannon is optimistic.
鈥淲e need to get聽to聽some of these people before it鈥檚 too late,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need a聽holistic approach. There鈥檚 a lot of work to be done, and that鈥檚 why I want to be part of聽their care. They need to know that life gets better.鈥�