My book has been out since September of last year and though I wish it was being better received I understand why it is going slowly. I wrote the book at the urging of my wife, who made the point that I have had a great life as a result of my dealing with PTSD in what appears to be a very effective way. I was also motivated to write about it because I was literally floored by the statistics about the numbers of suicides among Vet's and the equally troubling reports about the large numbers of younger Vet's, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan Vet's who admit to having contemplated suicide.
I realized from the outset that the book was very blunt and that my methodology might have some difficulty catching on but never realized how difficult it was actually going to be. What I have done is somewhat opposed to what may be considered the 'mainstream' forms of treatment of PTSD being employed today, which in case you may or may not be familiar with are drugs and therapy. I am not criticizing either as in many cases that may be all that can be done for the individual in order that he or she may have anything that approaches a 'normal' life.
It is my firm held belief that the vast majority of combat veterans come home and want their old lives back. The difficulty arises when they finally figure out that they have been changed by their experiences and the young man or woman who went away is gone, never to return, at least that's the way it was in my case. The decision then has to be made as to how the individual wants to approach dealing with their issues. I wanted to be like everyone else again and saw the only way to do it was to approach everything head-on and in strict black and white.
My book also, does not take a secular or humanist approach to dealing with PTSD as I also believe these approaches give the individual trying to deal with PTSD nothing to 'hang their hat on'. I state in my book that I believe that a belief system is essential to successfully dealing with PTSD, at least it has been in my instance.
So am I upset that the book is taking off very slowly, not really. I was a little miffed for a day or so then realized that what I have done is not for everyone and never will be. This is a purpose written book in that I felt I had an obligation to put out there what I have done to have as normal a life as anyone can have. The methods I have employed do not by any means resemble the soft handed approach being used in most instances today, but what I have done has allowed my to blend into society with no restrictions.
Have fun this week
Chris Oelerich
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