Jim Chancellor

“PTSD Through the Eyes of a Door Gunner” is a Dynamic 60 Minute Workshop on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" Today’s youth are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. The American Veterans Collection conducts post-traumatic stress disorder ‘PTSD’ workshops in high schools and colleges to illustrate the effects of war on the veteran.

“During the workshops I share some of my experiences, explaining to the children and grandchildren of veterans why their loved ones react the way they do in different situations. Discovered is the mental anguish of war and its effects on the veteran. Many of our young people may never become leaders or warriors on a battlefield, however they must understand that freedom is never free. Sadly it sometimes takes fighting and dying to keep freedom strong, and as a result, the events that took place in the fight for freedom create many emotional problems for veterans.

In this interactive presentation, explained are the different degrees of PTSD and the differences between them. I also define words like “shell shock” and “battle fatigue” from our past wars. During the presentation, impactful visual aids are used to highlight some statistics about our veterans and their readjustment back into society. I teach about the adrenaline rush of combat and the temporary escape by veterans from reality through drug and alcohol abuse. Explained are the difficulties of veterans returning home to loved ones that really do not and cannot understand what they went through. Many veterans are merely surviving and working through unconscious mental blocks.

The learning experience presents thoughtful combat scenarios which require student participation. We discuss in detail student decision making and their selective route within those combat scenarios. Upon conclusion of the PTSD presentation, there is an informal Q&A session.

All PTSD workshops are presented from the heart. They are filled with emotion and create active audience participation to invoke an understanding that ‘PTSD’ is not a disease. It is a symptom of war and with proper treatment, counseling, understanding and love, PTSD can be controlled.”