June 27 marks the observance of National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Day, established in 2010 to pay tribute to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joel Biel of the North Dakota National Guard, who died by suicide in April of 2007, immediately following his second tour of duty in Iraq. Had he remained alive, today would have been Biel’s birthday.
Though often associated with military service because of the severe trauma associated with conflict, PTSD may be caused by anything the mind processes as trauma, including the horrors of conflict, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, natural disasters, automotive accidents, and more. Estimates suggest that more than 8 million Americans suffer from PTSD, with the vast majority suffering in silence.
In our highly individualized society, which emphasizes personal responsibility and the dignity of privacy, it can be difficult to find safe, inviting arenas to tell our horrifying stories, let alone find people willing to share the burdens of our pain. However, many of our loved ones – be they family members, friends, or members of our community – want nothing more than to hear our tales – no matter how tragic – and to shoulder our burden alongside us.
Furthermore, our tradition acknowledges the value of sharing the burdens of our trauma with others. Shared trauma forms the basis for most of the stories contained within our Tanakh, as well as much of our rituals surrounding grieving and mourning.
We best honor these elements of our tradition and help those we love by inviting those we love who have experienced potential sources of trauma to share their stories with an open heart and by sharing our own vulnerable stories to illustrate that ours is a community that welcomes and acknowledges trauma, as well as those who suffer from it. Share your support today: #NationalPTSDAwarenessDay.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel