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A Journey to Hope
Healing the
Traumatized Spirit
Columbia International University
professor of Chaplain Ministries, Dr.
Michael Langston understands those
who struggle with post-traumatic stress
disorder. After serving as a Navy chaplain
in three wars, he has suffered from it
too. That’s why he joined with his wife,
Dr. Kathy J. Langston, a professional
communication professor at the
University of South Carolina, to write the
book, “A Journey to Hope,” published
by Lampion Press. Langston opens up his
heart about PTSD in this Q&A with CIU
Today:
In what ways have you been
personally affected by post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)?
In January 2009 I was diagnosed with
moderate to severe PTSD resulting from
experiences in three yearlong combat
tours in the First Gulf War, Afghanistan
and Iraq. I had direct experiences with
combat, the sight of horrific injuries,
death and dying, and the secondary
traumatization that comes from listening
to countless stories of the warriors
involved in the direct hand-to-hand
nature of combat. Secondarily, my
family was also affected as they watched
and experienced the aftermath of my
traumatization when I returned home.
So, in many ways, this became a family
trauma as they observed firsthand, the
impact of war and its aftermath lived out
in my post-war life.
What prompted you to write about
PTSD?
As my wife, Kathy and I read many books
and journal articles concerning PTSD, we
were continually struck by the absence of
a Christian focus for healing the spiritual
trauma caused by PTSD. Some books
focused on mental and physical healing
ACADEMICS
while others offered spiritual answers
from Eastern religions or from a harsh,
judgmental Christian perspective. Our
experience with spiritual healing was
through a loving God and His Son, which
we wanted to share with others. We
address the issues of PTSD from a family
perspective, providing a spiritual road
map to recovery for both the wounded
veteran and their family.
What is your wife’s role in the co-
authorship of the book?
My wife is not only the co-author of
the book, in her effort to be actively
involved in the healing process of the
PTSD diagnosis, she became an expert
in PTSD. As we both prayed, read and
searched for healing paths, we became
knowledgeable of what was working
Michael and Kathy Langston
and what was not working. Our faith
in each other and in Christ grew as we
walked the dark, lonely road of recovery
and healing. The most powerful thing
we found was that our God was with
us through the whole ordeal. A strong
component to healing was the physical
presence and support of my wife and
children.
What are the outward manifestations
of PTSD?
Some of the more common signs and
symptoms of PTSD include recurring
memories or flashback, feelings of guilt
and shame, feelings of being on edge,
sleeplessness, loss of interest in normal
activity, feeling numb, stress and anxiety
that brings on anger, rage, and irritability.
An important component to remember
is that different people react to trauma
differently. These symptoms may not
surface for many months or years, and
may come and go. If these symptoms
do not go away within a few months of
the trauma, one should seek medical
assistance immediately.
What are the first steps to recovery?
The very first step for me was to admit
that something was wrong; there was a
wound and I needed assistance. This was
very difficult for me because I was a Navy
captain. I was a commanding officer and
senior chaplain. I remember thinking,
“These kind of leaders do not get injured
this way: What’s wrong with me?” My
irrational fear was that I would be seen as
being a failure, broken and weak. I knew
somewhere in my mind that this line of
thinking was false, but it was what I felt
at the time. I had to come to terms with
the struggle going on in my mind and
understand that this diagnosis did not
mean that I was an outcast that others
would avoid.
I finally sought assistance from a Navy
physician who immediately brought
me under the care of Navy medical
authorities. Additionally, I strongly
engaged my relationship with God as I
traveled the road through “the dark night
of the soul” to physical and spiritual
healing.
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ACADEMICS
CIU Today
Fall 2016