Do you ever wonder whether or not symptoms of PTSD can be overcome? I know, I know, that’s a silly question. My first question after diagnosis was, ‘How do I get rid of this #$%@&! thing??’

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In this episode of Your Life After Trauma we talked about:

• what, exactly is PTSD?
• how is that different from C-PTSD?
• how can post-traumatic stress be overcome?

My guests were psychologist, Dr. Laurence Miller, and recording artist Sergeant Dunson.

MEET MY GUESTS:

Dr. Laurence Miller is a psychologist in Boca Raton, Florida, specializing in clinical psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology, police psychology, and business psychology.

Dr. Miller is the Police Psychologist for the West Palm Beach Police Department, a Forensic Psychological Examiner for the Palm Beach County Court, a Certified Trainer by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Board Certified in Forensic Traumatology by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, a member of the International Law Enforcement Trainers and Educators Association.

Dr. Miller is an instructor at the Police Academy-Criminal Justice Institute of Palm Beach County and an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. He conducts continuing educational programs and training seminars, as well as programs for private corporations, public organizations, and citizens groups across the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Miller is the author of over 200 print and online publications, pertaining to the brain, behavior, health, law, police psychology, criminal justice, stress management, crisis intervention, workplace and school violence, terrorism, and workplace psychology. He is the author of eight books, including Shocks to the System: Psychotherapy of Traumatic Disability Syndromes (Norton) and Practical Police Psychology: Stress Management and Crisis Intervention for Law Enforcement (Charles C Thomas). Dr. Miller is also a frequent commentator on radio, TV, and print media.

And then, representing the survivor perspective:

Sgt. Dunson was born Leo Louis Dunson, Jr. on July 2, 1985 in Oakland, California. He has been writing poetry since the age of 12. He received recognition winning 1st place two years in a row and 2nd place the third year in the “Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Poetry Contest.” The poetry transformed into songs in his High School years where he started to record music. When he first started out making music he said that he wanted to tell the truth. He said he wanted to listen to his own songs and hear truth in them, so Sgt Dunson’s first Recording Artist name was “Onest” pronounced “Honest” vowing to always be Honest. He said on one of his songs back then “I might not be Honest to this world, but I’m honest to this mic.” While still attending High School he put out a couple demo’s and mix tapes, but nothing to knock the roof off his career. So during his senior year Sergeant Dunson was looking for a change, he said he wanted a challenge, he wanted something to teach him how to be a man (since he wasn’t really close to his father), he wanted something to excel him pass his peers. So Leo Dunson decided to join the U.S. Army, MOS as an 11 Bravo (infantry). Check out his PTSD Music Video here.