Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Documentary explores therapy options for those with PTSD

  • July 10, 2021
  • Tracy Riggs
  • Featured, Latest News, Media Review

Documentary explores therapy options for those with PTSD

During a time when racial and political unrest and the repercussions of COVID-19 have prompted stress in so many, a new documentary shines a spotlight on the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder and its treatment.

California filmmaker Michael Gier, director/producer of “Wounded Heroes,” had originally planned a theatrical film about the topic of PTSD. During his research, he interviewed a man named Carl who was taking 16 prescription drugs for symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Despite ongoing treatment, Carl had attempted suicide multiple times. “He was just a mess and wasn’t doing well,” Gier said. “He said [his] medication was just a Band-Aid and didn’t actually solve the problem. I walked out of that interview shocked.

“How was it possible that this guy, who was in his 20s, had that many prescriptions and they are not actually helping solve the problem?”

Exploring treatments

Gier decided to put the feature film on hold and do a documentary instead. The goal for the film was to explore treatments that show promise in helping with PTSD, Gier said.

Through the three years of working on the project, he and his team explored several alternative treatments that showed promise in helping those with PTSD, military veterans and others alike.

“When I first started this, I thought that post-traumatic stress was something that only [those in the] military dealt with. Then as we progressed, I learned that this is a very normal reaction to an abnormal [traumatic] event.”

The high number of suicides among veterans concerns Gier. “People are dying — 20 veterans a day,” Gier lamented.

“That’s crazy, and that’s just in the veteran community. Then you’ve got active-duty military, police officers, firefighters — all first responders.

“Their suicide rate is ridiculously high. With that many people taking their lives by suicide, something has to be done. Clearly the prescription drugs, especially the antipsychotics, are not working.”

Gier believes if the film saves one life, it was worth doing.

“Anytime you have lives being lost, it’s time for something to be done, and that’s why this film was made.”

Gier also is part of a movement to drop the D and “disorder” from the PTSD diagnosis.

The thought is that PTS is not a disorder but rather a normal reaction to a traumatic event.

Removing the word “disorder” also lessens the stigma of dealing with post-traumatic stress, many mental health experts argue.

“It’s important to know that [PTS] is normal because people think that ‘something’s wrong with me.’

“But no, it’s not. This is a natural reaction; it’s very normal,” Gier explained.

“It’s just recognizing it and realizing that it is OK — there’s nothing wrong with you, but there is help.”

Gier was moved during interviews of those with PTS.

One of the most memorable was a veteran who said after treatment, “I feel like a soldier again.”

“To be a soldier and to have that confidence and that strength and then to feel like a loser, weak, suicidal. … Then to now have it all back and to say that, ‘I feel like a soldier again’ — that’s an amazing journey,” Gier said. “That’s exciting and life-changing and was an important moment to me.”

Other veterans expressed gratitude for finding healing. A veteran named Sherry featured in the film didn’t believe alternative treatments would work.

‘There is hope’

But after seeing military friends find success with therapy and feeling as if her own treatment wasn’t working well, she tried therapy herself.

In tears, she told Gier how therapy had saved her life.

Another declared, “Life is worth living again.”

“The goal of the film is to let people know that there is hope — that they do not have to live a miserable life because of post-traumatic stress,” Gier said. “If you find a treatment or program that helps you … you will get your life back like these others did.”

For more information or to learn more about alternative treatments featured in “Wounded Heroes,” go to woundedheroesdocumentary.com. The film is available on DVD and on most video on demand platforms.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria
    Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12
    February 6, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for February 12

Does It Align with God’s Character? Exodus 34:1–9 God is Holy. He desires His people to be holy. Holiness has the connotation of separateness. Believers

Suspected herdsmen kill 12 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria

After authorities in Nigeria ignored warnings that thousands of cattlemen were arriving in Benue state, suspected herdsmen on Saturday (Jan. 28) attacked two villages there

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for February 12

YOU HAVE SEEN HIM John 9:24–38 “It’s a miracle!” squealed 8-year-old Denise when first outfitted with glasses. Everything came into focus, and she delighted in

person in black long sleeve shirt

First Person: Your prayers make a difference

My dad did the grocery shopping for our family. For him, it was a social thing. He loved running into friends and visiting in the

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel