Inside the PTSD Brain with Mark St. John

This is an episode very dear to Alison’s heart as her guest is someone that helped her through a tragic time in her life. Mark St. John was a stranger that reached out to Alison to help her through the devastating loss of her husband to suicide. Sharing personal experience and pain, Mark shed immense light on the effects that PTSD has on the brain and helps us understand what PTSD feels like, as well as his hope that his story will show others that there is hope and healing. 

Having worked as an officer for many years, Mark witnessed countless tragedies and terrifying situations, and as many first responders and military personnel do, he pushed it all deep down and tried to push onward. Being someone of service often means being taught to detach from emotions in order to confront terrible circumstances and be able to encounter situations that most people would run the other direction from. For Mark and many people, this results in all of the emotions bubbling up and feeling unmanageable, resulting in symptoms of PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Mark opens up about what that felt like and how it eventually pushed him to want to end it all, giving us a glimpse into the suicide mind. 

Mark’s story is incredibly important for everyone to hear because all too often, people bury their emotions until they feel like too much to bear. It is imperative that everyone knows the significance, hope, healing, and human connection that lies in getting help early. Asking for help is a sign of incredible strength, not weakness, and that goes for anyone in any circumstance that feels like too much to carry alone. 

Key highlights:

Mark’s backstory of working as an officer and being diagnosed with PTSD Mark explains what PTSD feels like and how it manifested for himHow our brain makes connections with triggers and trauma Mark explains what was going through his mind when he felt suicide was the only optionAlison explains why PTSD often results in forgetfulness and makes previously simple tasks more complicatedMark’s message telling others to do the strong thing and get help early Alison’s message to military and first responders about getting help early and her mission to change the way PTSD is addressedAlison shares her connection with Mark and how he helped her understand her husband’s mind after she lost him to suicide 

Episode resources:
Purchase Alison’s book: “The Wake Up Call”
All proceeds from the book benefit Operation Underground Railroad: https://www.ourrescue.org/

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