I think my generation and perhaps all of Gen X is suffering from PTSD.
I was born in 1965, and throughout that time period I have been exposed to violence, trauma, fear, and pain…and that’s just from TV. Lump that with with all of the actual experiences that I have had and have exposed myself to and you see the whopping stress that has encompassed my life. It has come to the point that I don’t flinch when I see death and destruction on the screen, and actually crave that kind of action once in a while from the movies.
I don’t think I’m alone in this experience. I know many people like me, most of whom are trying to solve their problems through whatever means necessary: therapy, 12 Step programs, spirituality, religion…you name it.
We are all running for cover in the fallout from the most violent of eras in the history of humanity. These times have made their mark.
Look at the TV ads for pharmaceuticals products: it’s all about pain relief, indigestion, sleeplessness, drowsiness, constipation, ADHD, ADD, stress, body image issues, and more. These are all common symptoms of PTSD. No wonder people are blowing each other up. After a while it probably begins to make sense. As a world culture we have allowed ourselves to be victims, even when we were legitimately wronged.
It’s like that scene in ‘Repo Man’, when Duke is dying in the liquor store, and he says, “I blame society…society made me what I am…”
I think the guy might be right…
Johnnyboy
Published by