Tips for Overcoming PTSD by Founder of Achieve Success Academy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqZCJN6xqNs

PTSD: Officer Involved Shooting to 100% Statistic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA270ZXbrBI

Overcoming PTSD with a Focused Mindset!

Since January of 2000 and suffering PTSD, my life has changed in so many ways. It’s coming up on the 12th anniversary of my in-the-line-of-duty shooting. There isn’t a day that goes by that I do not think about that incident. For several years the thought of the incident occupied my thoughts all the time. I would get angry with myself for having those thoughts. I felt weak, insecure, sorry for myself. I use to ask myself why me all the time.

I knew the end was near. The end of my law enforcement career. The anger, anxiety, depression was overcoming me. I can recall driving to work and feeling sick to my stomach. The sick feeling you have when you have a bad case of the stomach flu. The pains, sweats and heaving breathing got worse as I neared the border of the Township.

Once I was out of the building and in my patrol car, the first thing I would do is go to a place of solitude and just hide. Hoping that the radio would not call my car for the remainder of the 12hr shift. I felt like I was in prison. Waiting for my sentence to be over each and every shift. I couldn’t wait to get out of the uniform. I couldn’t wait  to not have to deal with it anymore. The thoughts that would go through my mind would make your chin drop.

What I started doing while on patrol changed my life forever. While hiding from the public and other patrolman, I would read. What I began to read changed my outlook on just about everything that happened in my life. The glass was no longer half empty. It was now half full. The light at the end of the tunnel I could finally see.

I began to focus on success and entrepreneurship. I had a burning desire to become a successful, happy, healthy & wealthy person. I was so tired of trading time for dollars. I made up my mind that if I had to leave police work I would no longer work for another human being ever again. I wanted be my own boss. I wanted to create my own road map to the promise land. The promise land of never ever answering to anyone again.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with working for someone else. It was at that point in my life that I had to change who I was. Change how I was feeling. Completely change my life all together if I wanted to win the battle.

I truly believe that we are all put on this earth for a purpose. For a reason. I was put in a situation on January 10th, 2000 for a reason. It took many years to believe this but I was there at that very moment in time for a reason. With a focused, success/goal achieving mindset, I finally see that anything is possible. Possible if you discipline & dedicate yourself in becoming the best person you can. It has been quoted by several personal development experts that, “you do become what you think about most”!

Good days and Bad days with PTSD

Every so often and I mean every so often do I have a not so productive day. When this happens I usually feel sluggish, lethargic for one reason or another. Why? I get about 8 hrs of sleep a night. I usually sleep very sound. I am sure not to read or watch anything that will spike my adrenaline before I shut down the lights.

I wake up at about 6am every  morning. I will usually read something motivational or inspirational for 30 minutes or so. I will re-read my goals that I had written the night before as well. I also review what I have planned for the day ahead. I jump in the shower and get ready.

I wake up my daughter and help her prepare for her day. I will pack her lunch and prepare her breakfast. After she eats, I then give her the medicine that she needs everyday. She suffers ashtma.

I then drive her to school. While in the car we go over her self affirmations. We go over positive things that will train her brian for success. Preparing my daughter for a successful, healthy, happy positive life.

I get back in my home office and my day starts. Today was a funny day. I felt like I was in slow motion. I told myself that I have to snap out of this. I can’t let this feeling rule my day. I immediately turned to what motivates and inspires me. I go to YouTube and pull up something that will pump me up. I’ll also review several of my quotes that I have created as well as others to get me in the Success Mode.

I know that everyone has a day where they’re not with it for one reason or another. It’s okay for me to have those days to. I just remind myself that I need to snap out of it and get back on track.