The Long Term Benefits of Being Empowered During a Climbing Accident or Emergency

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I’ve had PTSD. Not from climbing, although I’ve been involved in some climbing rescues and accidents. No, I was almost stabbed to death as a teenager; an intruder entered my home. I “slept” with my bedroom door locked for six months following. I didn’t seek professional help until fifteen years later.

The point isn’t that I know what PTSD is on a deeply personal level. I can’t know other’s PTSD; it manifests with commonalities and differences for everyone unfortunate enough to experience it. My point is that I can empathize with those who have experienced and I can see the value in helping others avoid or lessen those potential experiences.

That’s what this video is about: lessening PTSD.

I can’t say that I have a blanket way to help in all situations. But I can say, as I do in the video, that if you find yourself and others in the difficult circumstances of dealing with a traumatic episode in the mountains or on a climb, there are things we can do in that present situation that will help lesson the likelihood and severity of any PTSD that may manifest in the future.

The mountains can bring great joy. Great fulfillment. Great wonder and awe.

But they can also bring hardship and sadness and grief and guilt.

…because things don’t always go right.

If you should find yourself in a day where things have gone terribly, terribly wrong, maybe keep a bit of advice from this video in the back of your head. It may not be easily applied in every circumstance but it can be very useful in those circumstances where it is well applied.