Jason Opalinski was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Uvalde
Jason Opalinski served in the U.S. Army in the early 2000’s and was deployed for over a year in Iraq, During his tour of duty, his experiences in an active war zone where surprise attacks by the enemy and the real danger of improvised explosive devices or IEDs hidden along roadways many which destroyed vehicles and also killed or injured soldiers her served left him with a hidden injury of the mind: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
Opalinski now spends each Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve sedated in his bedroom at home wearing headphones that block out the noise of fireworks outside going off. It’s a routine that he uses to cope with his PTSD
In the weeks following the May 24th Robb School shooting while visiting Uvalde for work, he visited the Robb School Memorial.
“My goal is to not only get the proper final chapter to the ones we lost but also give hope to the survivors. Unfortunately for the survivors, this is their brand new first chapter. The creation of this children’s book that I would like to put together is to depict what our lost victims would have been; what they wanted to be and give the families these happy endings that are deserved and not the nightmare of what is.”
“Not only chapters of the ones that we lost but also the survivors, to hopefully turn their fear into hope. Taking their fears and turning them into strengths by collaborating with the children and their families to create an amazing story not only to help identify their fear but to turn it into something better.”
Opalinski went on to talk about PTSD and the need for education and awareness training.
“Many people know what PTSD is, but they do not understand what PTSD is. There needs to be education and awareness of PTSD; not just know what those four letters represent. Which leads to greater sensitivity and cultural competence in both academic and corporate settings as it pertains to recognizing, appreciating and responding to mental health symptoms. So that way we can maintain the dignity of our students, our peers, our staff and whomever else we encounter that has these symptoms. So that way, when we are able to recognize these symptoms we’ll know how to address these symptoms; never diagnosing, only helping them to cope.”
” To make sure someone does not experience the same insensitivity as I did due to my PTSD in a personal and professional manner. That is done by showing the positive effects that PTSD mental health recognition and sensory training has for not only just for the employer, but the employees, the students, the teacher and everyone involved, ” he said.
“There is no other area such as Military City USA and its surrounding areas who have likely experienced trauma in bulk. This area is a hotbed for trauma,” he said.
Opalinski concluded with, “But one thing is certain. We are going around in circles in the way we approach this topic. 20 years since Columbine, we are having the same conversations of why these same things happen and what we believe contributes to it. Therefore we put down and stigmatize the people that are already struggling. “
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