Let The Games Begin - London 2012 Olympics

[CraftyCath]

Couldn't agree more Cherry. x

 

[Springer80]

What about dissociated archery at nearly all my previous GP's....Or the fastest hyperventilating panic attack, dizzy to black out in two minutes! Sponsored by DFS....

 

[Meadowsweet]

I know people here are saying they're hacked off with inspirational stories, and not every story is inspirational.

But just sometimes I like to be inspired...and I am inspired by the story of Derek Derenalagi. Perhaps he has lost limbs and not suffered PTSD, but the mental battle to find a way of living life when it is tough is the same.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...g-my-country-again-says-Derek-Derenalagi.html

He didn't win any medals, but he accomplished a much more personal goal. It makes me smile :)

 

[Muzikluvr]

Sorry this isn't to do with the Olympics or Paralympics, but Springer80's posts reminded me of it because I suspect some of the competitors in this world wide event suffer from PTSD or other mental illnesses, including addiction.

I watched a documentary the other day called Kicking It about the Homeless World cup. Each country takes people off the street, trains them in soccer and then picks the best for their team. Many of those picked have played soccer before, but due to challenges in their lives they have ended up on the streets. They get a chance to feel accomplished and respected again by representing their country.

The American had been abused, rejected and neglected by his family as a child. He is unjustifiably the black sheep in his family, and yet he is so angry about it that he is justifiably rejected by most groups of people. He feels it is a huge injustice that being homeless in America means being rudely awakened in the middle of the night by police because you're not allowed to sleep on park benches and stuff. He was kicked out of the shelter for being too disruptive. No mention of whether or not he has PTSD.