REFLECTIONS | PAUL SCRAFTON

Title

What Paul Scrafton Taught Me About Living With PTSD

The Story

A deep and personal conversation with Paul, reflecting on his upbringing and difficult relationship with his dad. After a lifetime of mental health struggles linked to CPTSD, he feels he’s finally turning a corner. Reluctant to share his story, Paul opens up about the cost of his experiences and the lasting impact they’ve had on his life.

Opening

I knew Paul was nervous before he came in. He wanted to share his story, but I also knew I had to approach it with care. It was important to listen, understand, and give him the space to tell his story in the way it deserved to be told.

What Stayed With Me

What stood out most was that this is Paul’s experience and his truth. The way he was raised, how he was treated, and how that shaped him was clearly traumatic. As a sensitive child, those experiences carried through into adulthood, influencing how he sees the world, how he reacts, and how he shows up in life. It’s a reminder that what we go through doesn’t just disappear, it stays with us.

The Bigger Reflection

PTSD is often thought of as something caused by a single extreme event. But it can also come from prolonged experiences, years of smaller moments that build over time. Like constant paper cuts, they may seem minor individually, but together they shape who you become. For someone sensitive, those effects can run deep, influencing relationships, behaviour, and how you move through life.

A Line I Won’t Forget

“The fear is where you find the growth.”

It’s taken Paul into adulthood to find the courage to face the fear he’s carried from his upbringing. Choosing to act despite that fear is his way of breaking old patterns, resetting, stepping forward, and doing things differently. That’s where his progress lies.

Closing Thought

After the interview, Paul reached out feeling nervous about certain parts being shared, knowing his family, especially his dad, would see it. This was the first time I’ve been contacted by a family member in response to someone’s story.

For me, Paul has every right to tell his story. It happened to him. If people aren’t able to communicate or work through things together, then telling your side is sometimes the only way forward. It’s not the whole story, it’s his story. And he has every right to share it.