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For thoughtful conversations about mental health, modern life, human biology, and what it means to stay connected in a disconnected world.
“Why I Write About Mental Health: Living With PTSD and Finding Purpose” is my story of how trauma, firefighting, and resilience shaped not only my life, but also my mission to write, connect, and help others find hope.
For those even remotely familiar with my work—whether through The Road to Mental Wellness, Wired to Be Human, or my blog—you’ll know I do it to help others. My goal has always been simple: to ease the heavy burdens so many carry today, and to do so at as little cost to them as possible.
I believe, with an unwavering conviction, that the world can be better if we help each other just a little more, and respect the people around us a little better. Small sacrifices can go a long way.
The truth is, many of us are feeling both the pinch in our pockets and the weight in our hearts. Sometimes the greatest gift you can offer costs nothing at all.
A Life of Service
I’ve learned a lot about sacrifice through my time as a volunteer firefighter. People like me—and those who serve in paid departments as well—carry the weight of what we see in ways most can’t imagine. Both groups know the pain of giving of yourself in the face of adversity. And beyond firefighters, there are countless others—paramedics, police officers, nurses, and frontline workers—who risk their wellness to save others.
In my own case, my health has taken a toll, but my need to help others has never left me. PTSD has tried its best to strip away who I am, but writing and advocacy keep me whole. Without that outlet, I’d be only a shell of myself.
Living With PTSD
PTSD isn’t just a set of letters for me—it’s my daily reality. It shows up in sleepless nights, in the jump I feel at the smallest sound, in the constant exhaustion of carrying too much for too long. It makes the world heavier, darker, and often unbearable.
And yet, writing has given me a way to turn that pain outward, to make meaning of it. My books and my blog are not just creative projects—they’re survival. They’re how I reclaim my identity from trauma.
That’s why when I write The Road to Mental Wellness or Wired to Be Human, those books are as much for me as they are for the people who find encouragement in their pages. In a strange way, as long as I have readers, I have the will to keep pushing forward.
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“For me, PTSD and writing are forever linked — one gives voice to the other.”
Jonathan Arenburg
The Cost of Carrying Too Much
Looking back, hindsight is 20/20. Becoming a firefighter took more from me than I could ever give back. It wasn’t the work itself—it was the weight of suffering I carried from the lives I witnessed unravel. Over time, it left me broken, isolated, and disabled.
Counseling might have been a better path. One-on-one work always fit my nature. My skills were sharpened in mental health institutions, helping people with mental illness but even that came with daily violence and fear. Still, those moments proved to me where my true strengths lie: helping others in direct, human ways.
Do I regret my path? Sometimes. But I also recognize this: without those chapters, I wouldn’t have the insights I share today. The very things that nearly destroyed me became the foundation of my mission.
Resilience, Reframed
Now, through my books and writing, I can do what I love in smaller, healthier doses. I can protect my mental wellness and still make a difference. That balance is what keeps me going.
I write because I believe conversations about mental health should be meaningful, accurate, and empowering. My past showed me the cost of silence; my present is about building voices that heal.
“Sharing my story is one way I build mental health resilience, and I hope it helps others do the same.”
Jonathan Arenburg
Wired to Be Human
Read the first chapter of my new book Wired To Be Human #wiredtobehuman here: https://jonathanarenburg.com/wired-to-be-human/
And How About You?
So let me ask: how are you doing?
Are you living a life that sustains you, or are you fighting battles that are quietly destroying you?
If the latter sounds familiar, here’s my advice: stop fighting against the truth of your illness. Because sooner or later, it will win. Left untreated, mental illness will steal your agency and crash into your life like a runaway train—destroying relationships, dreams, and even your sense of self.
But when you fight for your healing—when you seek help, treatment, and support—you reclaim your life. It may not be the same life you once knew, but it will be yours. A life with new hope, new dreams, and new opportunities.
A Bridge Forward
I’m not saying it’s easy. Sacrifice will still be required, and pain will be part of the process. But hang in there. Do whatever it takes to get well. Start small: reach out to a counsellor, open up to a trusted friend, or even write down your story like I did. Small steps save lives.
“This journey proves that writing for healing is possible — and that recovery is a form of purpose.”
Jonathan Arenburg
I promise you—joy and love can return. Healing doesn’t erase the past, but it gives you back your future.
You’ve got this.
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