PTSD Toolkit in Your Pocket: How Percy the “PTSD” Platypus Uses the Mental Health Warrior Coin
- Bruce Schutter
- May 6
- 5 min read
It was a foggy morning at the edge of the Hundred Acre Wood, the kind of day where even the squirrels looked like they had unfinished business. I spotted Percy the “PTSD” Platypus sitting under a tree, straight-backed, arms crossed and wearing his usual “I’m fine, don’t ask” expression.
He wasn’t scrolling social media or sipping tea. He was doing something much more serious — flipping his Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin between his fingers with military precision.
“Morning, Bruce,” he said, not looking up. “Trying to keep my head on straight. This week’s been... loud.”
I knew that look. That tone.
Percy and I share something deep — PTSD. Mine came from years working as an EMT. His came from military service and a decade of pretending emotions were classified information.
The Mental Health Warrior Program didn’t just give me tools to survive — it gave us tools to thrive.
And today, Percy was showing me how one small Warrior coin had become his PTSD toolkit in his pocket — a simple, powerful reminder to stay grounded, steady and in charge.
The Warrior Solution
Percy knows my story inside and out — 20 years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Challenges that left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life.
But in those dark times, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge.
So you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want.
And an important part of that program is a simple, powerful tool you can carry with you every day: the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin.
It is courage-on-the-go — a sign of strength, a reminder to celebrate every step and a way to share hope with others.
And Percy has three go-to ways he uses the Warrior Coin to manage his PTSD.
Tool 1: The Grounding Grip
“I carry this thing in my vest,” Percy said, flipping the coin up and catching it with practiced ease. “When I feel that creeping tension — heart rate rising, flashbacks tickling the edge — I grip the coin tight.”
He paused, tapping the coin against his palm.
“I’m not always in a place where I can stop and breathe or talk it out. Sometimes I’m surrounded by noise, movement or reminders. But this coin?” He held it up. “It’s solid. It’s cool to the touch. It gives me something real to focus on and reminds me I’m here — not back there.”
And that’s the difference between a challenge running my day — and me taking the wheel back.”
Our Turn:
When PTSD flares up or anxiety starts to spike, I’ve learned how essential it is to ground myself in the present — because if I don’t, my brain spirals fast.
That’s where my Mental Health Warrior Coin comes in. I carry it every day. And when things get intense — when flashbacks hit or my chest tightens — I reach for the coin.
I grip it tight.
I feel its weight in my palm.
I remind myself: I’m here. I’m safe. I’m not alone.
That simple sensory input interrupts the chaos and helps pull me back into the present.
Tool 2: The Pocket Reboot
“Sometimes,” Percy added, “I feel the warning signs early — tight chest, irritability, that itch under the skin. I reach into my pocket, feel the coin and just press it. Five seconds. That’s my check-in moment.”
He glanced at me. “Kind of like rebooting an old computer. Except less likely to require a hammer.”
Percy flicked the coin once more, letting it spin in his palm before pocketing it again. “It’s subtle,” he said. “No one else has to see it.”
“But that small pause slows everything down. It reminds me I have a choice in how I respond.”
Our Turn:
What Percy said really hit home — because I use the coin the same way.
When I feel myself getting overwhelmed — whether it’s PTSD, anxiety or rising tension I’ve learned to recognize — I reach into my pocket and press the Warrior Coin between my fingers.
I focus on the coolness of the metal.
The ridged edge against my fingertips.
Then I take one solid breath.
Over time, this small habit has helped me move from reacting — to responding with calm and control.
Tool 3: The Victory Reminder
“This one’s my favorite,” Percy smirked, flipping the coin once and catching it with a sharp clap. “When I get through a flashback or handle a tough situation without falling apart — I flip the coin and give it a nod. Sometimes even a little salute. It’s my way of saying: That was hard — and I did it.”
He held the coin up and stared at it for a moment.
“It reminds me I’ve earned this progress. I’m not where I was. I’m stronger now.”
“And I need to see that sometimes — because PTSD has a nasty habit of making you forget how far you’ve come.”
Our Turn:
I feel that deeply.
There are moments when getting through the day is not small at all. When I stay present instead of shutting down. When I feel the emotion without running from it. When I do not fall back into old ways of coping.
In those moments, I take the coin out of my pocket and hold it for a second.
Not to brag. Not to pretend everything is perfect. But to acknowledge the truth: that was hard — and I did it.
Because when you’ve spent years in survival mode, even small victories matter. And if you don’t pause to recognize them, your brain can convince you you’re still stuck.
And some days, that reminder is everything.
Wrap Up
“This little metal coin,” Percy said, holding it up to the sunlight, “has more emotional intelligence than I did in my twenties.”
“It’s quiet strength I can carry with me — and use to face whatever life throws my way,” he added.
As the sun cut through the trees, I handed Percy my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin so he could share it with a friend in need.
Then we headed back, ready to tackle the day.
So if you’re struggling with PTSD or anything that throws your world off-balance, use the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin as a daily reminder to unlock your strength and take the next Warrior step.
Because Warriors don’t wait for rescue — they take action and triumph each day!
Bruce Schutter ⚔️
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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