War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

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War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 · rating details · 73 ratings · 20 reviews

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 16 percent (one in eight) of returning Iraq veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Such vets typically can’t hold jobs. They are incapable of intimacy, creative work, and self-realization. Some can’t leave the house because they are afraid they will kill or be killed. The key to healing, says psychotherapist Ed...more

Paperback, 341 pages

Published December 30th 2005 by Quest Books (first published November 25th 2005)

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Sep 27, 2012 Steve Woods rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ptsd, other-wars, vietnam-war, life-changers

I was diagnosed with chronic combat related PTSD in 1992, after a lifetime of doing what we all did in one form or another, try to fit in and be as they would have me be, despite all the available evidence that this would be an impossible ask. It didn't work, ultimately I imploded. There followed nearly a decade at the mercy of the ministering hands of the mental health system, representative of a society that didn't want to know and had declared me and all other veterans returning from Vietnam,...more I was diagnosed with chronic combat related PTSD in 1992, after a lifetime of doing what we all did in one form or another, try to fit in and be as they would have me be, despite all the available evidence that this would be an impossible ask. It didn't work, ultimately I imploded. There followed nearly a decade at the mercy of the ministering hands of the mental health system, representative of a society that didn't want to know and had declared me and all other veterans returning from Vietnam, guilty and flawed. Guilty because we did what they asked of us and flawed because we lost. We were to have the shame of society's abysmal immorality throughout a decade of debacle stuffed down our throats so they everyone could get on with feeling good about themselves.

Well no one i the mental health system (now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one) had any idea what was going on with us, nor despite sometimes well intentioned (and sometimes just disinterested) incompetence, did we begin at all to heal in any way.Neither the psychiatrists, nor the psychologists, nor the counselors, nor the nurses, doctors or carers, nor for that matter our families or friends had a clue what to do with us. The solution (they all had to do something) was drugs, counseling or psychotherapy, in isolation or in some trendy combination, all of them based on models that just did not apply. The results have been predictable, most notably defined by the catastrophic suicide, crime and homelessness rates among veterans, particularly in The US.

For myself, they nearly killed me with their kindness, They first convinced me that I was sick and that somehow that I was flawed because that was the case; then that the condition could not be remedied but that the symptoms might be ameliorated and or managed throughout the process of my gradual decline.

Well the author of this book has hit the nail on the head! Over the past few years, after I finally threw off the definitions of a maladjusted society and a chronically deficient "helping" profession, I came to see the "whole ball of wax" for what it was. Only years of meditation and focused and concentrated study of Buddhist teachings have helped me along that path. All of it done with no further reference to those who are supposed to know. The conclusions I came to line up directly with Tick's analysis, this is a sickness of those who sent us, our society and our government. Our responses are the only sane responses, the only human responses to those who represent what they themselves see as being "normal" but are in fact putrescent to the core. The way veterans were treated after Vietnam and are being treated as they return from Afghanistan now, is just symptomatic of that putrescence. If there is to be relief for us, we will have to provide it ourselves, and Tick lays down the principles and understandings that might guide us. There is little hope for or inclination on the part of those who send us to war, ever to shoulder their responsibilities in that regard, or to treat their returning veteran's with honour.

That particular skill seems to be the preserve of those societies our spiritual and societal leaders arrogantly regard as "less civilized"; given the recent history this could reasonably be assumed to mean without any sense of morality at all.(less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: military, spirituality, sociology

Edward Tick uses Jungian psychology as a lense to view the post traumatic state of war veterans. He contends that PTSD is a "soul wound" an identity disorder naturally resulting from the brutal experiences of war that are not addressed appropriately in light of the archetypal unconsciuos.

War seems to be an elemental part of the human experience, he claims, and modern war is especially damaging to the human psyche for several reasons. One is that modern society has not developed the warrior cultu...more Edward Tick uses Jungian psychology as a lense to view the post traumatic state of war veterans. He contends that PTSD is a "soul wound" an identity disorder naturally resulting from the brutal experiences of war that are not addressed appropriately in light of the archetypal unconsciuos.

War seems to be an elemental part of the human experience, he claims, and modern war is especially damaging to the human psyche for several reasons. One is that modern society has not developed the warrior culture with attendent myths, rituals, rites of passage, etc... that is nested in the society. Such a culture helped warriors from earlier times to cope with the brutalities of war and provided a context for the warrior's experience, including the psychic wounds incurred. Modern society, including modern warfare doesn't recognized these "spiritual" dimensions to life and wants to treat the identity disorders and psychic wounds resulting fom participation in modern war with pharmaceuticals.

Ticks explores spiritual aspects of these psychic wounds and their potential alleviation including participation in traditional warrior rituals (like sweat lodges for purification), confession (an old spiritual practice), restitution (like working for some kind of humanitarian relief among the populations where one fought), healing journeys (like Vietnam War Veterans returning to Vietnam to interact with their former enemies, walk the ground of former battles, etc...) He claims some success stories among those he has counseled who have taken advantage of such therapeutic activities. The authors criticisms of modern militaries use of the warrior archetype for recruiting purposes while ignoring the equally elemental aspects of warrior rituals, warrior's place within society, and the other traditional aspects of the warrior journey leaves modern veterans stranded with broken identities and little in the way of real spiritual / psychic assistance with what comes after their experiences on the modern battlefield.

At the end of the day, this was a hard book for what it says about the human condition and about the psychically damaging aspects of participation in modern warfare. It was also a hopeful book in that it shed light on some directions we might take to mitigate some of the suffering of modern war among veterans of these conflicts and the populations among whom they fought. The author did a nice job of discussing "spiritual" maladies without using the language or relying on the assumptions of any religious point of view. A secular humanist might even go along with the descriptions of "soul" used for the concept of soul wounds for instance. I was at times depressed by this book, disturbed by this book and inspired by this book. I recommend this book for combat veterans and those who love them, for those interested in the mental health of combat veterans, and for anyone else who is interested in a point of view about modern warfare and it's psychic costs that isn't normally considered in our modern world. (less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I'm not often moved by a book from first page to last, but this has been one of them. Author Tick has spent decades of his life working as a therapist with war survivors from WWII to Iraq who have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. The scope of his understanding as expressed in the book is reflected in his belief that PTSD "may be the moral defeat of our nation internalized in its veterans." It takes 276 pages of careful analysis before reaching this conclusion, but he builds a strong...more I'm not often moved by a book from first page to last, but this has been one of them. Author Tick has spent decades of his life working as a therapist with war survivors from WWII to Iraq who have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. The scope of his understanding as expressed in the book is reflected in his belief that PTSD "may be the moral defeat of our nation internalized in its veterans." It takes 276 pages of careful analysis before reaching this conclusion, but he builds a strong case along the way for dealing with PTSD as an identity disorder, and for understanding identity as bound up deeply with what lies at the living core of every human being - the soul.

It's impossible to do justice to the breadth and depth of Tick's argument in a brief review, but readers should be prepared for an acceptance of war as something that emerges from the psyche, where it finds expression first in archetypes and myth and then emerges as a rite of passage into adulthood. In other words, the willingness to go to war in individuals is not pathological but in fact part of a needed growth process. What makes this problematic in the modern age is the terrible destructiveness of modern weaponry and the modern war machine. The individual can be consumed in its ferocity and suffer profound psychological wounds (compounded by physical ones) that require immense healing. Alas, our culture, as returning veterans from Vietnam learned, knows next to nothing about how to provide healing that helps these men and women return to productive lives.

This is a book to be read slowly; there is much to absorb. Drawing on mythology, ancient literature about war, and Native American traditions, Tick explores how other cultures have regarded war and warriors. For those with either pro-war or anti-war sympathies, he makes an argument that each can learn from - building a model of healing that reflects some of both points of view. War is so deeply embedded in ourselves and in our connection to Divinity, he argues, it will never go away, and not because we are basically savage but because we need war to become fully human. The challenge is to re-imagine war and rediscover what has been understood, taught, and practiced in the warrior traditions that predate the modern age. While this may seem an impossible task, its vision can still serve those who look for a way to release themselves and others from the ravages of PTSD. The many case histories included in these pages show this process at work, and for those who have tears to shed, prepare to shed them.(less)

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Jun 15, 2009 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This was an amazing book that combined the first person stories of veterans (mostly from the Vietnam War) with a psychologist's description of PTSD as a soul disorder rather than a "stress" disorder.

He describes the experience of going to war as an initiation -- one which in modern times is almost never successfully completed. As a result, those who go war undergo the first part -- the tearing down of the previous personality and the transformation into a soldier -- but seldom receive the suppor...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Simone rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dr. Tick lucidly and compassionately makes the argument that it is not war itself that is responsible for PTSD (which he presents as a "soul disorder," rather than as a "stress disorder") but the way our society treats those who have fought its wars. It's not the experience itself that causes the trauma; it's then being unable to share the burden of the experience. Taking communal responsibility for the soldiers' experiences and treating them as warriors who have been through a rite of passage a...more

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Jan 15, 2011 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fine look into the madness that gets swept under so many rugs. Who can walk away from war unchanged? This book helps us to understand the trauma that occurs in the mind of soldiers faced with the brutality of combat. It is to our benefit to know these stories so that we can help our soldier's truly to come home.

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Apr 18, 2008 Kelly B rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful. This is one of my favorite books. The author talks about the importance of integrating the warrior archetype into our cultural psyche in order to make meaning of our participation in warfare, and to avoid more psychological casualties. I think he's right; if soldiers can't make some meaning of their combat experiences, the shit they see and do, they get "stuck", and that looks like the cluster of symptoms that make up PTSD. And I like that he is open to both creative ways of conceptua...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: war, politics, nonfiction, multicultural, historical, adult

Even better knowing that I have met and heard Dr. Tick speak. The stories of real soldiers as well as the science and story behind PTSD is astounding and worth every page!

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Apr 17, 2010 Alison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ed Tick shares his fascinating and valid perspective on the core reasons why our soldiers and veterans develop what we call PTSD. I am enthralled by his accounts of war, warrior cultures, and rituals throughout history...especially the themes of initation - war AS initiation - and sacredness. Compared to these accounts and themes, our culture is dreadfully lacking in what it takes for veterans to heal and reclaim their lives meaningfully. I am hopeful that this book will give a context to vetera...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Miguel rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was an amazing read. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever served in the military. Especially those with combat experience.

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Jun 25, 2012 Victor Czerwinski rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book talks about the trauma of conflict and what war does to one. I' ll be reading this again and again .

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Apr 14, 2013 Mendgme rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a wonderful book. I recommend it to everyone, regardless if you are a Veteran or not.

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Jan 29, 2012 Eccentrix is currently reading it

Still reading, but have met the man and he truly cares.

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Aug 12, 2007 suzy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone, veterans

The first part of the book deals with the myths and archtypes of war, and is rather academic. The second half of the book deals more directly with PTSD. The stories of veterans are the most interesting part, in particular vets returning to Vietnam in an attempt to heal their war traumas. I like how the author considers PTSD to be a soul sickness and one of our society, due to the fact that we isolate our war veterans in a attempt to retain our society's innocence over the wars our country has be...more

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Oct 12, 2012 E.J. II rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book!

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Apr 10, 2011 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

What is the soul? Apparently soldiers find out when they are faced with losing it. Tick realizes the only way to heal PTSD fully is to engage soldiers in soul healing. Interesting sociological discussion of "warrior",initiation rites, and romanticized views of war.

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Sep 12, 2007 Mary added it

Shelves: future-reading

http://www.wbez.org/Program_WV_Segmen...

Another heavy but life-affirming interview on NPR. I like people who believe talking is healing.

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Jun 21, 2008 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: psychology

A discourse on the profound emotional and psychological impact on those who experience war and its life-long effects.

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Jan 13, 2012 Charlie rated it 3 of 5 stars

As the feminists say "the personal is political". what could be more of both than PTSD from combat related trauma?

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Apr 30, 2012 Amanda Torrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

A solid validation that a human being is actually more than the sum of its individual parts.

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Apr 13, 2013 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

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