interviews with soldiers suffering from PTSD

[Jason]

This week the Australian radio show Street Stories tells the story of soldiers returning from combat with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

No-one knows why a significant number of service men and women develop post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their experiences of conflict, and others do not. But for these veterans of the Gulf War and East Timor, the impact on their lives has been profound.

The onset of symptoms often means the end of their military career, and their ability to adapt to other employment is limited. Some days, motivation returns -- and on others they can barely get out of bed in the morning. They feel isolated and worthless, and it affects every aspect of their lives. Some turn to alcohol to blur the memories, but it doesn't fix the problem. Relationships are a likely casualty; post-traumatic stress disorder wreaks havoc on families and loved ones, and for the young partner of a soldier who served in Afghanistan, the consequences were devastating.




The shows page on the Street Stories site includes a hotline number for Australian Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service.

For the US there is a website: Seamless Transition from the VA.


Jason

[Jason]

The book that first comes to mind when I think of soldiers suffering from PTSD is The Things They Carried, especially the story "Speaking of Courage" where the guy drives in circles after coming home from the war. But really that entire novel is an expression of PTSD.

Another book that deals with PTSD resulting from war is Out of War: True Stories from the Front Lines of the Children's Movement for Peace in Colombia. This book isn't about soldiers but children living with war. It's a YA book but would be an intense (and fulfilling) read for any age.

Jason