Veterans Affairs

Living in the shadowy interior of the brain's limbic system and invisible to the untrained eye, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can not only torture its victims for a lifetime, but reaches beyond victims to negatively influence family members and loved ones. Soldier's Heart, titled after one of the early names for PTSD, delves into the lives of otherwise normal American veterans who, seemingly for no reason, display lasting patterns of bad choices and erratic, self-destructive behavior. Analysis of the life portraits of combat veterans brings the myriad symptoms of PTSD to light, equipping the lay reader to recognize the disorder and gain a thorough understanding that can be the foundation for steps to facilitate healing. Four men and one woman who served in Vietnam describe how PTSD still tears at their lives 30 years later.

An overview of trauma and the mind/body -- History of the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD -- The phenomenology of PTSD -- The experiences of reserve soldiers -- Coming home from the war -- Preparing for what is to come -- Civilians at risk -- Treatment approaches to traumatic disorders -- Keys to treating trauma -- Alternative approaches to treating PTSD