Alan Silva
Professor Gloria Bennett
English1102
November 27,2016
Not All Things Heal with Time
Some of the most painful injuries are not always visible; in fact, some of the most life debilitating injuries are the ones that cannot be seen, for they are the ones forever etched into the psyche. Depression, anger, fear, hopelessness, and isolation: these represent the gloomy colors that PTSD has chosen to carve into the canvas that is a victim’s mind using the stiff bristles of trauma. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition or injury that maims soldiers and civilians alike who have been dealt a bad hand in life and had to endure emotionally intense situations. Situations like these leave such devastating scars on the psyche that they cannot function the same way prior to that moment in time without out the aid of drugs, alcohol or psychotherapy. Soldiers are perceived as something more than human because they are described as being trained, rugged, edgy and always prepared for anything. Despite this perception, the Veterans Health Administration knows all too well how they can be injured and damaged just …show more content…
For those combatants who are captured by the enemy, the trauma of war is compounded. War captivity comprises brutal torture, severe humiliation, and a prolonged and harsh deprivation of basic needs. Unlike other traumatic events, captivity is a highly intimate, interpersonal experience, with captors having total control over their prisoner. Captors make decisions about the life or death of the captive, and often deliberately inflict extreme physical and psychological pain aiming to break the captive’s spirit. The captive’s unique and complex interaction with the captor often leaves a detrimental imprint on the captive’s subsequent interpersonal relationships, particularly with regard to issues such as control, trust, and intimacy.
Professor Gloria Bennett
English1102
November 27,2016
Not All Things Heal with Time
Some of the most painful injuries are not always visible; in fact, some of the most life debilitating injuries are the ones that cannot be seen, for they are the ones forever etched into the psyche. Depression, anger, fear, hopelessness, and isolation: these represent the gloomy colors that PTSD has chosen to carve into the canvas that is a victim’s mind using the stiff bristles of trauma. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition or injury that maims soldiers and civilians alike who have been dealt a bad hand in life and had to endure emotionally intense situations. Situations like these leave such devastating scars on the psyche that they cannot function the same way prior to that moment in time without out the aid of drugs, alcohol or psychotherapy. Soldiers are perceived as something more than human because they are described as being trained, rugged, edgy and always prepared for anything. Despite this perception, the Veterans Health Administration knows all too well how they can be injured and damaged just …show more content…
For those combatants who are captured by the enemy, the trauma of war is compounded. War captivity comprises brutal torture, severe humiliation, and a prolonged and harsh deprivation of basic needs. Unlike other traumatic events, captivity is a highly intimate, interpersonal experience, with captors having total control over their prisoner. Captors make decisions about the life or death of the captive, and often deliberately inflict extreme physical and psychological pain aiming to break the captive’s spirit. The captive’s unique and complex interaction with the captor often leaves a detrimental imprint on the captive’s subsequent interpersonal relationships, particularly with regard to issues such as control, trust, and intimacy.