PTSD In Soldier's Home

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Thousands and thousands of the countries most loyal men and women who have put their lives in danger to keep our country safe, suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is caused by a life threatening event which is too painful to handle. In the short story, “Soldier’s home” Krebs, the protagonist, suffers from PTSD. From the information given, I believe he will recover emotionally, spiritually, mentally. There are many symptoms to PTSD, but one in particular is emotional withdrawal and avoidance. Thomas J. Brennan, a sergeant in the US Marine Corps who deal with PTSD, discusses his personal experiences dealing with this condition: “I went through the motions. Hugs and kisses felt hollow. Smiles ha no feelings, tears bore no sadness. I had become so …show more content…

Although, once he receives therapy he will learn how to love again. His emotional recovery will be very similar to his spiritual recovery instead of finding love, he will be searching for God. Krebs is currently very distant from God, when he is in the kitchen with his mom during breakfast, his mom asked him to pray with her: “‘Now, you pray, Harold,’ she said. ‘I can’t,’ Krebs said. ‘Try, Harold.’ ‘I can’t’ ‘Do want me to pray for you?’ ‘Yes’’’ (Hemingway 6). It will take Krebs time to find faith, but with the correct guidance and support from his mom and others he will get there. He is already on the right path he is accepting prayers and watching what people do around him. He is surrounded by his family who will help him get through these times. They will also help him heal mentally. Krebs is in a state mind in which he doesn’t work and he doesn’t want to work to get a girl. When he was in town one night he sees some girls and the narrator explains, “Vaguely he wanted a girl but he didn’t want to have to work to get her. He would have liked to have a girl but he didn’t want to spend a long time getting her” (Hemingway

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