PTSD In Soldier's Heart

PTSD (soldiers heart) “is a condition that can develop after you have gone a life-threatening event.” The symptoms that you have when experiencing PTSD (soldier’s heart) are Depression, Self-blame, guilt, shame, anger (aggressive behavior), Alcohol or drug abuse. Gary Paulsen wrote a book called Soldier's Heart to show some of the symptoms of PTSD or Soldier's Heart. Gary Paulsen’s book Soldier's Heart is about a 15-year-old boy who decides to join the army the army at 15 and because of the he develops PTSD (soldiers heart) he starts to become Suicidal and develops aggressive behavior and survivor's guilt. Therefore, this shows that Charley has developed soldier's heart or PTSD.

One of the symptoms of PTSD that Charley develops over time

in the story is that he becomes isolated and wants to be alone after the war. (Page 21) For example, “Death was everywhere, nowhere. Bullets flew past him with evil little snaps and snickers as they cut the air. Next to him Massey’s head suddenly left his body and disappeared, taken by a cannon round that went through an officer's horse, end to end, before plowing into the ground.” Which supports the reason to why Charley has PTSD (Soldiers Heart)and why he’s so isolated for everyone in his troop.

Another symptom of PTSD (Soldiers Heart) that Charley develops over time is self-blame. Which came from his guilt of having to fight and kill people and also survivor's guilt. For the people who don’t know self-blame is when you blame yourself for the actions of other people. However, one of the main things that showed midway into the story was (survivor's guilt). For example, on (page.56-57) “Charley's friend Nelson is injured and is in critical conditions and Charley feels like it’s his fault because he told his friend he would survive although he died from his injuries.” Which eventually scarred Charley and gave him self-blame and survivor's guilt.

One of the last symptoms that i noticed that charley developed was; anger and aggression over time and also suicidal thoughts. For example, on page (50-51) “Charley was controlled by rage and wanted every man dead” and the suicidal thoughts start to come in “when they were in battle and charley noticed that the men were dead and it became a recent reminder of why he thought that he should probably be dead.” (Ch.4)

On the other hand, Some may say that charlie doesn't suffer from Soldier's Heart (PTSD) because he never committed to suicide or tried to harm himself physically. However, just because you develop or have soldier's heart doesn't mean u have to commit suicide to me officially diagnosed with it. For instance, ALthough charley didn't commit suicide he had most of the symptoms you develop when u having PTSD. Which are Depression, Self-blame, guilt, shame, anger or aggressive behavior and alcohol/Drug abuse. Which are most of the symptoms he developed while in war and as well as after the war.

In conclusion, Charley actually does and has developed soldier's heart (PTSD) throughout the story. Charley developed the following symptoms depression, Self-blame, guilt, shame, anger or aggressive behavior and alcohol/Drug abuse. Mainly because of the fact of him joining the war at 15 and being exposed to all that violence killing and profanity at such a young age. Which gave him the effects of soldier's heart (PTSD). That is why I know that charley had soldier's heart (PTSD).