Hi,
We always encourage those seeking to research PTSD, and will help steer you in the right direction surrounding PTSD itself.
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Originally Posted by mvd182  I have never known anyone who has had PTSD |
I believe this is why a professor would state what they did surrounding substance to the book. My understanding of writing truly profound material is to become the character. Not sure how much truth there is in that, though most great authors do this, hence why they are great. I believe your book, without even reading it, would be full of holes due to the fact you have not been around a person with PTSD for a long period yourself. To see is to believe, and only one person would not be suitable IMHO, you would need to be around many from various aspects. PTSD is not created equal.
Good move to get out and see for yourself, though simply spending a few hours with a sufferer would do nothing, as PTSD is not always present.
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Originally Posted by mvd182 So I have spent the last year cloistered in my apartment writing and smoking entirely too many cigarettes, but always writing. I only tell you this because I have dedicated a lot of time to this damn book and i want to get it right. |
Again, that is great dedication though you have no practicable experience in which to base your books substance. It is like a reporter attempting to discuss war without being in a war zone themselves for a given time. A reporters work often changes dramatically once they experience something for themselves. You obviously do not want to experience PTSD as its incurable, however; you need to get out and get in with people who have PTSD so you can observe and learn. Just my opinion though, you are the writer.
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Originally Posted by mvd182 Jack, my character, suffers from PTSD, which he acquired in the service of the military. |
This immediately creates a difference in factors to his symptoms, likely which you may not know. How one gets PTSD typically contributes more or less to certain symptoms. A soldier will often have higher anger components due to the training in which they have endured within the military in order to fight in war.
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Originally Posted by mvd182 I instead decided to allow him the option to be morose and unresponsive as if in a waking coma. |
Some with PTSD are quite like this, though if military, he would still have high anger, regardless if you want to dismiss it, a soldier would have this and flashbacks. Soldiers are typically more destructive than say a sufferer who has been raped or MVA. The reason is because of their training and lifestyle within the military compared to civilian life.
I believe because not only are you talking about PTSD here, your talking about PTSD within a soldier. That means you need to know what goes on in the military that contributes to a soldiers PTSD. Again, a solider will typically be more destructive, violent and will more often abuse alcohol and drugs with PTSD compared to what a civilian will. The reason is due to the training and lifestyle of the military. You must understand this in order to get a true reflection of how a veteran with PTSD would act, how symptoms would be reflected, etc.