Post-Hogwarts PTSD

[naama_gat at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11161

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> 
wrote:
> Hi --
> 
> naama_gat at h... wrote:
> 
> > After all, most people who have fought in wars do not get PTSD.
> 
> I could be wrong, but I think that might be a bit of a 
generalization.  I
> think I've read something somewhere that a majority of Vietnam vets
> suffered some degree of PTSD at some point in their lives.
> 
> > My point in all this is that Harry probably will not suffer from 
PTSD.
> > I doubt that he will ever go through a more horrible experience 
than
> > the graveyard scene. And according to the canon he has
> > emotionally survived this.
> 
> If the books are only going to get darker (per JKR), how do you 
figure
> that Harry has already lived through the worst of it?  I personally
> didn't think he'd have faced what he did in GoF (I was shocked that
> Voldemort was back in full-force in the *4th* book -- didn't expect 
it
> until the 6th or even 7th book myself).  But, he *is* back, and I 
don't
> think the coming "War" is going to be a cakewalk for anyone 
involved.  I
> don't think poor Harry has gone through the worst of it by any 
means.
> 
> > We should remember, however, that generally speaking people are 
tough
> > and can survive very difficult times without breaking up 
emotionally
> > (which is what I think PTSD is basically).
> 
> I'm sure Carole or Monika or someone else more knowledgeable about 
PTSD
> can speak to this more than I can .... but my personal take is that
> you're viewing PTSD as some sort of personal weakness that could be
> overcome with enough strength of character.  I don't think this is
> necessarily true, but I admittedly am not too knowledgeable about 
this
> topic.
> 
> Penny


NO, NO, NO!! That is just the complete and twisted opposite of what I 
believe. Its so weird that that is the impression you've got. To 
blame a person, who has suffered unbearable pain and terror, for 
having PTSD as a result - well.. words fail me. That would be cruelty 
on a whole new level.  
What I wanted to say (and I may be quite wrong, of course), is that 
PTSD seems to be related to *prolonged* and extreme states of terror, 
pain and horror. It seemed to me that the struggle with V. (so long 
as he doesn't take over) does not entail such prolonged "exposure". 
I'm not at all sure that I am right in this. I think I'm 
extrapolating from the plots we know, where there are only short and 
decisive encounters with V. Obviously, that may change in the future 
books.

As to the scene in the graveyard - horrible things will happen now 
that V. has risen again, and at a much higher frequency. However, I 
still feel that Harry has, personally, gone through the worst thing 
he has and will experience. *Nothing* could be worse than that 
horrible spell. Seeing V. as the monstrous child, having his blood 
"taken forcibly", watching Wormtail cut off his own hand, and, horror 
of horrors - seeing V. rise again. And all the while - tied up, 
helpless, knowing that he is going to die by V. hands, the same 
person who muredered his parents, and be fed to his snake. Jeez. I 
shouldn't at all wonder if he will start getting flashbacks several 
years hence.

I hope I've made my thoughts on this clear now. Its getting pretty 
late here and my thoughts are getting woolier and woolier.

Naama