Depression and Harry in OotP -- PTSD

[naamagatus]

No: HPFGUIDX 110896

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tonks_op" <tonks_op at y...> 
wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> I don't think anyone read the post I did last night.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/110801
> 
> Harry is not clinically depressed, he has PTSD.

I agree with you (that Hary is not clinically depressed). Harry is a 
fictional character - his symptoms cannot indicate anything other 
than the author's intent. Now, we know that in PoA JKR specifically 
intended the Dementors as a metaphor of depression. She said so in 
interviews, and it's also clear from the description: they take away 
the ability to feel or even remember happiness. 
In OoP Harry is not descreibed as experiencing any such thing. He is 
angry, upset, sad, frustrated - but nothing like the effect Dementors 
have. Therefore, JKR did not intend to portray Harry as suffering 
from depression.
I'm not sure whether she specifically intended to portray him as 
suffering from PTSD, but I do think that the symptoms he shows are 
closer to PTSD (although I'm not an expert). Also, the fact is that 
he had gone through a severely traumatic event - not only was he 
captured and his life threatenend, Wormtail taking his blood and 
having to see Voldemort rise again - I think it's a form of rape. Add 
to that the sudden, meaningless death of Cedric... as I've said 
before, although things will get worse in the WW, I don't think that 
Harry personally will go through anything as horrific as that. Even 
Sirius' death, although more painful, hasn't got that off the charts 
level of horror.


Naama