Expressed And Blessed Holden s Battle With Ptsd

Stressed and Blessed: Holden’s Battle with PTSD According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as, â€Å"a mental condition that can affect a person who has had a very shocking or difficult experience and that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, etc†(citataion). Unfortunately, many people struggle with this disorder every day which can cause them to become depressed and nervous, and in the worst cases, cause them to commit suicide. Throughout Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield, struggles to live normally after the death of his brother Allie. It is evident that Holden is suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder when he shows symptoms, reacts in typical ways and eventually takes steps to overcome his problem. Post-traumatic stress disorder most often occurs after a traumatic event that leaves the person emotionally and psychologically scarred. Some traumatic events that could re sult in the disorder include war, natural disasters, car crashes, death of a loved one, assault or abuse. In Holden Caulfield’s case, the death of his brother Allie, whom he grew very close to, was the cause of his pain and suffering. Holden’s case is not uncommon among those with the disorder according to helpguide.org who stated, â€Å"It (PTSD) can even occur in the friends or family members of those who went through the actual trauma†(Smith). Although, post-traumatic stress disorder more commonly occurs in those