"You Will Not Get Better"
Making a Realistic PTSD Character & Writing Update
“I just want to take some time so things go back to normal.”
"You will not get better."
“Can I take medicine?”
“Pills can negate the syndromes, but you will forever be dependent on them, and you will not get better.”
“…”
“If you don’t want to feel this way anymore, you need help to retrain how your brain reacts to things. The past has happened, nothing can take that away. What can change is your relations to the present and future. You will always have the mental scars, but at least the open wounds will heal.”
-A 2011 conversation with a doctor as recalled to the best of my memory
I love getting feedback from readers of the Fallen series. Positive reviews make me feel good, negative reviews can help me improve as a writer, and detailed interactions do both.
The greatest split in readers’ opinion is their reaction to Brendan’s mental state. Some readers, who again I enjoy *all* feedback, have found his cycle of mental degradation annoying, with one reader saying Brendan should “man up.” Meanwhile, veterans, cops, those who I have worked with in combat-related PTSD support groups, and multiple social workers have praised the portrayal as a realistic depiction of a severe case of PTSD.
So why the disconnect? First, the general public has a poor understanding of PTSD even after 20 years of the Global War on Terror. People are familiar with portrayals of “Vietnam flashbacks” that temporally disable or World War I-style “shell shock,” yet few understand most PTSD sufferers have reactions that cause limiting behaviors like event-based acute anxiety while appearing normal otherwise.
Second, and most importantly, when dealing with severe cases of PTSD, these people are broken. Their way of thinking is shattered. Like a toy with its arm fallen off, they cannot fix themselves. They need psychological treatment to beat the disordered way of thinking that causes traumatic stress to disrupt their lives.
The character Brendan Murphy is a broken individual. He is in denial about it and seeks to self-medicate with missions that, while providing a temporary sense of worth, only further degrade his mental condition. He is a junky on a self-destructive spiral. His breakdowns are the only point he can open himself to help from others. But if he doesn’t continue the down that path when seemingly better, the stress will only further break him. This sadly is true for many who suffer the mental and moral scars of war.
Fallen is about the fallen nature of Brendan’s mental health with the backdrop of Earth’s first contact with an alien race. It’s about the suffering of many good men and woman who, after sacrificing years of their life for their nation, now live in a country that doesn’t understand why they behave differently. The few out there who can offer hope are the few who can help the sufferers heal.
For my previous write up on creating a realistic PTSD character, see one of my first posts.
Depicting a Character with PTSD
Of the drivers that lead to the creation of Fallen, my desire to share the experiences of those who have mentally suffered years of war and disconnection from civilian life has always been first and foremost. Feedback from veterans has been positive about how the main character has come across; however, some other readers expressed their disbelief in th…
Writing Update
The first draft of Assumption is done! This is the last of the Fallen series. The Sabia are back! Berina, Esfirs, Roxin, and even Brendan all have a role to play in the future of both Earth and the Sabia.
Behold, the draft cover art I have for the book.
Looking for psychological military science fiction? Read about the adventure of veteran Brendan Murphy as he tries to keep peace between Earth and a mysterious alien race known as the Sabia. Read the Fallen series today! Please remember to leave a review once you are done. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent creators.
Other Independent Book Promotions
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Until Next Time
Next time will feature a very short story collection. Then I hope to have a convention special. Coming soon will be the first chapter of the Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 2!
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage, The Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!
I had an eating disorder due to PTSD caused in childhood. Last night I showed my sister this post, and tonight I had a flashback to one of the causes of that disorder.
This is my first public instance mentioning it, because I wanted to note that atop the idea that only women get eating disorders, I also had to explain how someone who didn't go to war could get PTSD, that multiple types existed. Then there's the issue of people caring in the wrong way, seeing you as a movie to watch, and not seeing you as a human being.
I have had people want to know the deepest details of the causes for my PTSD. I'd probably do well on tiktok monetising my worst memories. Is that the world these idiots want? Sometimes I worry it might be.
I have a few characters with PTSD. I won't ever say which ones. I hope I've done a good job.
I think we've become so used to hollywood tales of 'strong' (read: badly written) characters un PTSDing themselves by vomiting a handful of catchphrases that the common person (read: uneducated / inexperienced) has been effectively reprogrammed to see PTSD as a temporary ailment, in much the same way normals will say "I kinda had depression last week when I realised Walmart was out of dorito dip oh my gooooood" and think it makes sense to us humans who have actually lived lives.
Thank you for this post, I may be inclined to write more comments on it soon.