The Wounds Within: A Veteran, a PTSD Therapist, and a Nation Unprepared

Description

This true story of a Marine's experience after Iraq "offers practical advice for veterans and families coping with post-war emotional trauma" (Publishers Weekly). As America's longest wars end, hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Wounds Within follows the case of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeff Lucey, who deployed early in the Iraq War, battled PTSD after returning home, and set his family on a decade-long campaign to reform the Veterans Affairs system and end the stigma around military-related mental health issues. Included in this book is the perspective of Jeff's psychotherapist, Mark Nickerson, an internationally recognized expert on trauma treatment. Recounting one family's story as well as case histories of Nickerson's veteran clients, The Wounds Within explains PTSD and the methods by which it can be treated. It also explores the challenges and frustrations facing returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan—from belated reforms to overwhelmed military families to civilians who don't know what to say beyond "Thank you for your service." "War is changing, and one of the biggest changes is in our understanding of what it does to veterans. This moving and eye-opening book will be a landmark in our country's efforts to come to terms with a growing tragedy." —Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature "Nickerson's resilient quest to learn more about PTSD is inspirational, heartfelt and genuine. No blame games, just a positive focus on solutions. The Wounds Within is and will remain timeless." —Brig. Gen. (ret.) Colleen McGuire, director, US Army Suicide Prevention Task Force, 2008–12