War and the Soul

“With a resounding salute to those who have given their lives, this book empowers us to overcome the soul loss that is the result of all wars.” —Jan C. Scruggs, founder, Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Speaking as a war veteran, I do believe Ed Tick’s heart has seen what my eyes have seen.” —Robert Reiter, veterans’ service officer Post-traumatic stress disorder increasingly afflicts veterans of modern warfare. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that it affects almost 20% of soldiers returning from Iraq. Tragically, PTSD impacts all aspects of life. Some vets can’t hold jobs or sustain relationships. Others have recurrent nightmares or won’t leave home, fearing they may attack “the enemy” seen in the faces of those they meet. To begin healing, says Edward Tick, we must see PTSD as a disorder of identity itself. The violence of war can cause the very soul to flee and be lost for life. Drawing on history, mythology, and thirty years of experience, Dr. Tick reveals the universal dimensions of veterans’ soul wounding. He uses methods from ancient Greek, Native American, Vietnamese, and other traditions to restore the soul so that the veteran can, at last, truly return home. His work is invaluable for veterans of any war, as well as for their families and all who care for them.