Customer Reviews

HIDDEN BATTLES ON UNSEEN FRONTS: Stories of American Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD

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This is a most important book, timely and accurate yet full of sincere concern and compassion for those numerous servicemembers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. As in the quote from Tracy Williams of the NEW ORLEANS PICAYUNE used in the Introduction "Every war has its signature wound. In World War I it was poison gas-damaged lungs. In World War II it was retaliation that caused cancer. In Vietnam it was Agent Orange that caused neurological damage and skin disorders, and for the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts it is TBI." Chapter by chapter this book describes the struggles of many servicemembers and their families who having endured the horrors of war now having to face the challenges of readjustment to civilian life. A Navy Hospital Corpsman veteran myself I did not, however, serve during a wartime period. Now, however, reading the stories of what our newest warriors have to endure can only give one a source of renewed commitment to trying to be supportive today. It is shocking that so many servicemembers still have to endure the insensivity of a sensation driven media who on the one hand insists it supports our military but on the other, takes every opportunity it can to bash efforts taken for the military to "take care of their own."

This book gives inspiration and incite into those whom have Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD problems.

First, let me say, everyone who deals with vets of OIF/OEF in the VA system and TBI patients should own a copy of this book. There is not much out there excet for the very technical books.

Some of this comes from a soldir's point of view and experiances as well as spouses and doctors/psychiatrists dealing with this issue.

This also should find its way into your library if you work at any of numerous military hospitals or command troops in the warzone, have troops in your unit from the warzone. This book will help you see some of the problems and your soldiers/marines might not even be aware of having some of the symptons of TBI or PTSD.

Also, this book should be owned by those who have been disgnosed with TBI.

The reasons why is because it shows you are not alone in your struggles and can see that those with serious TBI problems can live a normal life with some help. We are not so defective that we cannot have a normal life in the military and other civilian jobs.

In a sense, this book also helps dispell some of the myths of a TBI patient.

I say all this because I wrote the chapter on myself(23) and hope to inspire other TBI patients to realize our life does not have to be an abnormal life and unable to function in society or job vocations.

It takes work and sometimes can be hard, yet we determine the level of quality of life that we decide. TBI affects some people in many different ways. No TBI patient's experiance will ever be the same of another.

So I reccomemd this book to many who deal with TBI patients, TBI patients and anyone who commands troops.

The worst of the war for many soldiers does not come on the battle field, but at home. "Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts: Stories of American Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD" is an examination of what many soldiers face in today's life of a veteran where the damage isn't immediately obvious by looking at straight physical health. Drawing from the reflections of soldiers as well as much psychological and medical insight, "Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts" brings attention to the real problem facing our recent war veterans.