Patricia Driscoll and Celia Straus’ book, Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts, documents the rising rate of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) among our service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. As advancements in medical science allow more of our soldiers to survive their physical wounds, the healthcare community faces many new challenges in addressing these hidden scars.

Starting with an introduction by Brigadier General Loree Sutton, Directof of the Defense Centers of Excellence in Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Hidden Battles demonstrates a unique collaboration between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to get the word out about their efforts to support the mental health of our wounded soldiers. The book contains testimonials and case studies from Soldiers and Marines wounded in combat who discover that despite severe physical injuries, their greatest challenges begin after they leave the hospital. These cases affect not just the service members but their friends and family, such as in the case of a single mother returning from Iraq after witnessing terrible atrocities and who now juggles work, family and PTSD. The book’s overarching theme revolves around these hidden ailments and the resilience and courage shown by those battling them and those seeking to treat them.

To order a copy of the book visit:
http://www.casematepublishing.com/title.php?isbn=9781935149019


Endorsements

"Celia Straus and Patricia Driscoll have compiled a very real and very powerful story of the tragedies and successes of our American soldiers. It is a must-read book – not just for returning veterans, advocates, family members, and care providers – but for all Americans."

- Bob Filner, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

" These stories are a glimpse into the lives of our service members and the real challenges thousands of them face as a result of defending and protecting our country and its ideals. Driscoll and Straus’ compilation of real life stories demonstrates the importance of addressing the changing needs of our soldiers and why it is essential to identify victims of TBI and PTSD and help them recover from these unseen, but very real injuries."

- Congressman John Boozman (R-AR)

" Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts is a compelling collection of personal accounts and essays that tell the most important story of our time. The authors have done a masterful job of giving voice to those who have lived through the trauma of war – as well as those who are dedicated to providing care and support to our military community. Her tales are painful, wrenching and often uplifting accounts of loss, recovery and survival. These are the stories that must be told and fully comprehended so that we can truly provide the care and support that our returning warriors and their families need and deserve."

Barbara Van Dahlen Romberg, Ph.D.
Founder & President
Give an Hour
bvromberg@giveanhour.org
202.244.5944

" I had the pleasure of reading the advance copy of the book "Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts." As a clinician, researcher, and teacher in the field of brain injury rehabilitation in both the Veterans Administration and University Academics, I have found this book to be a thought provoking and informative resource about the many facets of the current conflicts that the U.S. is facing. It gives the reader the opportunity to learn about the challenges on and off the battlefield from a number of perspectives, the service member, the family, the miltary leaders, the clinicians, the ethicists, and beyond. While there are no easy answers to address the challenging and often novel questions that are arising from the OEF/OIF conflicts, this book further helps us to at least begin to better understand the questions."

David X. Cifu, MD
Chairman and Herman J. Flax, MD Professor
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond)


Foreward

The book's forward was written by Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton M.D.

For many of our Warriors, “coming home” is not the end of war—far from it.

Leaving the battlefield far behind, the battle often continues—in hearts and minds, relationships, and communities after deployment. Families and loved ones often find themselves fighting a battle, too, striving to understand and support the person they care for after a life-changing experience that they may not want to remember, let alone talk about. Warriors may feel isolated in a frightening and unfamiliar struggle to cope with memories of war, one of the most intense and affecting experiences a human being can endure.

The intensely personal stories in this book place a human face on the adversity of war that frequently remains hidden from public attention: the challenge of post-traumatic stress, concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury), and other psychological health issues among our returning Warriors. Despite the struggles, those who have shouldered the adversity of war may also seize this opportunity to experience post-traumatic growth as well – deepening one’s faith, cherishing relationships, reordering life priorities, and extending compassion and empathy for others.

Many will adapt to their “new normal” in a few weeks or months; some will take additional time to come to terms with their experience. Killing in combat, witnessing or participating in atrocities, losing beloved buddies, coming home to a strained or even fractured marriage, experiencing “survivor’s guilt”, witnessing the death of innocent civilians, craving the adrenalin surge of living in the shadow of death – such are the timeless challenges known to Warriors of all ages – past, present and future.

Reintegration with home, work, family and community is arduous – as one sergeant put it, “it’s tough to move from being a target to shopping at Target!” Some find that memories can be more disturbing than the actual experience, because what they once believed could touch them only on the battlefield has now “followed me home”. Where sleep was once a rejuvenating respite, slumber may now be punctuated with nightly replays of combat’s peril. Further, the routine of family life may be overwhelmed by demands unseen but remembered, compounded by the frustration of loved ones who are attempting to understand what their Warrior is experiencing.

The challenges are real . . . Celia Straus’ timely book -- a story of stories – is ultimately a story of hope, strength, love, courage, forgiveness and redemption.

The challenges are real—but this book is ultimately a story of success.

In these pages, you will witness the accounts of real Warriors and learn of their battles at home and at war – as well as the strengths they have claimed along the way. These gripping stories harness the power and the promise of recovery in the most poignant manner possible: by seeing through the eyes of those who have actually lived it.

Successful recovery and reintegration call for resilience: the human capacity to adapt and grow in the face of stress, adversity, trauma and tragedy. Realizing this capacity requires the sometimes painful work of finding meaning, purpose and value in life’s harshest experiences – marked by breakthroughs, heartaches, lapses, triumphs and, at times, despair. Hope must prevail – you are NOT alone.

Thus it is entirely fitting that this book includes essays from caring professionals now in the field supporting our Warriors. These first-person accounts of trauma treatment and study describe the practical mechanisms of resilience and recovery – a holistic union of mind, body and spirit. Many are informed by their own experiences with war and trauma – and know first-hand the vital imperative of keeping hope on the horizon. These stories provide a real-world view of how Warriors and their families interact with psychologists, social workers, chaplains and others who are “fellow travelers” on this journey from trauma to transformation. Troops wage war; healers wage hope.

In many ways, this book is answers the call to a sacred duty that is as old as the family of man: to tell the story of the wounded Warrior. Repeated throughout history and literature, this call marks the human need for meaning, purpose, and a sense of belonging beyond one’s self. Consider Hamlet on his deathbed, making his final request to Horatio, his dearest and most trusted friend: “If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, absent thee from felicity awhile and enter my harsh world and draw my breath in pain to tell my story.”

Withdraw yourself from your comforts to see through my eyes, says Hamlet. Tell the world my story.

The Warriors whose stories are collected in this book demand to be heard. The extraordinary candor of these men and women in recounting their experiences reflects a courageous willingness to make their most intimate fears—and enduring hopes—part of the public domain. This gift of service and sacrifice symbolizes the trust and love that, in our best moments, enables humans to act selflessly on the battlefield of war and peace. These priceless lessons, gained through time, courage, patience, prayer and fellowship – will lead the way home for Warriors throughout the ages. We are privileged to stand on the shoulders of such giants.

Someone once said: “Be kinder than necessary for everyone we meet is fighting some sort of battle.” Believe it. Psychological injuries – leading to unseen battles on hidden fronts – are real, urgent and potentially lethal. You are NOT alone . . . Seeking support IS an act of strength and courage. We are all in this journey of life together . . . Perhaps that is the greatest blessing of all.

Army Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton, M.D.
December 2008

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