Shell Shock: The Diary of Tommy Atkins

This short, diary-style novel, by a British army veteran chronicles the difficulties faced by Tommy, a 23-year-old squaddie, as he desperately tries to conquer post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – shell shock. His over-emotional responses to the stresses of everyday life – post-office queues, a trip to Ikea, and his relationship with his family and girlfriend – eventually lead to alienation and suicidal urges. Told in the vernacular, with humour and personal understanding, the story highlights the work of the Charity Combat Stress in rehabilitating returning troops.

Avainsanat: military, fiction, shell shock, PTSD, Iraq, Combat Stress, FireStep, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Army, Life, Discharge, Mental Health, Mental Welfare, Mental Illness, soldier, war