Mr. Galavant Character Analysis
Most nights when a restless Theo Galavant , a former marine, finally became somnolent he found himself back on the battlefields of Iraq. He would awake in a cold sweat, then struggle fruitless to return to sleep. Days were rarely better. Loud noises such as Car alarms shattered his nerves. Flashbacks came unexpectedly at the smallest triggers like a whiff of certain cleaning chemicals. Bar fights seemed unavoidable; he nearly attacked a man for not washing his hands in the bathroom. Desperate for sleep and relief, Mr.Galavant turned to bottles of alcohol to comfort him and to drown his woes in. One morning, his parents found him in the driveway slumped over the wheel of his car, the door wide open, wipers scraping back and forth. Another time, they found him curled in a fetal position in his closet. In denial of the obvious problem he had, it took his drunken driving causing the death of a 16-year-old cheerleader for Mr.Galavant to acknowledge the depth of his problem: His eight months at war had profoundly damaged his psyche.“I was trying to be the tough marine I was trained to be — not to talk about problems, not to cry,” said Mr. Galavant, who has since been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. “I imprisoned myself in my own mind.(Alvarez par 1). Mr. Galavant is not the only one struggling with with problems like this, PTSD affects about 7.7 million adults in just america
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alone and as Mark Thompson states nearly an eighth of that number came in the last thirteen years from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars “As many as 500,000 U.S. troops who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past 13 years have been diagnosed with PTSD”
(para 2).
PTSD is a growing epidemic in society which does not just affect the soldiers and veterans but their families and also society as a whole. What exactly is PTSD in Veterans and soldiers? “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes known as shell shock or combat stress, occurs after experiencing severe trauma or a life-threatening event. It’s normal for the mind and body to be in shock after such an event, but this normal response becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck” reliving that
same traumatic moment over and over again” (Smith, Robinson, and Segal Par 2 ). Symptoms of PTSD usually appears within three months of the traumatic incident but in some cases does not show up until years after the incident. PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, or changes in emotional reactions (Mayo 1).Symptoms of intrusive memories include; Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event; Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks);Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event and ;Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event (Mayo 2).Symptoms of avoidance include: Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event and or avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event (3).Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood include:Negative feelings about yourself or other people, Feeling emotionally numb, Hopelessness about the future, and Difficulty maintaining close relationships. And lastly Symptoms of changes in emotional reactions include: Irritability; angry outbursts or aggressive behavior; overwhelming guilt or shame, self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast; Trouble sleeping; and being easily startled or frightened (4). What does PTSD do to an individual? "Individuals with PTSD may constantly re-experience their trauma in different ways, like intrusive thoughts or distressing dreams" (Bokor, Anderson par.7). Who is most at risk? As Mark Thompson said the most at risk soldiers in the military are foot soldiers. “Ground-pounding soldiers and Marines have PTSD at more than double the rate of sailors and airmen. And the condition is the third most common service-connected disability, after hearing loss and tinnitus”(par 14). An analysis of PTSD in veterans and active soldiers shows that often PTSD leads to other issues such as substance abuse, mental health problems, and violent behavior.
The most common result of PTSD is substance abuse and addiction. “More than 20 percent of veterans with PTSD also suffer from an addiction or dependence on drugs or alcohol” (Smith par 3). The reason for this is because often drugs and alcohol is an outlet for veterans to cope with the stresses of PTSD. Another reason for high numbers of veterans with substance abuse problems is because majority of times, as former special forces sergeant Bryan Lane said, while in service there is a no tolerance policy for all substances including alcohol. “The problem in today’s military is soldiers have to be warriors, killers, do war, but we don’t allow them any releases like we used to...You can’t go out and drink, you can’t get into a fight. It’s completely unrealistic” (par 14). Alcohol can be bad and in most cases is, but when people are not allowed to do something for a long period of time once that thing is reintroduced into his or her lives that thing tends to be overused and abused. This is true in the case of veterans returning home after his or her service, once alcohol is reintroduced into the picture instead of having a drink or two here and there binge drinking occurs, not in all cases but a high number of them. Once binge drinking comes into play that is when alcohol becomes a problem. Once alcohol is turned to for comfort and over drinking takes place dependency forms and light dependency leads to harcore addiction. Alcohol is not the only thing included within the veteran substance abuse category drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and even prescribed drugs are major problems. For most veterans going through addiction is not even the hardest part about being an addict, kicking the addiction is, and including the symptoms of PTSD with addiction does not make becoming clean any easier .”People with PTSD have a harder time overcoming addiction than those without it. The symptoms of withdrawal combined with the symptoms of PTSD amplify negative feelings and emotions that may lead to a relapse”(Smith 4). Some might say kicking addiction is a harder war to fight than the ones that caused them to be plagued with PTSD. Chronic alcohol and drug abuse have long been known to be associated with an increased risk of divorce, unemployment, physical and mental illness, and criminal behavior (Wascher par 8). Addiction does not just affect the person with the problem but all aspects of his or life including health, relationships, and work. Exposure to traumatic events such as military combat can be related to poor physical and or mental health. War is not like it is in the movies with battle scenes where the enemy gets obliterated and the good guys suffer no casualties, no one truly wins in war, both sides experience major casualties. Watching one’s brothers in arms die around them can really scar a man for life. Civilians think that just because these men and women are in the military they become emotionless terminators we forget that they are human when in reality, these thoughts are quite contrary to the truth. The terrors of war are better explained by authors Ford, D. E., I. L. Meagher, and Jeff Huber:
"War is hell. Unlike the Hollywood soldiers whose stoicism and stiff upper lip signal heroism; real men and women are not uniformed machines that can perform under great stress with little consequence. Trained to be part of the superior fighting machinery of the military, they are still human, mortal and unique. The gruesome terrors of war not only damage the body but can also shatter self-image, ability to trust, and belief systems, leaving the individual disillusioned and bitter. The returning combat Veteran's nervous system overloads from the assault by the stealth enemy” (par 2). What this quote is saying is that war does not only cause physical damage like shatter bones to which could be fixed but war shatters psyches and a damaged psyche is not so easily fixed. PTSD also has a chance of making some make the ultimate mistake of taking their own life.
As the above graph states , the two branches with highest numbers of suicides are the Army and the Marines. This correlates with the PTSD statistics in the by Mark Tompson (14) in the quote previously stated. The most afflicted soldiers are the foot soldiers. First of all individuals with PTSD are not dangerous. Although PTSD is associated with an increased risk of violence, the majority of Veterans and non-Veterans with PTSD have never engaged in violence. But when other factors like alcohol and substance abuse, and additional psychiatric disorders are introduced along with the PTSD this is when chances of violent acts escalate. How exactly is violence defined ? “Violence is inflicting or threatening to inflict serious physical harm on another person”. Examples include beating someone, physically forcing someone to have sex, or using or threatening to use a gun or knife”(Jankowsi par 2). There has been quite a few incidents of violent acts from people with PTSD including those of Mr. Theo Galavant. “The data showing that the prevalence of violence among individuals with PTSD is 7.5% in the US population and 19.5% in post-9/11 Veterans suggest that the association between PTSD and violence is especially strong in this Veteran cohort”(Jankowsi par 7). What this quote is saying is that in recent years the statistic for the prevalence of violence among individuals with PTSD has increased. PTSD alone rarely causes violence, it is when it is combined with the other factors like substance abuse and mental health damage that violent acts and behavior seems to arise.
PTSD in Veterans and active soldiers often lead to other issues that affect their lives.This disorder frequently sparks substance abuse, mental health problems, and violent behavior. Some people use drugs, heavy drinking, or smoking too much as a coping mechanism. Drinking and drug binges can be a response to bad memories of combat trauma. Many soldiers’ mental health and well being is greatly affected by PTSD. Constantly feeling on edge, reoccurring nightmares , sense triggers like a certain smell are all symptoms that paralyzes their psyche. Some soldiers think that imminent dangers or threats are all around them even when they are not. PTSD may cause them to react to a simple situation in a violent maynor through aggressive acts such as explosive tempers, hostile behavior, and fighting. What can society do to help our brave soldiers? Provide soldiers with the resources that are needed to support or treat the disorder. Soldiers with PTSD need time to heal. The healing process does not mean forgetting about what has happened to them, but dealing with the events having no regrets. Reminding them of their burden and sacrifices for the betterment of the country filled with freedom.
alone and as Mark Thompson states nearly an eighth of that number came in the last thirteen years from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars “As many as 500,000 U.S. troops who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past 13 years have been diagnosed with PTSD”
(para 2).
PTSD is a growing epidemic in society which does not just affect the soldiers and veterans but their families and also society as a whole. What exactly is PTSD in Veterans and soldiers? “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes known as shell shock or combat stress, occurs after experiencing severe trauma or a life-threatening event. It’s normal for the mind and body to be in shock after such an event, but this normal response becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck” reliving that
same traumatic moment over and over again” (Smith, Robinson, and Segal Par 2 ). Symptoms of PTSD usually appears within three months of the traumatic incident but in some cases does not show up until years after the incident. PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, or changes in emotional reactions (Mayo 1).Symptoms of intrusive memories include; Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event; Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks);Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event and ;Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event (Mayo 2).Symptoms of avoidance include: Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event and or avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event (3).Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood include:Negative feelings about yourself or other people, Feeling emotionally numb, Hopelessness about the future, and Difficulty maintaining close relationships. And lastly Symptoms of changes in emotional reactions include: Irritability; angry outbursts or aggressive behavior; overwhelming guilt or shame, self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast; Trouble sleeping; and being easily startled or frightened (4). What does PTSD do to an individual? "Individuals with PTSD may constantly re-experience their trauma in different ways, like intrusive thoughts or distressing dreams" (Bokor, Anderson par.7). Who is most at risk? As Mark Thompson said the most at risk soldiers in the military are foot soldiers. “Ground-pounding soldiers and Marines have PTSD at more than double the rate of sailors and airmen. And the condition is the third most common service-connected disability, after hearing loss and tinnitus”(par 14). An analysis of PTSD in veterans and active soldiers shows that often PTSD leads to other issues such as substance abuse, mental health problems, and violent behavior.
The most common result of PTSD is substance abuse and addiction. “More than 20 percent of veterans with PTSD also suffer from an addiction or dependence on drugs or alcohol” (Smith par 3). The reason for this is because often drugs and alcohol is an outlet for veterans to cope with the stresses of PTSD. Another reason for high numbers of veterans with substance abuse problems is because majority of times, as former special forces sergeant Bryan Lane said, while in service there is a no tolerance policy for all substances including alcohol. “The problem in today’s military is soldiers have to be warriors, killers, do war, but we don’t allow them any releases like we used to...You can’t go out and drink, you can’t get into a fight. It’s completely unrealistic” (par 14). Alcohol can be bad and in most cases is, but when people are not allowed to do something for a long period of time once that thing is reintroduced into his or her lives that thing tends to be overused and abused. This is true in the case of veterans returning home after his or her service, once alcohol is reintroduced into the picture instead of having a drink or two here and there binge drinking occurs, not in all cases but a high number of them. Once binge drinking comes into play that is when alcohol becomes a problem. Once alcohol is turned to for comfort and over drinking takes place dependency forms and light dependency leads to harcore addiction. Alcohol is not the only thing included within the veteran substance abuse category drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and even prescribed drugs are major problems. For most veterans going through addiction is not even the hardest part about being an addict, kicking the addiction is, and including the symptoms of PTSD with addiction does not make becoming clean any easier .”People with PTSD have a harder time overcoming addiction than those without it. The symptoms of withdrawal combined with the symptoms of PTSD amplify negative feelings and emotions that may lead to a relapse”(Smith 4). Some might say kicking addiction is a harder war to fight than the ones that caused them to be plagued with PTSD. Chronic alcohol and drug abuse have long been known to be associated with an increased risk of divorce, unemployment, physical and mental illness, and criminal behavior (Wascher par 8). Addiction does not just affect the person with the problem but all aspects of his or life including health, relationships, and work. Exposure to traumatic events such as military combat can be related to poor physical and or mental health. War is not like it is in the movies with battle scenes where the enemy gets obliterated and the good guys suffer no casualties, no one truly wins in war, both sides experience major casualties. Watching one’s brothers in arms die around them can really scar a man for life. Civilians think that just because these men and women are in the military they become emotionless terminators we forget that they are human when in reality, these thoughts are quite contrary to the truth. The terrors of war are better explained by authors Ford, D. E., I. L. Meagher, and Jeff Huber:
"War is hell. Unlike the Hollywood soldiers whose stoicism and stiff upper lip signal heroism; real men and women are not uniformed machines that can perform under great stress with little consequence. Trained to be part of the superior fighting machinery of the military, they are still human, mortal and unique. The gruesome terrors of war not only damage the body but can also shatter self-image, ability to trust, and belief systems, leaving the individual disillusioned and bitter. The returning combat Veteran's nervous system overloads from the assault by the stealth enemy” (par 2). What this quote is saying is that war does not only cause physical damage like shatter bones to which could be fixed but war shatters psyches and a damaged psyche is not so easily fixed. PTSD also has a chance of making some make the ultimate mistake of taking their own life.
As the above graph states , the two branches with highest numbers of suicides are the Army and the Marines. This correlates with the PTSD statistics in the by Mark Tompson (14) in the quote previously stated. The most afflicted soldiers are the foot soldiers. First of all individuals with PTSD are not dangerous. Although PTSD is associated with an increased risk of violence, the majority of Veterans and non-Veterans with PTSD have never engaged in violence. But when other factors like alcohol and substance abuse, and additional psychiatric disorders are introduced along with the PTSD this is when chances of violent acts escalate. How exactly is violence defined ? “Violence is inflicting or threatening to inflict serious physical harm on another person”. Examples include beating someone, physically forcing someone to have sex, or using or threatening to use a gun or knife”(Jankowsi par 2). There has been quite a few incidents of violent acts from people with PTSD including those of Mr. Theo Galavant. “The data showing that the prevalence of violence among individuals with PTSD is 7.5% in the US population and 19.5% in post-9/11 Veterans suggest that the association between PTSD and violence is especially strong in this Veteran cohort”(Jankowsi par 7). What this quote is saying is that in recent years the statistic for the prevalence of violence among individuals with PTSD has increased. PTSD alone rarely causes violence, it is when it is combined with the other factors like substance abuse and mental health damage that violent acts and behavior seems to arise.
PTSD in Veterans and active soldiers often lead to other issues that affect their lives.This disorder frequently sparks substance abuse, mental health problems, and violent behavior. Some people use drugs, heavy drinking, or smoking too much as a coping mechanism. Drinking and drug binges can be a response to bad memories of combat trauma. Many soldiers’ mental health and well being is greatly affected by PTSD. Constantly feeling on edge, reoccurring nightmares , sense triggers like a certain smell are all symptoms that paralyzes their psyche. Some soldiers think that imminent dangers or threats are all around them even when they are not. PTSD may cause them to react to a simple situation in a violent maynor through aggressive acts such as explosive tempers, hostile behavior, and fighting. What can society do to help our brave soldiers? Provide soldiers with the resources that are needed to support or treat the disorder. Soldiers with PTSD need time to heal. The healing process does not mean forgetting about what has happened to them, but dealing with the events having no regrets. Reminding them of their burden and sacrifices for the betterment of the country filled with freedom.