Water By The Spoonful
Trauma and PTSD
Many of the characters in Water by the Spoonful deal with extreme trauma. Elliot in particular struggles with PTSD as a result of serving in the Iraq War.
The percentage of people who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who screened positive for having PTSD broken down by race. From the US Department of Veteran's Affairs Public Health. Click on the image to learn more.
Iraq War
The Iraq War, also referred to as OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) lasted from 2003 to 2011. The Marine Corps was primarily involved between 2004 and 2008, they were some of the first to get involved. During the Iraq War, the Marine Corps transitioned into "search-and-destroy" based operations in an attempt to limit the amount of civilian deaths. While troops were pulled out of Iraq in 2011, the closely related Afghanistan War is still ongoing.
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a condition that is triggered by an extremely traumatic event or series of events. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. It is common in military veterans. PTSD can form from any traumatic event including childhood abuse, the death of a child, and extreme injuries. Treatment for PTSD usually includes a balance of therapy and medication, but varies for each individual.