Being at war is certainly one of the most life-changing events in a person's life, whether for better or for worse . Soldiers will witness events impossible to forget or unsee at home in the United States. Some soldiers may have even seen one of their best friends they've known forever get blown to pieces right next to them, or they may even have one of their own limbs ripped from their body, becoming disabled for life. After seeing something this intense, most soldiers are usually traumatized. In fact, a large number of soldiers were traumatized from the start of the war. It is undoubtedly difficult to deal with, but there are ways in which soldiers manage to cope with the psychological trauma as well as the physical burdens they carry. In his book The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien describes a diverse group of people he met throughout his tour who had their own approach to dealing with the harsh environment of the Vietnam War. . Many things can happen to a person who goes to war, such as being shot at, losing their hearing, being sexually assaulted by other so-called "friendly soldiers", or even having body parts blown up. . There is a long list of possible things that can be added to this list, but all of these things can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that surfaces after experiencing a very dangerous, frightening, and uncontrollable event such as exposure to military combat, a violent crime, a life-threatening accident, etc. . (Veterans Health Board)... .middle of paper ......lived when he was in the Vietnam War. Even though it is portrayed like this, the stories he tells have a much deeper meaning. It gives us, the readers, descriptions of how a few people coped with the unforgettable things they endured and saw during their time at war. O'Brien gives us various examples of this, as well as his own. The reason he wrote this novel was because it was a type of therapy for himself to deal with everything he had experienced during the Vietnam War. Works Cited O'Brien, Tim. The things they carried. London: Flamingo, 1991. Print. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD. » Dogs and PTSD -. Np, March 18, 2014. Web. April 27, 2014. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” » Treatment of PTSD -. Np, February 2, 2014. Web. April 28, 2014. “Veterans Health Council.” Veterans Health Council. Np, and Web. April 23. 2014.