Publisher's Synopsis
Trained to Fight, Struggling to Feel is a gripping exploration of the silent psychological toll modern warfare takes on those who serve. In an age of precision weapons and tactical discipline, soldiers are mentally hardened through rigorous military training and indoctrination, taught to suppress emotion for survival. But what happens when that same emotional suppression follows them home?
This book delves deep into the complex maze of the soldier's mind, where emotional detachment, suppressed emotions, and desensitization become second nature. It sheds light on the phenomenon of moral injury, when one's actions in combat conflict with personal values, and how cognitive dissonance fractures identity from within. Through firsthand accounts, psychological insight, and case-based storytelling, the book examines the lingering impact of combat trauma, dissociation, hypervigilance, and the struggle with survivor's guilt.
More than a clinical study, this is a human narrative of those navigating the blurry space between who they were before deployment and who they became after. It reveals how trauma bonding, anger management issues, and the erosion of veteran identity affect not only the soldier, but their families and communities. Yet amid the darkness, the book also offers paths toward coping mechanisms, psychological resilience, and trauma recovery.
This is not just a book for veterans or mental health professionals. It's a necessary read for anyone seeking to understand the invisible wounds of war and the quiet strength required not just to survive - but to feel again.
