The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fallacy is an outstanding book by H. Nattanya Andersen. She documents her struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), the common PTSD misdiagnosis, and the struggles that people living with PTSD go through. The book starts with the near-death experience she encounters when working as a flight attendant in a major airline. Her PTSD dilemma began when a Boeing engine exploded mid-air just a few feet away from where she was. The experience that she went through afterward prompted her to write a life-changing trilogy: The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fallacy: A Mental Health Industry Bonanza of Profit and Human Destruction.
After the near-death experience, Nattanya Andersen narrates how the airline psychiatrists did more harm than good to help her recover, only to be supported by her Irish psychiatrist. She then goes on to explain the kind of struggles people living with PTSD go through. She even states that PTSD is not a mental disorder, as the so-called experts claim. It is, instead, an existential crisis that builds up within. While reading the book, I was saddened that we, the supposedly loved ones, deny the people living with PTSD isolation, thinking that we are protecting them. Well, according to Nattanya Andersen, the isolation they crave brings peace that they need to heal.
Although I’m not a PTSD victim or have a loved one who suffers from it, the book was an eye-opener. I am glad that it helped prepare me in case of any traumatic experience. I loved how the author gives her insights and quotes the experts in her explanations which leaves the readers satisfied and adds credibility to her findings. I also admire how courageous and daring the author is to trend off the beaten path.
I would recommend the book to readers who love mental health non-fiction books. People who have recently undergone a traumatic experience or have someone who has PTSD will also find the book helpful. This is because the book has a lot to offer, and more importantly, from someone who has a firsthand experience of PTSD and not just an expert.
Overall the book was generally enjoyable, educational, and informative. I will hence rate the book 4 out of 4 stars since it was exceptionally well-edited, enjoyable to read, and did not disappoint. In conclusion, I felt that the author is extremely talented. Going forward, I’ll be keen to check out any of her upcoming books in the future.