Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, universally known as, PTSD, is common in many military veterans. Different people suffer from different forms of PTSD, some more severe than others. One can develop a better understanding of the book, American Sniper by knowing more about the effects of the disorder and of the disorder itself. American Sniper is an autobiography written by Chris Kyle about his experiences being a Navy SEAL. Most importantly, he depicts personal accounts of how PTSD affected his life in terms of relationships. 

PTSD is found in a majority of military war veterans. This disorder is a mental health problem that some develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as: combat, a car accident, or sexual assault. A study was conducted to find how PTSD overall affects injured soldiers in combat and uninjured soldiers in combat. To carry out this study, the psychiatrists gathered a total of 100 participants, 60 injured and 40 uninjured soldiers. The injured soldiers were gathered from a list of 176 soldiers admitted to trauma units for combat-induced injuries (Koren et al. 276-28). The injured and uninjured soldiers were partakers of the same combat situation. The study was conducted roughly 15 months after the PTSD related injury Candidates who were fit to participate in this particular study were brought in for a one-time interview with a master student involved in clinical psychology. A series of tests were performed on the participants and in the end the tests produce a PTSD score within the range of 0 to 136, a number found within this range is the sum of two results (Koren et al. 276-28). While conducting a series of tests to determine whether the candidate has PTSD, the soldiers were also assessed for dissociative reactions by taking the “Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire” which shows the level on amnesia of the individual (Koren et al. 276-28). 

The study ended with the results that ten out of the 60 injured soldiers met the requirements to be medically diagnosed with PTSD and only one out of the 40 uninjured soldiers met the standards to be diagnosed with the disorder (Koren et al. 276-28). With this, many of the injured soldiers also met the standards for many of the dissociative disorders which is said to come from their traumatic experiences. The results showed that the intensity of PTSD was higher in the injured group of soldiers rather than in the uninjured group of soldiers. The injured soldiers showed symptoms in higher levels of depression and anxiety (Koren et al. 276-28). This is so, because it is said that bodily injury poses a higher threat to one’s life more so than mental state does. 

Like the studied soldiers, Chris Kyle suffered many injuries. He survived a total of three gunshot wounds, six IED attacks, two helicopter crashes, and several surgeries (Fumento et al.). These experiences of trauma can have negative effect on a person’s life. The injuries Chris Kyle experienced caused him to have minor occurrences of PTSD. These episodes occurred once he returned from the war. He found himself becoming angry over the smallest of things. “I was extremely hot-headed. I have always had a temper, even before becoming a SEAL. But it was more explosive now. If someone cut me off… I could get crazy. I might try and run them off the road, or even stop and whup their ass” (Kyle 283). Typically, if someone cuts another person off while driving, the person being cut off gets a little frustrated, but never angry enough to want to physically hurt someone. When reading this autobiography, many would not know that becoming easily angered is an effect of PTSD if they did not have prior knowledge of the subject.

Becoming easily angered is not the only effect of PTSD that Chris Kyle struggled with. Often times, he would awaken in the middle of the night punching and yelling (Kyle 124). This reaction is most likely from dreaming or having minor flashbacks of life in combat. It is a very common side effect of those who suffer from PTSD. Although it is likely to happen to those suffering PTSD, the families are often alarmed by this sudden involuntary reaction. Chris Kyle’s wife, Taya, would have to say his name to wake him up before returning to bed to avoid being hit by her startled husband (Kyle 124).

Kyle had to work through his struggles in order to have a normal lifestyle with his family again. It is evident when reading the book that he did not seek help professionally because he had a minor form of the disorder that enabled him to treat himself. Others, however, are not so lucky. Although Kyle did not require medical treatment, it is important to know that a majority of PTSD suffers do. Many veterans whom suffer from PTSD have to seek medical treatment because of the severity of their case, but often times they wait too long. A study was conducted to see how many PSTD suffers act on their disorder and how many ultimately do not. Several suffers do not seek help because they feel as if they do not need treatment, thinking that the treatment will not help them or that the issue will resolve itself, and believing that they can treat themselves (Sayer et al). Which is true is Kyle’s case, he was able to treat himself with the support of his family. Some soldiers are like Kyle and are able to avoid treatment, but others often attend therapy sessions and those whom suffer the disorder the worst receive medication. 

As it is important to know that a majority of PTSD suffers require medical treatment, it is also significant to be aware of the treatment that they have to receive. There are many types of treatment for this particular disorder. The psychiatrist will often choose the treatment that best fits the patient. The treatments available have a wide range. One type of treatment is cognitive therapy, this helps the sufferer understand and change the way they think of their trauma. With this, they identify thoughts about themselves that make them feel afraid, it also helps the sufferer recognize that the traumatic experience was not their fault (“What is PTSD”). Sufferers might also attend exposure therapy; this type of therapy causes the victim to have less fear about the experience. (“What is PTSD”). This will help the affected veteran to have control over their thoughts about the trauma and will cause them not to be afraid of the memories they encounter (“What is PTSD”). These types of therapy are the most useful to victim, but if these do not completely help they will result to medication. With this, the sufferer will receive therapy as well as the serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug, which is a type of antidepressant (“What is PTSD”).

Therapy is often times needed for many PTSD sufferers even though many avoided it. Chris Kyle made it a point to help soldiers suffering from the disorder so that they could continue and carry on with a normal life. He did so in a way that it did not feel like therapy, but in a way enjoyable to the victim. Kyle enjoyed being able to help these soldiers in need. He did so until it caused him to lose his life. He thought taking veterans hunting or shooting was therapeutic in a way (Espen 2015). This was one of the many ways he helped the disabled soldiers. He did this until it killed him. One afternoon while Kyle was helping a soldier whom suffered from PTSD, from the moment he met the victim, Kyle had been spooked by his behavior. Later that afternoon, while at the shooting range, the PTSD sufferer, Eddie Ray Routh, turned on Kyle and shot him (Espen 2015). Chris Kyle died that afternoon, February 2, 2013. 

Before reading the autobiography American Sniper, it is significant to know what PTSD actually is. Knowing and understanding what PTSD is and how it effects a person can change a person’s outlook on how they view the story in its entirety. Those who have no background knowledge of the disorder might think Kyle is crazy for how the acts when he returns home from war, while others that have existing knowledge on the subject know that it is a normal side effect. Knowing how treatment can effect a person also has a great impact on how someone understands the book. Untreated PTSD sufferers go through a larger amount of stress than those who are treated and people are treated differently based on the severity of their disorder. One with no prior knowledge of PTSD would be lost when reading this information in the autobiography. Kyle shared his story, and was vivid when explaining his stories of how PTSD affected him. Having prior knowledge regarding PTSD helps the reader to develop a more meaningful attitude towards the autobiography and towards Chris Kyle. 
