'PTSD In The Hate You Give'

525 Words3 Pages

Did you know that 10% of Canadian women meet the criteria for probable PTSD (www.statcan.gc.ca). In the book, “The Hate You Give” the main character Starr Carter suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Starr has endured multiple traumatic events at just 16 years old. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person can experience traumatic hardships. Some symptoms of PTSD may be flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression and avoidance of triggers that can remind a person. I believe Starr has PTSD because she experiences nightmares, panic attacks/anxiety and avoidance behaviors. Starr is a 16 year old young adult and has experienced traumatic events no one at that age should ever have to experience. At a young age Starr’s father, Maverick was put into prison for 3 years for being a former drug dealer and drug-related charges. This has led to a lasting impact on their family. He missed most of Starr’s childhood and all her firsts, leaving Starr feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Most children that have parents that have abandoned them, usually feel unable to tell friends about it so they avoid talking about it. This is avoidance behavior, A symptom of PTSD that can be used as a coping mechanism, it can be used to reduce the …show more content…

She was shot and killed by a member of a drive-by shooting. As Starr and Natasha were playing by a broken fire hydrant which they called a waterpark. “Call the police!” a stranger yells out as a young child is laying on the ground lifeless as her best friend watches her. This event had a profound impact on Starr’s emotional state and her outlook on life. She struggled with feelings of guilt, grief, anger and had recurring nightmares with flashbacks of the shooting. Her symptoms of PTSD were exacerbated by the fact that she was also a witness to the police shooting of another childhood friend,