“The war has ended. Prisoners have been released, soldiers have stood down. This struggle has been resolved. Yet, I am faced with the aftermath. The consequences that are far too often forgotten – I see it all. Sophie did too. Her experiences in the war left her with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in which she suffered symptoms including depression, nightmares, insomnia and anhedonia. The denouement of her story, was far from being achieved. In the simplest of words she was damaged.”
Although less tangible than the physical destruction of war, the effects of conflict on the psychology of individuals and a society are as profound as they are neglected. If the attitudes that lead to conflict are to be mitigated, and if it is taken that psychology drives attitudes and behaviours of individuals and groups, then new emphasis must be placed on understanding the social psychology of conflict and its consequences. The suffering and trauma that are the results of war need to be addressed and prioritised in plans for peace.
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Yet the first time she looked up at me, the trepidation shone through her luminous green eyes – illuminating the damage she experienced within. For weeks she told me her story, and I simply listened. The detail she remembered and described sent shivers down my spine, I felt like I was there with her, experiencing everything. Regardless of whether the war had been resolved, Sophie would still be feeling this way – its effects would still have impacted her