War trauma + unusual fantastic event

[shay_guy]

Hi, first time here

Comments

[kutsuwamushi]

I hesitated to approve this, but ended up doing so because at your question, as far as I can tell, is at least partially about the symptoms of trauma - which has factual answers.

However, since the rest of your post is about a fantastic situation that has no real-world equivalent and no real answer, you're basically asking for characterization advice, which is outside the scope of this comm. Just keep that in mind for next time, please.

[lb_lee]

Well, seeing as he frickin' died, I figure he'd have similar issues to someone who's lost his whole family and social circle to death--after all, he has. You might want to read up on books on dealing with grief or loss (Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, for instance).

Also, there could be symptoms of trauma regarding violence and such--hair-trigger violent bursts, or a complete avoidance of any violent behavior.

Good luck.

[violetknights]

My daughter used to remeber a past life in quite minute detail up to the age of about three when she stopped referring to it. However she was always very matter of fact - statements such as "my other mummy had a dress like that" were quite common, and on one occasion she pointed out a little house and said the garden used to be just the same. She never showed any emotion such as missing her other mummy or grief over anything that she'd lost from her 'previous life'.

[cianne]

well, that's disturbing. she ought to meet my niece - she used to tell us how she started out as a baby in another lady's tummy, but it wasn't her time to be born yet, so she had to go away and wait for another mommy.

[natane]

whoa. that's kinda scary.

[cianne]

yeah, it kind of freaks her out now that she's older. if you mention that she used to tell us about being someone else's baby, she doesn't want to talk about it at all.

[niamh_sage]

I remember years ago reading a story in which a young boy claimed to remember a past life, in which he lived in another village nearby to where his family lived. He was able to name names and point out landmarks from his 'past life' despite having never been to the village before. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact details, but in attempting to find the story via Google, I came across this article which might be of some interest, particularly the part about the Canadian boy, which has apparently been written up in an academic journal. Perhaps some of their experiences can help inform your writing.

Oh, and here is the news article mentioned in the abovementioned essay.

Er. Apparently, once you get started looking this stuff up, you can't stop. Here is another interesting story about a little boy whose parents have come to believe he is the reincarnation of a WWII pilot. I think this one might be particularly helpful in terms of experiences of trauma coming through in the life of the young child

[chocolatepot]

Aw, now I'm all creeped out.

[niamh_sage]

In a good way, I hope! Pretty amazing stories, weren't they?

[rurounitriv]

You might want to check out Old Souls by Thomas Shroder. It's an attempt at proving that reincarnation is real, by studying children in cultures where reincarnation is accepted and trying to confirm their stories about their previous lives. It's a pretty interesting read.