PTSD Recommendations

Okay, so that sounds very strange on its face. Because obviously PTSD and/or trauma isn't something anyone would recommend. But, of course, I mean this list as recommendations of stories that handle PTSD particularly well. I've dealt with trauma in my own life, and it's sometimes been really good for me to read honest portrayals of characters experiencing things that affect them in similar ways. Please be aware that many of these recs are for stories that may contain triggering content. Read the story shells thoroughly before clicking through.

Ninety-Two Seconds in Catatonia by @mydearfoxy
Length/Completed: 704 words / 1 chapter (complete)
Pairing(s): N/A
Genre(s): Angst
Summary: Was it normal to stand still for this long?
Reasons for Recommendation: This is the story that inspired me to make a rec list for stories that handle PTSD particularly well, because this story is phenomenal. I've been talking about it for literal years because it's so incredibly impressive. Renee is one of the most skilled writers I've had the honor of reading. This is such an honest portrayal of PTSD and it covers themes that I feel aren't discussed often enough in fanfiction (but are actually becoming much more prevalent, which I think is important). Because the majority of our characters were children when they fought in the war against Voldemort. And the trauma that would result from that is barely explored in canon. So we turn to fanfiction. And "Ninety-Two Seconds in Catatonia" takes Harry, who we know and love, and delves into a side of his future that we could have predicted would happen someday but never got to see as we jumped straight to "Nineteen Years Later." This story is honest and painful and so, so good.

(the way) you say my name by @fairy of necromancy
Length/Completed: 57,831 words / 14 chapters (incomplete)
Pairing(s): Astoria Greengrass/Draco Malfoy
Genre(s): Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Smut
Summary: astoria is traumatized and stubborn af, draco is on a redemption arc, and then sometimes somebody ties somebody up. it is what it is.
Reasons for Recommendation: Note: "unforgivable" and "the hammer to fall" set up a lot of the trauma that Astoria deals with in "(the way) you say my name," but this rec will focus on the latter. This collection is insanely good! Branwen is an absolute genius, and her writing should probably be in the Library of Congress by now.  This collection focuses on Draco and Astoria, and y'all. Y'all. You know how much I ship Dramione, but this series makes me ship Drastoria so damn hard. It has really lovely moments of fluff and romance, but it also doesn't shy away from showing the trauma that Astoria and Draco are dealing with after the war. Astoria is the focus of most of the stories, and I love her so fucking much. She's incredibly strong and badass. But she's also hurting. And she has trouble letting people in. And she struggles. And she copes. And sometimes she doesn't cope. It's just...Branwen just writes her so well and makes you love her so much. Every story you read will have you hoping for her healing because she's just so likable despite being rough around the edges and more than capable of breaking you in half.

in brightest shades of ochre by @TidalDragon
Length / Completed: 4647 words / 1 chapter (complete)
Pairing(s): Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger
Genre(s): Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: The search for another, across oceans and over time, always ends in discoveries never expected by those who make the journey.
Reasons for Recommendation: I've rec'd this as a fantastic Dramione story, but I have to take the time to also recommend it as an incredible exploration of PTSD. Kevin is a prime example of someone who is skilled enough to use their writing style alone to portray so fucking much with just the way the words are chosen and arranged. His ability to use stream-of-consciousness to show the sheer panic and helplessness that trauma, anxiety, and PTSD have on a person is incredible. This story has moments that are so frantic and disjointed and perfectly illustrate Hermione's state of mind after the war. And the repetition of the refrain, "Who's Hermione?", is so powerful. Then as Hermione's story intersects with Draco's, and their traumas are juxtaposed—so different, and yet so similar—you'll likely find that this has taken your breath away. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of writing on FFT.

beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth by @aurevoir
Length / Completed: 23,161 words / 7 chapters (complete)
Pairing(s): Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger
Genres: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Romance Song-Fic
Summary: 
     Psy·cho·so·mat·ic | sī-kō-sə-ˈma-tik | adjective | of a physical illness or other condition caused or aggravated by a mental factor, such as internal conflict or stress. Or by severe post traumatic stress disorder from a war against a mad-man.
     Hermione thought everything would be simple after the death of Voldemort - she and Ron, Ginny and Harry - they would all get the happy ever after that they all deserved, with little stress in life. Her brain has other ideas, causing her to constantly relive her night of torture anytime anyone touches her, or at least almost everyone. How are you supposed to handle a world where you can't touch the first love of your life or friends and move on past the psychological trauma of the past?  
Reasons for Nomination: This is another story that I mentioned in my Dramione recs, but it also has to make an appearance here. It's an incredibly honest portrayal of PTSD during the time after Voldemort's defeat. The ways that Cassie shows Hermione's trauma and how it manifests make it clear to us as readers that Hermione is suffering. And the lack of support from her friends only makes things worse. It's hard to read versions of Harry and Ron who fail as friends, but Cassie shows that it's very possible, especially when trauma is involved. Even as the boys fail her, though, Draco begins to help her in their stead, and the relationship that grows between them is so natural and steady. Even if you aren't a Dramione fan, you'll get why they grow closer and you'll appreciate how natural their connection feels as the spend more and more time together. This is just a lovely story.

Grow by @mydearfoxy
Length/Completed: 228 words / 1 chapter (complete)
Pairing(s): N/A
Genre(s): Fluff, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Pansy had never expected to enjoy Herbology, and yet here she was.
Reasons for Recommendation: For a story that handles PTSD in a way that's hopeful and much brighter than the previous recs, check out this lovely story. It captures the beauty of healing in the wake of trauma and shows a soft and quiet moment after the war. Renee takes Pansy, who is a chronically underappreciated character, and makes you hope that she'll find peace. And in this story, that peace begins in the softest of ways. I'm really into gardening, so reading a story where plants begin to help someone heal...ugh. I'm so here for it. And this story leans into that. It's honest about the trauma that our characters faced during the war (you know: the war they fought when they were children) and shows that there is grace in moving forward. One of my favorite things about this story is that it implies that Neville has found it in himself to forgive Pansy and teach her about herbology...because he is a gem and must be protected at all costs.

china doll by @firefox
Length/Completed: 4050 words / 1 chapter (complete)
Pairing(s): N/A
Genre(s): Angst, Dark, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: You are a plant.
Reasons for Recommendation: Shreya is an outstanding writer, and every sentence of this story proves that to be true. Not only does it focus on a minor character—Cho Chang—but it focuses specifically on her cultural background and how that affects her as a person and as someone who's experienced trauma. Canon was so cruel to Cho in the wake of Cedric's murder, but this story actually explores her in a fair and honest way, and I love it. The emotions throughout this story—which is told in parallels between Cho's mother speaking to her and a Chinese fable—are so deep and resonant. You can tell that Cho is desperate to heal from her PTSD, but she doesn't have the support she really needs, despite her mother's best intentions. But the way that Shreya writes the fable throughout and how it ties in perfectly with Cho's struggles and her mother's expectations...wow. It's a beautiful juxtaposition and a painfully honest view of a mother and daughter's relationship that is clouded by cultural background and a lack of experiential understanding. This story is heavy, but in the end it's also hopeful. And it reminds us that there were lasting effects from the war, not just for Harry and his close allies, but for characters we rarely think about as well.

ashes to ashes by badgerspride
Length/Completed: 2068 words / 1 chapter (complete)
Pairing(s): N/A
Genre(s): Angst
Summary: Ginny would always remember.  |  Post CoS.
Reasons for Recommendation: This is the only story currently on my rec list that doesn't focus on trauma from the Second Wizarding War. Instead, this is about Ginny. It's about Ginny suffering after having spent months possessed by Tom Riddle's diary. And oh my God, I'd never even thought about this until I read this story. Because the series focuses on Harry. And the only time we get to hear Ginny's thoughts on what happened to her is a brief conversation in Order of the Phoenix when she explains to Harry how he might know if he was being possessed. But she's so brave and strong and matter-of-fact in that moment that what she went through is almost glossed over. So "ashes to ashes" fills in the gaps. It's visceral how badgerspride portrays Ginny's fear and anxiety in the face of her flashbacks and memories. And the fact that we as readers can't even tell what actually happened and what she's imagining...it's a very powerful experience. Not only that, but this story also delves into the reactions of many of the other Weasleys too. Not only is Ginny suffering, but her family is too, not knowing how to help her. Because at the end of the day, trauma spreads, and this story shows that.