PTS and Alcoholism

Until very recently, post traumatic stress was synonymous with "crazy" or "psychopath". Although it was not yet considered a legitimate disorder, it was very real. Often times soldiers would come home after experiencing traumatic events and go untreated. Most of the time they would have to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, just to temporarily chase away their nightmares. In Ceremony, Tayo very clearly suffers from severe PTS. He vomits often, which is a sign of PTS as well as his seeing the images from war in his everyday life. At this time period his inability to let go and "man up" from his trauma was written off as a lack of self control, but it was not his fault.

Accompanying untreated PTS is often alcoholism and/or drug abuse. In Tayo's case, and that of all of the Laguna vets he hangs out with, they have become slaves to the liquor. One reason is because it reminds them of the grand times they had with the other soldiers in the big city. This time in their life made them feel equal, and even superior to white people in some ways. As well as transporting them back to their glory days, it covers up what they are feeling inside, if even only temporarily. The place where feelings come from, which is described by Tayo as the belly, is what becomes "empty" when he drinks. He suffers from his inability to accept having killed people, and can't get past it. Alcohol is this escape he looks for.