Post-traumatic stress disorder is a devastating anxiety disorder that affects many active military personnel and veterans. In many cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) goes untreated, often because the individual does not realize they are affected by the disorder or because the individual has previously failed in his treatment attempts. Although PTSD is now recognized as a disorder that affects many soldiers, its effects on the family are not as widely recognized. Spouses and children of people with PTSD often exhibit similar negative symptoms of the disorder; This is called secondary trauma or compassion fatigue. Many active military and veteran families suffering from PTSD appear to suffer from secondary trauma, as they experience similar symptoms and feelings of loneliness, making them appear to also suffer from the disorder. People suffering from PTSD have many symptoms. including but not limited to: feelings of tension, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, loss of control and nightmares. The families of these soldiers often experience similar symptoms. An article published in the journal Family Relations describes how wives experience symptoms similar to those of their husbands: "the wife may experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, guilt, and distressing dreams" (Dekel 25). These symptoms result from the constant ambiguity that wives feel when faced with the loss of the partner as they were. Secondary trauma may also be seen in children of active military personnel and veterans. In the same article published in Family Relations, a mother described how her children were affected, stating: "Some ...... middle of paper ...... mily physically and emotionally, Lyman began to feel alone, because if his brother had never returned from the war. The symptoms and feelings described in The Red Cabriolet are issues that many families suffering from PTSD experience on a daily basis. Although it is widely known that PTSD affects many returning soldiers, the effect that it has on families is not always so obvious. Shared symptoms and an overwhelming sense of loneliness are two symptoms that families of people with PTSD often experience. These symptoms are caused by the family member caring for the person suffering from PTSD. completely immersed in their mental state, drawing them into the person's tortured emotional world. People suffering from these symptoms may be described as suffering from secondary trauma, an anxiety disorder that can be just as devastating as PTSD..