Prisoner of Her Past follows Howard Reich’s quest to find out the mystery of Sonia Reich’s, his mother, past.

Recently diagnosed with late onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Sonia Reich is reliving the past that has haunted her since her childhood in the Ukraine (It was Poland during WWII.) during World War II.

She cannot determine the difference between the past and the present anymore.

During Howard Reich’s quest for information, he visits many relatives around the United States and Europe.

He travels around Europe visiting the places where his mother grew up running from the Nazis.

How harmful PTSD can be?

How would have treatment effected the late onset PTSD?

How PTSD affects males differently than females?

Howard Reich wanted the viewer to be aware to the problems assoicated with PTSD.

He wanted the viewers to feel what he felt, when he first went on his journey to find his mother’s past .

The film uses first hand sources well to help understand the central message of the film.

The footage of his mother explained a lot about the central message, PTSD.

Katrina survivors makes the viewer feel that PTSD can occur in any major event.

The use of jazz in the movie helps bring in a personal connection with Howard Reich, a jazz enthusiast.

The film used many people and places to convey the message of the film. People: Leon Slominski, Dr. David Rosenberg, Irene

Tannen, Olga Chernobaj, Reich Family

Places: Ozirko, Dubno, Warsaw

He lived with Sonia when both of them were children in Dubno, Ukraine (Poland)

He led Howard Reich around Europe exploring his past, while also finding trying to find Sonia’s past.

He diagnosed Sonia Reich’s PTSD.

He gave insight into how PTSD effects people.

She adopted Sonia after the war.

Led Howard Reich and Leon Slominski through Shibennaya Hill in Dubno, Ukraine, where the mass murder of Jewish people occurred.

Howard interviewed everybody in his family to try to bring out what knowledge they had about Sonia’s past.

The farm where Leon Slominski escaped to during the war.

The location where Sonia Reich and Leon Slominskiwere born.

Both of them escaped when the Nazis began sending the Jewish people to the ghettos.

This is the city where Leon Slominski currently lives.

Flashbacks

Memory problems

Trouble concentrating

Overwhelming guilt or shame

Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

One in eight soldiers from the War on Terror come back with PTSD.

Only 38% of soldiers with PTSD wanted help.

Only 23% reported seeing a physiologist for help.

Nightmares

Anger

Loss of emotion

Loss of time

The choices of the Nazis caused many people troubles that will last there whole life.

No memorials or museums to the holocaust would be necessary if the Germans had not exterminated millions of people.

Yes, Howard Reich and Leon experience this through their journey through Europe.

While in Dubno, Ukraine a memorial stands there now along with a museum.

What effect did going to physiatrist have on Sonia Reich?

Is there any treat once a person is diagnosed with late onset PTSD?