This is the case study of a young man named Josh. Josh is a 27 year-old male who recently
moved back in with his parents after his fiancé was killed by a drunk driver. His fiancee, a
beautiful young woman he'd been dating for the past four years, was walking across a busy
intersection to meet him for lunch one day. He still vividly remembers the horrific scene as
the drunk driver ran the red light, plowing down his fiancé right before his eyes. He raced
to her side, embracing her crumpled, bloody body as she died in his arms in the middle of
the crosswalk. No matter how hard he tried to forget, he frequently finds himself reliving
the entire incident as if it was happening all over.
Since the accident, Josh has been plagued with nightmares about the accident almost
every night. He had to quit his job because his office was located in the building right next
to the little cafe where he was meeting his fiancé for lunch the day she died. The few times
he attempted to return to work were unbearable for him. He has since avoided that entire
area of town.
Normally an outgoing, fun-loving guy, Josh has become increasingly withdrawn, "jumpy",
and irritable since his fiancé's death. He's stopped working out, playing his guitar, or play-
ing basketball with his friends - all activities he once really enjoyed. His parents worry
about how detached and emotionally flat he's become.