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Apr 13, 2015 | News, SOE Grad

Doctoral student’s book on PTSD gets national attention

Baker Alumnus pictured with his published book

Baker University doctoral student Seth Kastle is receiving national attention for his new children’s book geared toward military families whose fathers battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, “Why Is Dad So Mad?” It is a narrative told from a family’s point of view of a service member who struggles with PTSD to better explain the symptoms to children.

Retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after serving 15 years, including stints in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kastle encountered PTSD after returning from deployment. He wants the book to connect with families in similar situations, letting them know that dads get angry but will love their children more than anything. Kastle and his wife, Julia, are parents of two daughters, Raegan, 6, and Kennedy, 2.

“PTSD is different for everybody,” said Kastle, enrolled in classes through Baker’s Innovative Distance Learning program in Hays, Kansas, where he his working on his Doctor of Education in Leadership in Higher Education. “This book is my story and how it affects me. My hope is it can be shared with families and is a good way to start conversations between parents and their children. I wrote this so I had a tool to explain what was going on in my life to my daughters.”

Earlier this month Kastle was featured on “NBC Nightly News” in its Making a Difference segment. Released on March 24, “Why Is Dad So Mad?” reached the top position on Amazon’s bestselling children’s book list and as high as No. 8 on the list for top-selling book overall.
The story depicts the father lion’s struggle through a raging fire inside of his chest. Through the help of a Kickstarter campaign, Kastle raised more than $6,000 to help hire an illustrator and publish the book.
“PTSD is like a fire in the chest for me,” Kastle said. “When I had the initial idea for this book, I knew I wanted to have animals be a part of the illustrations. I wanted something strong. The illustrator chose lions because the male and female lions were easily discernible.”

The book has helped strengthen the bond between Raegan and her father.

“No matter what, when they’re mad or sad at you, they still love you,” Raegan told NBC News. “There’s always a fire in his heart, but no matter what, I know there’s love.”

Kastle, on pace to graduate from Baker in December 2017, is an instructor in leadership studies at Fort Hays State University, where he connected with a student in the graphics department who brought the book to life with illustrations.

When Kastle returned from Iraq, he planned to be a fireman and got certified to be an EMT. While his wife was completing college courses, he enrolled in leadership studies classes.

“There is no one more surprised about where I am in life than I am,” Kastle said. “I want to take some time to really get good at being a teacher, be at a place doing something I love and take some time to master it and take it from there.”

He also wants to make sure all veterans ask for help if they need it.

“I want to encourage all veterans who need help to seek help,” said Kastle, who is especially concerned with the impact exposure to chemicals will have on this generation of veterans. “Swallow your pride and go do it. It’s a hard thing to do. Every piece of my life is better because I went and sought out help.”

As his first book continues to gain attention, Kastle is working on his second book, “Why Is Mom So Mad?” Written in consultation with women combat veterans who are mothers and struggle with PTSD, the book is scheduled for release in June.

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