Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

I have suffered from severe, debilitating depression for several years as a result of a trauma that is actually completely unrelated to what this book focuses on. Despite not having suffered trauma due to a rape, war or kidnapping, I found this book to be life-changing. I looked and searched endlessly for in-depth information to explain why I feel the way I do, and until this book, there was absolutely nothing out there. I came across countless webpages, medical literature, books, shows, blogs, essays, research papers, medical sites, and none explained WHY. A great deal of them focused on symptoms, but only general symptoms that could apply to a great deal of things. Besides, I already knew what my symptoms were. Another significant portion were dedicated to veterans and PTSD. I would read them, but again, they would still only discuss things on a very superficial basis. Blogs would talk about what medications people took, and arguments would ensue about who had the worse story. Medical literature would delve into explanations of which receptor and which brain lobe shrunk or expanded, and shock rates of rats. Why was there no simple explanation for why people feel these symptoms when suffering from trauma? I even asked my psychiatrist that I see twice a week -I would beg him to explain to me in detail what I had, why I had this, when I would get better, and why I experienced these awful symptoms. He would always respond the same way.... that I had "complicated depression," "complicated grief," and that I had "experienced a severe trauma." Any symptom I specifically asked about, was just a "symptom common in trauma." Was there just NO explanation?Based on my past experience with being let down, I had little faith this book would be able to explain what I have been going through for several years now, ESPECIALLY because it focuses on trauma related to rape, war, kidnapping. "Trauma and Recovery," however, explains trauma in a way that relates to EVERYONE and explains it in GREAT DETAIL. The detail and depth was beyond any hope I had or anything I could have imagined. It brought up points that I did not even consider, and thoughts that made me learn a great deal about my affliction. In fact, this book brought to light answers and closure for issues that I had tried to address with my $300/hr psychiatrist for the past 3 years. I thought to myself, "wtf?! what took my doctor so long and why has he been torturing me about this???!" Yes - this book WILL drum up emotions, and it did cost me plenty of tears and opening of wounds that were supposedly healed over, however, I definitely needed to understand the answers to these questions in order to move on.This is an ideal book to have your family, spouse, significant other, or other supportive individual read. A great struggle for me, and one that has brought me much pain, is feeling as though I constantly have to explain myself and my actions/affliction to my family. They are actually the most supportive people anyone could ever hope for, yet they STILL can't understand what it is that I am going through or why I do the things I do. It is an awful feeling. I begged them to read this book, they didn't unfortunately, but I truly believe that if you love someone who is going through PTSD, depression/trauma/grief, you would show amazing support in reading this to help them.In terms of what I have, and how this helped me.... I have experienced ups/downs, cycles of feeling great, then feeling terrible, not being able to get out of bed or my home for days even weeks, withdrawing socially, unable to work for several years, feeling unbelievably overwhelmed by the littlest of things, losing track of time, barely able to keep up with anything, uninterested in anything, no form of romantic relationships whatsoever, flashbacks to the event(s), extreme fatigue, uncontrollable sobbing, anxiety, hopelessness, chest pain, accelerated aging, feeling like something in me has permanently changed and I'm not "me", indifference, guilt. This is the foremost work in bringing to light the underlying cause(s) for these symptoms and why/how trauma affects us differently that just plain depression.If you need this book, I send you my prayers and wish you the best in your or your loved one's recovery.

This was a groundbreaking book in the 90s, and although the extant literature has expanded considerably since it's publication, the books itself has stood the test of time. It is my go-to for issues related to trauma: It is well-organized, chapters are exceptionally well-conceptualized and well-written, and the text itself is well-supported by research findings. Absolutely amazing--I'll read it again and again, and often recommend it to those working with trauma as well as individuals who just want to understand traumatic reactions and the context in which they occur a little better than they do, currently.

I enjoyed reading this text. It reads more like a professional in the field conversing about her experience in the field of trauma counseling rather than a dry informational piece. I feel that if you can engage the readers in the material without sacrificing accuracy of information, you can reach a much wider audience with the material than you would with something super formal with a very high reading level. The book does a fine job of getting the reader to visualize the experience of being a traumatized individual, and of the barriers encountered in getting the help and closure needed. This will be one of the books I hang onto and read again.

The author does an excellent job of describing trauma faced by survivors of rape, domestic abuse, and terrorism. I was referred to this book from an infidelity website, however, and this book does not address at all the trauma a cheated-on spouse faces after a long-term affair is revealed. Still, it does discuss the need for community, for a safe place to talk about your individual circumstances with sympathetic listeners who have been down the same road.The first section of the book deals with specific forms of trauma, the second part with moving forward and challenges the victim of trauma may face. That part is excellent.

Judith Herman's classic volume has changed the way we think about and treat traumatic events and trauma victims. In a new introduction to the 1997 edition, Herman explains how the issues surrounding trauma and recovery have shifted within the clinical community and the culture at large. In the past we have considered these problems individually, but Herman weaves common ground for survivors of incest, rape, torture, war, captivity, and the holocaust. Her work, meticulously documented, frequently uses the victims' own words. This book is particularly valuable in understanding the long-term and complex aftereffects of ongoing, repetitive childhood abuse/captivity. She says, "Even PTSD as it is currently defined, does not fit accurately enough for survivors of prolonged trauma." She has given a new diagnosis: "complex post-traumatic stress disorder" for people who have grown up in a terroristic household. She explains that there is always a backlash when the "unspeakable" is spoken, and she offers encouragement to remain standing against repeated abuses. Herman not only describes various forms of trauma and their effects, she lays out the road to recovery. The book is credible and compassionate.

This is not a quick read or a quick fix it is a thorough and thoroughly researched exploration of trauma including the kind of trauma that many men experienced in the First World War and which is explored by Pat Barkers books in the Regeneration Trilogy - I am still reading this book and will be for a long time. There is a very interesting interview with the author on utube if anyone is interested in hearing the author in person.

Good reading for both health professionals and those who are victims or are in contact with victims of abuse. It is well researched and the set out of the book is easy to get around. Really worth getting. Thought provoking and enlightening.

This is a great book which gives real insight into trauma. I believe it's a subject everyone should read about because it becomes clear how relevant trauma is to our everyday lives and to those we love without even realizing it sometimes. This book also explains why it is such a taboo subject when traumatic events become more personal and what it takes to recover or help others to recover. It's an important book on a crucial subject that needs to be understood and brought into the light.

Detailed exploration of cultural and historical perspectives and examples of trauma, with case studies to illustrate. Offers a robust process for holding trauma victims in psychotherapy. Recommend.

Excellent book on the nature of trauma and recovery. Detailed and thoughtful, covering a good level of theory. Indispensable for working with trauma.