Introductory Chapter: Psychological Trauma (original) (raw)
2019, Psychological Trauma
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The chapter discusses the complex nature of psychological trauma, defining it as an emotional response to negative experiences that can severely impact an individual’s ability to function normally. It explores various origins of trauma, emphasizing that reactions to traumatic events differ among individuals based on their coping mechanisms, temperamental traits, and environmental factors. The interplay of emotional responses, neurobiological impacts, and psychiatric disorders such as PTSD is examined, highlighting the need for further research to understand the multitude of influences—biological, sociological, and genetic—that contribute to trauma and its consequences.
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Traumatic Stress and its Impact on Body, Mind and Society
Gestalt Theory, 2016
Summary Traumatic stress and its impacts present themselves as high vulnerability, insecurity and distrust, and the treatment of those who have undergone life-threatening terrors must go beyond looking at symptoms. It is about bringing back a sense of inner strength, self-efficacyand trust. In finding a way back to those capacities and virtues, the individual is highly dependent on his or her environment and interpersonal relationships. Healing trauma that took place because of human atrocities cannot happen without the interest, empathy, compassion and comfort of others. This article reviews recent developments in the treatment of trauma that focus on the somatic experiencing of trauma-related sensation and affects and refers to some concepts of Gestalt theory. It further presents some drawings and results from working with traumatized clients, and last but not least it reflects on the role of society and its responsibility in the healing process. Zusammenfassung Traumatischer Stress und seine Auswirkungen zeigen sich als hohe Vulnerabilität, Unsicherheit und Misstrauen. Die Gesundung derer, die lebensbedrohendem Terror ausgesetzt waren, muss über die bloße Behandlung von Symptomen hinausgehen. Es geht darum, innere Stärke, Selbstwirksamkeit und Vertrauen zurückzuerlangen. Ein traumatisierter Mensch, der zu diesen Fähigkeiten und Tugenden wieder Zugang finden will, ist in hohem Maße abhängig von seinem Umfeld und seinen zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen. Trauma, das durch menschliche Greueltaten entstand, kann nicht ohne das Interesse, die Einfühlung, das Mitgefühl und den Trost anderer heilen. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen kurzen Überblick zu neueren Entwicklungen in der Behandlung von Trauma, die auf das somatische Erleben von traumabezogenen Empfindungen und Affekten fokussieren und stellt Bezüge zu einigen Konzepten der Gestalttheorie her. Im Weiteren werden Zeichnungen und Ergebnisse aus der therapeutischen Arbeit mit Klientinnen und Klienten präsentiert und über die Rolle der Gesellschaft und deren Verantwortung in Heilungsprozessen reflektiert.
Threat and trauma: An overview
New Directions for Youth Development, 2003
Common responses after exposure to threat include reexperiencing the event, intrusive thoughts and images, hyperarousal, avoidance and numbing, a sense of a foreshortened future, and shattered assumptions about control and safety.
PERSONAL RESOURCES OF PREVENTION OF DESTRUCTIVE TRAUMA CONSEQUENCES
2016
The article deals with the psychological resources of reducing devastating experiences of traumatic events. It is shown that traumatic events do not always lead to devastating consequences. It has been found out that viability can be considered aninternal human resource,which enables an individual to resist the destructive effects of a trauma. The following resources of individual viability have been identified: a focus on self-fulfillment, vitality, life satisfaction, the ability to change one’s own attitude to risk and trauma causing events. The author argues that trauma is not always a post-traumatic disorder. Under certain conditions, an experience of traumatic events leads to the post-traumatic personal growth. Among the conditions for the growth there isindividual high viability, which is realized in the ability to be positive and optimistic about the future, to be willing to overcome difficulties and hardships, to manage risk, to take care ofone’s own safety and life ecology. Key words: trauma, post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic growth, resilience.
There is increasing theoretical, clinical and research evidence for the role of perceived travma and personal charactheristics in trauma related psychological problems and disorders. Facing and working through psychosocial trauma is essentially difficult not only for the individuals suffered but also the professionals dealt with them. Strengths serve individuals best not when life is easy but when life is difficult . During challenging times, helping people to discover their strengths such as optimism, hope, humor, resilience, and meaning takes added importance for mental health professionals. Thus it is found that individuals who use their strengths more have been shown to have higher levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, vitality, wellbeing (Linley, et.al., 2010; and also to be more effective in their growth (Rashid, 2008) after a traumatic exposure in their daily life. Focussing on strengths can provide the clinician a powerful perspective to understand individuals intact repertoires which can be effectively deal with troubles stimulates a very different discussion. The aim of the present study is to examine the relations between the perceived trauma, post traumatic embitterment disorder and strengtspotting abilities. The strengthspotting scale, post traumatic embitterment self rating scale and Beck anxiety inventory were administered to both in-patients in clinical setting and also health care professionals. The results were discussed in terms of traumatic intervention with positive psychology principals. Suggestions were presented and the need of multidisiplinary work emphasized for future research
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