Good day, survivors. I've lately been dipping into the literature on abuse, depression, anxiety, and recovery. Just two quick notes:
1) I found Dr. Judith Lewis Herman's book, "Trauma and Recovery," to be very insightful. She covers a wide range of traumas, from domestic battery and war injuries to childhood abuse and political imprisonment. Herman aggregates and explains some very convincing data on rape, incest, captivity, and repetitive victimization. She codifies the term "Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," and links the condition to symptoms such as hyperarousal (ie, being continuously on-alert; always expecting danger); intrusion (ie, being fixated on traumatic memories -- so much so that they constantly intrude into your thoughts); and constriction (ie, the narrowing of one's life; a kind of numb retreat/surrender into isolation). I found it heartening that such nomenclature exists. And that the multi-phase road to recovery is fairly well- documented. (Not easy or pleasant, mind you. Just well-documented.) ***** (5 stars)
2) William Styron's so-called "memoir of madness", entitled "Darkness Visible" is exceptionally well-written. (He's a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, of "Sophie's Choice" and "The Confessions of Nat Turner" fame; in short, he knows his way around a typewriter.) Styron shares his experiences related to single, prolonged depressive episode, which eventually required his hospitalization. This episode hit him at age 60, and his prior relationship with depression hadn't been particularly intimate -- so those of us who've been dealing with clinical depression for decades may find Styron to be a bit of a carpet bagger. But he was, truly, a literary genius, and his words here are worth a read. **** (4 stars)
FYI, Herman's book was initially published in 1994; Styron's in 1990. So they're both a little behind on pharmacology.
Trauma & Recovery/Darkness Visible
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Re: Trauma & Recovery/Darkness Visible
Oh, and as a caveat:
The Herman book, "Trauma and Recovery," did trigger some distress in me personally, but only because I drilled down into long-repressed memories. Please be cautious if you choose to do the same.
I wish you well,
Tone
The Herman book, "Trauma and Recovery," did trigger some distress in me personally, but only because I drilled down into long-repressed memories. Please be cautious if you choose to do the same.
I wish you well,
Tone
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Re: Trauma & Recovery/Darkness Visible
Both books have really been helpful for me.
Judith Herman's stages of recovery, Safety, Mourning, Reconnection, have been very meaningful for me.
I was deadened and depressed for years; have been off all meds now for a year. I'm grieving but no longer depressed. I feel so alive, and have periods of intense joy and release between waves of sorrow and pain.
I believe grieving is harder in a culture that disapproves of emotional expression. Pete Walker has excellent resources that support grieving and full emotional expression (2 books and his very helpful website).
Richard O'Connor has a good book on depression and Alan Wolfelt has good books about grieving.
Judith Herman's stages of recovery, Safety, Mourning, Reconnection, have been very meaningful for me.
I was deadened and depressed for years; have been off all meds now for a year. I'm grieving but no longer depressed. I feel so alive, and have periods of intense joy and release between waves of sorrow and pain.
I believe grieving is harder in a culture that disapproves of emotional expression. Pete Walker has excellent resources that support grieving and full emotional expression (2 books and his very helpful website).
Richard O'Connor has a good book on depression and Alan Wolfelt has good books about grieving.
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Re: Trauma & Recovery/Darkness Visible
Thank you, hummingbird, for the Walker, O'Connor, and Wolfelt recommendations. I'm currently reviewing their web portfolios and will subsequently look into their books.
I'm glad that you've managed a significant recovery, which I know is no easy task. I'm just now taking action on the Safety front, ending a too-long cohabitation with one of my abusers. There's certainly a lot of work ahead, both physical and emotional, but it's somewhat thrilling to (finally!) feel up to the task.
I'm glad that you've managed a significant recovery, which I know is no easy task. I'm just now taking action on the Safety front, ending a too-long cohabitation with one of my abusers. There's certainly a lot of work ahead, both physical and emotional, but it's somewhat thrilling to (finally!) feel up to the task.
Last edited by Jonesy on Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Changed MT to NT
Reason: Changed MT to NT