Trauma and Recovery
By Judith Lewis Herman
Basic Books 1992
Reviewed by Chris Slee

This book deals with the causes and consequences of psychological trauma, and how survivors can be helped to recover.

Judith Herman is both a psychiatrist and an active feminist -- an unusual combination. This helped her to see the connection between the oppression of women and their resulting emotional problems such as depression -- a connection denied by the conservative, male-dominated psychiatric profession.

She heard numerous stories of sexual and domestic violence from her patients. Because of her involvement in the women's movement, she was able to speak out against the denial of women's real experiences by others in her profession.

She argues that the systematic study of psychological trauma “depends on the support of a political movement. Indeed, whether such study can be pursued or discussed in public is itself a political question. The study of war trauma becomes legitimate only in a context that challenges the sacrifice of young men in war. The study of trauma in sexual and domestic life becomes legitimate only in a context that challenges the subordination of women and children.

“Advances in the field occur only when they are supported by a political movement powerful enough to legitimate an alliance between investigators and patients and to counteract the ordinary social processes of silencing and denial”.

Herman shows that different kinds of trauma -- sexual and domestic violence, combat trauma and political terror -- have similar effects.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder may include anxiety, irritability, psychosomatic complaints, sleep disturbance, nightmares and flashbacks, depression and drug dependence.

Often survivors oscillate between opposing states -- for example, between intense painful feelings and emotional numbness, or between withdrawal from social contact and anxious clinging to others.

Relationships to other people are disrupted. Survivors lose trust in others and confidence in themselves.

Recovery is based on the empowerment of the survivor and the creation of new connections to other people.

A lot depends of the level of support which survivors receive from those around them, who may include friends, lovers, family members, psychotherapists and other survivors of similar traumas.

Herman says it is essential that those wanting to help respect the autonomy of the survivor. Too often other people decide what is “good” for the survivor, disregarding his or her wishes.

Most survivors seek resolution of their traumatic experiences within the confines of their personal lives. But a significant minority get involved in social action to help other survivors and challenge the social conditions that gave rise to their oppression. This may include educational, legal and political activity.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
For further details regarding subscriptions and
correspondence please contact glw@greenleft.org.au

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page