Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society [Paperback]
Author: Amazon Prime Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering | Language: English | ISBN: 157230457X | Format: PDF, EPUB
Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society
Download Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society for everyone book with Mediafire Link Download Link Direct download links available for Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society [Paperback]
Download Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society for everyone book with Mediafire Link Download Link
Now in paperback, this bestselling classic presents seminal theory and research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Together, the leading editors and contributors comprehensively examine how trauma affects an individual's biology, conceptions of the world, and psychological functioning. Key topics include why certain people cope successfully with traumatic experiences while others do not, the neurobiological processes underlying PTSD symptomatology, enduring questions surrounding traumatic memories and dissociation, and the core components of effective interventions. A highly influential work that laid the foundation for many of the field's continuing advances, this volume remains an immensely informative and thought-provoking clinical reference and text. A new preface to the paperback edition situates the book within the context of contemporary research developments.
- Paperback: 596 pages
- Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (November 1, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 157230457X
- ISBN-13: 978-1572304574
- Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- #22 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > Counseling
- #34 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Counseling
Van der Kolk, McFarlane and Weisarth are world leaders on the nature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this volume they bring together a wide range of authors to present the historical development of and current approaches to the treatment of the ongoing effects of traumatic experience. There are 25 chapters which address the historical developments, acute reactions to and adaptation to trauma, the mechanisms of memory, social and cultural issues and, most importantly, treatment. Recent developments in treatment are critically reviewed, including reference to the popular Eye Movement Desensitisation, but Thought Field Therapy is too new to be included.
This is not a book for those looking for `quick fix' solutions or a `how to' manual for the treatment of trauma. Rather it provides serious theoretical and research perspectives that might underpin professional practice. In this sense it is a fair representation of the state of knowledge on PTSD, a concept which provides a window for viewing and treating the effects of exposure to trauma.
Having explored the current state of clinical knowledge however, the editors acknowledge that there are `aspects of the experience of trauma that cannot be captured in medical and scientific models' and argue that `in reality people are left to grapple with the human dimensions of traumatic experience'. They conclude that `beneath the tidiness of emotional distancing and scientific classification lie the human vitality and energy to struggle against, and to create meaning out of, what appears to be random cruelty and fate'. The reader is left to ponder what the role of the researcher and clinician is in challenging the conditions and social contexts of the tragedy and violence that we observe daily in our world.
In my efforts to better understand myself and my diagnoses, I bought this book because I wanted something more than just "take a pill" or "years of psycho-therapy." I wanted to understand why my PTSD is "chronic," why it has changed my life so dramatically, and how I can get back on my feet. Being mentally ill has brought a variety of reactions and sayings, one of which is "just pull yourself by your boot straps." I always wondered why I couldn't do that, until I figured out that not only do I not have boot straps, I don't even have the boots! No other person's boots will fit, so I decided to make my own by gathering all the information I can and incorporating positive changes into my life to bring about a sense of "normalcy." This book has gone a very long way in helping me to understand the processing of, or rather failure to process, traumatic events. It also completely helped me understand why I've struggled with night-time and the insomnia that wouldn't respond to "sleep hygiene" practices.
I am still reading the book, so this review is in light of what I've read so far. I will try to remember to add/finish the review upon completion of reading the book.
The text is written in a more technical/clinical fashion than layman, so people who do not have any background in psychology or medicine will likely find this book to be very difficult to read and/or understand. For those who suffer from PTSD, love someone with PTSD, or work with someone who has PTSD, this book may bring about more understanding and open the door for good and deep conversation. I hope, for myself as well as for others, that the vast amount of information in this book will provide tools to help manage a very complicated "problem," whose roots are likely deep and tangled.
No comments:
Post a Comment