I Can't Get over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Lisa is a trauma survivor, one of the many people in this country who currently suffer from a problem called post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD..." (more)
Key Phrases: secondary wounding experiences, family abuse survivor, trigger chart, World War, Great Trauma Brain, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is the first book to guide trauma survivors through the healing process one step at a time. It helps readers cope with memories and emotions, explains secondary wounding, and identifies the triggers that reactivate traumatic stress. Written for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their families.

About the Author

As a specialist in post-traumatic stress disorder, Aphrodite Matsakis, Ph.D., has counseled thousands of clients ranging from combat veterans to victims of crime and abuse and other traumatic events. She conducts a private psychotherapy practice specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder and child abuse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 2 edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157224058X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572240582
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,711 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Personal Health > Stress > Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  #41 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Pathologies
  #57 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Mood Disorders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Overall Reference both for Professionals and Self-help, July 31, 2001

By	Dr. Rosemary Bannon Tyksinski "www.rosemarys-... (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This is the best self-help book on the topic of trauma recovery. I have used this book with literally hundreds of patients who have experienced severe trauma -- and have yet to find a better single reference. The author guides you (and your therapist, if you have one) step by step through the entire process of recovery. She takes a psychoeducational approach through out. This approach helps to create necessary cognitive frameworks that trauma survivors desperately need in order to begin to make sense of the strange experiences they are often frightened to share with others. The careful building of these frameworks buffer the survivor against overwhelming emotions and feelings of helplessness. The author includes exercises for each phase of recovery, helps you with pacing and timing, and most of all, normalizes the subjective experience of the survivor. One of the most important things she articulates is the phenomenon of "secondary victimization." In brief, secondary victimization results from the well-meaning but damaging responses of your friends and loved ones to your trauma. Often, these ignorant reactions amplify the original trauma and complicate, or completely prohibit, healing. Her description of the biological reaction to traumatic incidents is priceless. Many fail to connect the many possible negative physical reactions to trauma with the traumatic experience itself. Because the physical symptoms sometimes occur weeks or even months after the event, people fail to see them as connected to the trauma. They often see them as isolated entities, adding to the feelings of craziness and being out of control. Just understanding how trauma can affect us biologically (sometimes permanently) lessens the pain and confusion of those reactions and can help the survivor reduce feelings of weakness and self-blame. This enables a person to begin to design effective strategies to address these symptoms. One of the other strengths of this book the inclusion of various kinds of trauma -- from childhood sexual abuse to military terror to auto accidents. This normalization of the survior's reaction across domains of trauma helps to de-emphasize the event and to refocus the indiviudal on moving through the sequale to complete healing. Healing is truly possible. This book is a wonderful tool.

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive and concise, December 19, 2002

By	Cathleen M. Walker "geminiwalker" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I am so impressed with this book! I have read a lot of books on being a survivor over the years, but this one tops them all. Sensitive and concise, with no agenda but the compassionate healing of the survivor, Aphrodite Matsakis is an impressive and knowledgeable author who will take you wherever you need to go gently, but clearly and firmly. Questions addressed include a clear definition of PTSD, its biochemistry, traumatic events, three levels of victimization, triggers, the healing process, and specific traumas: crimes committed by strangers, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence and sexual abuse, suicide of a loved one, natural catastrophes (like earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires), vehicular accidents, and war and combat.

Add to that the extensive list of resources in the appendices, and I can't think of a better place for a survivor to begin, continue or complete a journey through the recovery process.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes I Can!, February 25, 2000

By A Customer

For anyone looking for an easy to understand yet comprehensive book on Ptsd, this is it. Because of the self tests and advisories of when to seek professional help, I was able to accept that PTSD was likely my problem and I have since found a therapist and am working on getting over it! I still return to this book frequently and each time that I do it opens a new door or reveals some insight that moves me on in my recovery. The book is very easy to understand and a great resource for survivours of all types of traumas.For an overview of PTSD, and help on getting started on recovery, this is the book to read. and return to again and again