Trauma And Recovery: The Aftermath Of Violence- From Domestic Abuse To Political Terror Hardcover – June 11, 1992

Thorough Work on Understanding & Treating Trauma

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MicheleKay

April 1, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent, in-depth book on various types of trauma and the effects & treatments.
There is some political slant, but it is not the focus of the book. If you are serious about understanding trauma and people, this is an incredible book. I'm amazed how thorough it is. I'm amazed this much information can be in one book that is only 276 pages long and not a text book. It's well-written. There is some sophisticated vocabulary in it...Several times I had to look up words in my online dictionary to fully understand what the author is communicating. She is wonderfully gifted in her approach to this subject.

She starts with history, goes into trauma and various treatments. She delineates differences of acute trauma of a single event vs chronic traumas. She delineates further on how even just one good support can help someone with trauma, vs the results of someone experiencing trauma yet having no validating support. One of her key points is Chaper 6..."A New Diagnosis"... discussing that complaints of chronically traumatized people are not well-understood. For example:... "Survivors of child abuse who become patients appear with a bewildering array of symptoms....They may collect a virtual pharmacopeia of remedies: one for headaches, another for insomnia, another for anxiety, another for depression. None of these tends to work very well, since the underlying issues of trauma are not addressed".

She talks about getting the correct diagnosis. Investigating under the symptoms, thoroughly knowing the history. After that, the treatments are not just medication or psychotherapy. It's often both, but in a certain way... Safety first, then trauma work, then reconnection. It even goes into the strengths & support the therapist needs to treat people who have experienced trauma as well as details of individual vs group therapies. This book also discusses medications, but doesn't have a multitude of pages devoted to medications.

Please understand my description here is just a slight outline. Trauma and Recovery is an incredibly thorough and well-written work. It also includes many pages of its referenced sources.

The epilogue discusses many things including recent studies, advances and programs since the book was written 2 decades ago.

I highly recommend this book.

30 people found this helpful

Still relevant and compelling, 20+ years after its original publication

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Cat

February 17, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This was a groundbreaking book in the 90s, and although the extant literature has expanded considerably since it's publication, the books itself has stood the test of time. It is my go-to for issues related to trauma: It is well-organized, chapters are exceptionally well-conceptualized and well-written, and the text itself is well-supported by research findings. Absolutely amazing--I'll read it again and again, and often recommend it to those working with trauma as well as individuals who just want to understand traumatic reactions and the context in which they occur a little better than they do, currently.

7 people found this helpful

This books bring deep insight and compassion into trauma.

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Elizabeth H

April 12, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

There is a reason the New York Times calls this book "one of the most important psychiatric works to be published in since Freud." Judith Miller has not only extensive knowledge but she is able to discuss how trauma and healing from trauma is affected my larger societal and familial relationship dynamics. The first part discusses the history of the study of trauma. Then how our relationship dynamics can help or hurt healing. Then what it takes to heal. She writes with great compassion and has a deep understanding how healing must happen in regards to the bigger picture of society. This books gets to the core of trauma.

5 people found this helpful

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Indigoshawn

A Classic for a Reason

March 5, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read this book a while back in my undergraduate program. Since then, I have been trained as an EMDR therapist and to reread the book with the EMDR lens is a new way to approach this fundamental work in the field of trauma. This is a solid work that will help readers understand trauma treatment and ways to approach those who have suffered unspeakable events.

7 people found this helpful

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Brenda

easy to read and follow. Great textbook for my masters program

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I detest the typeface and font-size--but nevertheless I highly recommend this book

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