Book Reviews

Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman discusses the connection between survivors of war and survivors of sexual assault or domestic abuse in their recovery from post traumatic stress. We have worked to bring this connection into the real world and provide opportunities for students who are survivors of violence to discuss their related issues. The first half of the book provides a historical context for the study of post traumatic stress which leads into explanations of human responses to trauma and finally recovery techniques. While it can be difficult to read about the prevalence of violence, I found it comforting to know that I was not alone by any means and that many of my reactions in the aftermath are both normal and common. I likewise took solace in my newfound wisdom around the healing process and a hope for successful recovery if I continue to work with my fellow DartHeart survivors to build new and better relationships with my friends, family and community. For a comprehensive understanding of post traumatic stress responses, survivors as well as healthcare professionals and educators will find this book useful.

Lucky by Alice Sebold. When Alice Sebold was 19 years old and a freshman at Syracuse University, she was attacked, beaten and brutally raped in the tunnel to an amphitheatre. Sebold returned to Syracuse to finish her bachelor's degree, months later, while walking down a street near the Syracuse campus, she recognized her rapist and secured his arrest and conviction. Since this book gave a very candid account of the woman's experience as a student navigating the court system, it gave me several insights not to mention a better understanding of the court system although I did not experience the court system personally as a result of my assault.

The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook by Glenn R. Schiraldi is an approachable text to the clinical side of PTSD.  It is written in clear language with numerous examples to explain PTSD symptomatically, including both possible causes and insight into why certain symptoms occur (ex. a discussion of dissociation from trauma and how it can lead to flashbacks), and it is overall a very good resource for helping the layperson to understand trigger events and mechanisms. The book basically includes everything you would want to know and stuff you didn't know that you didn't know about reactions to repetitive trauma. I found that reading through even just the basics on PTSD opened my eyes to my own experiences and reactions. The sourcebook then goes on to give advice on seeking therapy, what to expect, setting realistic goals, and probable outcomes: all information I wished I had known prior to my own adventures in therapy. In the next sections, Schiraldi goes through self-help management of symptoms, discussion of therapy and other behavior modification techniques, then finishes with advice and discussion for "Moving On."  It's a long read, but even simply taking it in a section at a time can truly give you some insight into PTSD and coping.  I'd recommend it both to primary and secondary survivors.

In her book Aftermath: Violence and the Remaking of a Self, Susan Brison approaches the topic of trauma with an interesting philosophical view. She has applied her study of philosophy to her traumatic experience and analyzed the reactions of herself, her friends and family, and the professionals at work along the way. During recovery, myself and other survivors like Susan frequently re-evaluate our values in what has been described by Judith Herman in Trauma and Recovery as a second adolescence. But for those of us who experienced the trauma during adolescence, we were already in the throws of wondering who we were, what we were to become, what we thought of the world, only to have that fragile conception destroyed by the violence of another person. It did not become as clear to me until reading Susan’s book that philosophy fits very appropriately into the recovery process from trauma. By addressing current cultural influences that impact how society and thus an individual survivor feel about the occurrence of trauma, Susan takes us one step closer towards understanding our frustrations while likewise offering us an ability through questioning to form an exit from the gloomy depths of the aftermath.

The PTSD Workbook is a great tool. For anyone looking for basic information about the effects of PTSD on the brain (specifically memory), how triggers form, etc— this is a go-to book. Understanding the disorder is half the battle. This book helps you to understand: which things trigger you and why, how to slow down and recognize the early signs of a panic attack, dealing with day to day anxiety and fear, ways you can distract yourself from self-destructive and self-harming behavior, the physical affects of PTSD, and how to handle perpetrators, guilt, self blame, and shame. The really great part about this book is the fact that it’s written collaboratively. Many different tips and information have been compiled by different counselors. The book covers a wide range of experience for sufferers of PTSD— including war veterans, sexual assault survivors, people who have lived through natural disasters, and so on. Like all of these workbooks, some chapters will apply and others you won’t really have a use for, but overall, it's really helpful.