Traumatic Encounters Research Articles

Ambiguous Loss: A Loved One’s Trauma

Research on interpersonal trauma tends to focus on the effects of traumatic encounters on those one who directly undergo the experience. In this paper, I seek to understand the experiences of the friends and family of the one who has undergone trauma, a paradigmatic case being the relatives of veterans (O’Nell, 1999). I argue that one way we can understand the experiences of friends and relatives is through Pauline Boss’ concept of ambiguous loss (Boss, 1986, 2007). The kind of ambiguous loss relevant for our purposes is when a family member is physically present but psychologically absent, for example, in the case of a relative with advanced dementia. This is what I purport happens in some instances of traumatic experience. I argue that third-person traumatic encounter can be experienced as a loss due to the changes in the person who has undergone the traumatic encounter and that this, in turn, causes changes in the person experiencing the loss and their relationship with their traumatised family member. I argue that first-person traumatic encounter is a transformative experience (Paul, 2014), i.e., an experience which causes personal and epistemic changes in the subject undergoing it, and that third-person traumatic encounter can also be a transformative experience.

Witnessing transgenerational trauma in teacher education: decoloniality of time, rupture of developmentalism, and settler resistance

ABSTRACT How can educators and students from settler backgrounds engage with and acknowledge the experiences and representation of transgenerational trauma among Indigenous peoples in educational environments, while remaining cognisant of the ethical and political implications? This challenge arises within the context of societal structures still influenced by colonial legacies, where systems of power are ingrained along lines of race, ethnicity, class, gender, disability, and sexuality. What would be some of the necessary conditions that educational environments would need to meet in order to ethically and politically respond to transgenerational traumatic encounters? This paper addresses these questions and suggests three conditions that educational environments would need to meet, when educators and students are invited to become witnesses of transgenerational trauma: decoloniality of time, rupture of developmentalism, and an ethic of non-innocence. Both these conditions and their pedagogical implications are discussed and analysed through the lens of a decolonial ethic.

Spillover of a Torn Soul: The Role of Betrayal Trauma, Emotional Dysregulation, and Relationship Satisfaction

Unlocking the intricate connections between betrayal trauma, emotional dysregulation, and relationship satisfaction, this research delves into a crucial realm of human experience. By investigating how emotion dysregulation acts as a mediator between diverse traumatic encounters, including betrayal trauma, and marital contentment, this study sheds light on the profound impact of these factors on individuals’ lives. Through a purposive sampling technique, a sample of 251 married individuals participated in this research. The findings reveal a compelling positive relationship between emotion dysregulation and varying degrees of predisposed trauma (r= .532**,r= .447**, andr= .555**). Moreover, the study illuminates the negative correlation between predisposed trauma, emotion dysregulation, and marital satisfaction. Notably, the research uncovers that medium levels of predisposed trauma and relationship satisfaction are intricately linked through partial mediation by emotion dysregulation (r= .039). Similarly, high levels of predisposed trauma and relationship satisfaction exhibit a fully mediated relationship through emotion dysregulation (r= .048). By untangling these intricate associations, this study emphasizes the need for further exploration and intervention strategies to empower individuals in navigating the repercussions of diverse traumatic experiences on their relationships. The findings offer valuable insights into the multifaceted dynamics of predisposed trauma, emotional regulation, and relationship well-being, fueling a broader dialogue and fostering effective support mechanisms for those affected.

Playful Distance: On the Relationship between Fossils and Time in Eduard Mörike’s “Göttliche Reminiscenz”

The nineteenth-century author Eduard Mörike is difficult to pin down. In some previous characterizations, Mörike has appeared as a provincial poet, one whose conversational tone, folksy compositions, and tendency towards fantasy lend him an unserious quality. While modern scholarship has shifted to debating the level of his political involvement and his status as a postclassical or proto-modern author, one characteristic stands out among the majority of descriptions: the playful quality of his works and the characters within them. Dreams, memory, encounters with art, idle pastimes—all common topoi in Mörike’s literary output—represent playful events in which varied spatiotemporal relationships emerge, especially in the face of potentially traumatic encounters with death, sickness, or the sublime. Mörike’s handling of the fossil in “Göttliche Reminiscenz” involves such an encounter. In the nineteenth century, fossils often set the stage for a traumatic encounter with vast expanses of non-human time. Mörike’s playful treatment of the subject offers a productive approach to the sublime that moves beyond a simple negation of its traumatic nature. In Mörike’s poem, the fossil exists as both a sublime thought figure and an intimate lyrical object, offering another way to conceptualize non-human experience.

Negotiations of Anxiety in the Discourses of Melanie Klein and Edgar Allan Poe

In my discussion of a selection of Poe’s tales, I intend to reveal the latent Kleinian dynamics which abound in texts that pivot on the dialectic between aggression and reparation: the narrative can be thought of as negotiating the representation of phantasies which are deployed to avoid intolerable anxiety, requiring most often than not a withdrawal from reality. The texts under analysis seem to play out with acute awareness the pain of fragmentation and disintegration and the ambivalent phantasies arising from the need to mitigate the pain of the internal situation. Poe’s characters’ traumatic encounters will foreground the struggle, fraught with ambivalence, to separate from and discern that which is other.

Mental health impact of the catastrophic 2023 earthquake on Turkish youth: psychological distress amidst humanitarian crisis

On February 6, 2023, Türkiye was struck by a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8, a natural disaster of enormous destruction. As a result, many citizens succumbed to mortality, suffered immense physical and psychosocial harm, and the properties of the survivors suffered severe damage. Adolescents and the youth sector in particular are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders1. Hence, policymakers and stakeholders need to pay attention to this understudied sector to prevent and manage health care issues associated with the recent earthquakes. Because of their rapid appearance, ferocity, and devastation, earthquakes exert unequivocal stress events2. Previous studies have demonstrated that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently linked to earthquakes, which have a significant psychological influence on individuals and hinder their early return to normal activities while prolonging unpleasant emotions3. Moreover, prior traumatic encounters and childhood abuse have a significant impact on the mental health of adolescent survivors3. Recalling fear, triggering memories, or experiencing panic and anxiety is one of the most notable effects of the possibility and persistence of PTSD. These symptoms have a rapid impact on mental health and, according to studies and personal experience, are associated with the initiation and risk of developing PTSD3. In addition, this disorder comprises mood disorders, such as dysthymia and anxiety, with the diagnosis being connected to the existence of PTSD following the earthquake3. The majority of adolescent survivors’ experience intrusive flashbacks and posttrauma ruminations, also known as event-related ruminations, which result from the shaking of beliefs after excruciating occurrences2. Adolescents may experience varying levels of trauma following the earthquake, with one of the most significant elements influencing the intensity being the loss of family members and the damage of homes, which causes a dramatic change in their lives2,3. Adolescent trauma survivors are thought to focus more on the negative aspects of traumatic cues as a result of automatic ruminations that reduce an individual’s ability to avoid them. The most recent earthquake in Türkiye since 1939 had the largest recorded magnitude, and it damaged an area of around 400 km24. The chronicity of adolescent survivors’ mental health and quality of life are impacted by postearthquake difficulties including eviction, destroyed homes, or injuries. These variables are more likely to be subjected to harsher conditions in the aftermath of the traumatic event3. According to a study, those who have experienced partial or full PTSD symptoms for 2 years may continue to experience them for the following 10 years5. The Turkish government faces a serious task in constructing a suitable plan to aid the afflicted youth alongside heal those affected and develop a prosperous generation. In response to the rising prevalence of adolescent mental health issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) is assisting the Turkish government through its regional concept of operations, working in partnership with the Turkish Ministry of Health to provide mental health services throughout all impacted areas4. It is advised to conduct a structured examination of adolescent psychological distress symptoms. This may be achieved by interviewing teenagers, preferably without their parents present to prevent emotional bias and distress disguise. This mediates a secure clinical setting in which to discuss their traumatic experience to receive appropriate care6. Moreover, following the early emergency comeback, children and caregivers will warrant additional specialized trauma healing interventions that will be crucial in assisting youth in maintaining their well-being while also being impacted by the risk and protective factors that came with the Türkiye earthquake7. Offering extensive training for mental health professionals is highly advised, so that the symptoms of PTSD and other disorders are revealed more rapidly, and hence managed more sufficiently6. Not only should face-to-face therapy be offered, but also eHealth methods should be adopted to expand the range of benefited adolescents throughout all regions of Türkiye6. There is a need to break the stigma surrounding mental health, that acts as a barrier preventing individuals from seeking help. Moreover, community and political engagement and improvement of disaster management goals accountability and identifying gaps are essential steps. Through sustained research identification of predictors may help formulate postdisaster relief and rehabilitation efforts to further reduce the psychological distress in such a humanitarian crisis. Ethical approval Not applicable. Sources of funding The authors have not received any financial support for this manuscript. Author’s contribution O.U.: conceptualization, project administration, writing—review and designing. H.A.: reviewing the first draft and revising. J.W.: reviewing and editing. All authors approved the final manuscript and submission. Conflicts of interest disclosure The authors declare that they have no financial conflict of interest with regard to the content of this report. Research registration unique identifying number (UIN) Abubakar Nazir. Guarantor Abubakar Nazir. Data availability statement Not applicable.

SILENCE AND RESILIENCE IN BINA SHAH’S SLUM CHILD

This paper investigates the factors contributing to the traumatic experiences of subaltern children in Pakistani Christian society. It delves deep into the painful memories and traumatic encounters of subaltern children within the confines of their homes and communities. The analysis centers on Bina Shah’s Slum Child, where the narrator, Laila, represents the collective psychological struggles of subaltern children. Drawing on Judith Lewis Herman’s concepts, it explores how silence and resilience influence the impact of trauma. Additionally, it employs insights from Shoshana Felman and Dori Laub’s works to examine the testimonial role in fictional narratives. The study concludes that subaltern children often endure trauma, significantly affecting their psychological well-being. Resolution of these inner conflicts requires confronting entrenched fears. Importantly, testimony not only gives a voice to the voiceless but also provides psychological healing. Keywords: Postcolonial Psychology, Subaltern Studies, Trauma and Recovery, Testimony, Pakistani Christian, subaltern children.

S575 Rate and Reasons for Non-Elective 30-Day Readmissions for Functional Dyspepsia in the U.S.

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD), a diagnosis of exclusion, has a 10–20% prevalence(1,2). The pathophysiology is unclear, often multifactorial, and involves treatment with a detailed education about its benign nature. Tricyclic antidepressants and psychotherapy are warranted if functional dyspepsia (FD) is refractory or severe (1). Functional dyspepsia (FD) can present with postprandial distress (70% of FD cases) or epigastric pain syndrome (30% of FD cases) (3). FD can decrease quality of life and place a significant cost burden on healthcare services. Our study sought to determine the rate and reasons for 30-day all-cause readmissions for FD to help identify potentially modifiable factors and decrease the burden of readmissions. Methods: From the NRD, we identified all adults discharged with a principal diagnosis of FD after hospitalization from 2016 to 2019. Then, we identified any readmission of the same patient within 30-days for FD, excluding elective and traumatic encounters. Outcomes assessed included 30-day all-cause readmissions, top principal diagnosis for the readmitted patients, comparison of mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (THC) following readmission. Results: 4 917 patients with FD during index admissions were identified. The 30-day all-cause readmission rate was 19.3%. The Kaplan-Meier curve for 30-day all-cause readmissions was split by sex (Figure). There was no significant difference in age and sex distribution between patients with initial hospitalizations and those with readmissions. The most common reasons for readmissions in patients with FD were gastroparesis (5.9%), FD (5.8%), sepsis unspecified (5.2%), unspecified nausea and vomiting (3.1%), unspecified abdominal pain (2.1%), and acute renal failure (2.0%). Readmission was associated with higher odds of mortality (2.8% vs. < 0.01%, p< 0.001), longer LOS (6.0 vs. 5.0 days, p< 0.001), and higher THC. Over the period, readmissions for FD accounted for a cumulative 5.694 days of hospitalization, costing over $14 million. Conclusion: 1 in 4 patients was readmitted with FD within 30 days. Gastroparesis contributed more to readmissions than a primary diagnosis of FD. Higher rates of poorer outcomes were found with 30-days readmissions. Cohort studies are needed to validate these results.Figure 1.: Survival estimates for 30-day all-cause readmissions in male and Female patients with functional dyspepsia

Parents and Children in the Mid-Victorian Novel: Traumatic Encounters and the Formation of Family by Madeline Wood (review)

Parents and Children in the Mid-Victorian Novel: Traumatic Encounters and the Formation of Family by Madeline Wood (review)

Parents and Children in the Mid-Victorian Novel: Traumatic Encounters and the Formation of Family by Madeline Wood (review)

Parents and Children in the Mid-Victorian Novel: Traumatic Encounters and the Formation of Family by Madeline Wood (review)

Introduction: “The Unexpected Caribbean” Part II

Introduction: “The Unexpected Caribbean” Part II

Journey from Trauma to Transcendence Through Art Therapy: The Study of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak

The aim of this research paper is to analyze the novel of American writer, Laurie Halse Anderson, entitled Speak, through the lens of art therapy to highlight that the journey from trauma to transcendence is possible through the therapeutic medium of art. This study examines all the traumatic encounters which the protagonist of Speak, Melinda Sordino, must face in her adolescence period and her constant struggle to cope with those experiences. The research substantiates that Anderson's novel frames speech and recovery from depression and traumatic stress possible through the artistic renderings. The theoretical framework of this paper is encapsulated in Shaun McNiff’s theory of art as medicine. The scopes of existing studies of Laurie Anderson’s Speak are limited to the exploration of the impact of traumatic encounters on the psychological and social growth of the young adult but this has not been clarified that how the protagonist overpowers the weaknesses and frailties of her mind through the healing properties of art. The decipherment of the element of art therapy in Speak fills the gap in research on trauma recovery through expressive art in Young Adult literature. Thus, the findings generated from this study might help future researchers in exploring various dimensions of Young Adult Literature to study the implications of trauma recovery through creative art therapy.

Existential Dilemma in Toni Morrison’s Beloved

Toni Morrison verbalizes in novel manners the pain and battle of a traumatized self and local area. In her novels, the traumatic truth of a dark self shows itself in the characters' self-hatred and self-disdain, and in the deficiency of their individual and cultural identity. Her fiction resolves issues of African American history, traumatizing experience and identity, often additionally captivating with inquiries of sex and sex, and, less significantly, class. When writing in a climate where everything except a couple of dark writers battled for acknowledgment, presently the subject of much recognition, Morrison’s work has provoked various and assorted basic reactions. The Beloved and Song of Solomon utilize the devices of disruption, corruption and sensuality to portray the traumatic encounters of the Black ladies’ heroes. During the last fifteen or so years grant treating the Morrison oeuvre has blossomed, making her clearly quite possibly the most talked about creators of the contemporary time frame. Toni Morrison’s In her novel, Beloved (1987), Toni Morrison shows the overwhelming impacts of slavery and its specialist disasters as these impacts show themselves through numerous ages of one family. The trauma of slavery is with the end goal that nobody contacted by it can break liberated from the past, even a long time after actual freedom. This is valid for the novel's hero, Sethe, a once in the past oppressed lady living in Cincinnati after the Civil War and third novel Song of Solomon (1977) goes about as a milestone in her profession, since it uncovers the imaginative development she has acquired, and furthermore presents the arrangement she has observed to tackle the overwhelming issues she depicts in her initially traumatizing novel. The distinctive traumatic occasions make Morrison's novels appropriate for logo helpful perusing and examination.

Lead Exposure is Unrelated to Wind Turbine Mortality in Golden Eagles

ABSTRACTLead toxicosis is well established as an important contributor to mortalities in bald and golden eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus and Aquila chrysaetos, respectively), California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), and a variety of waterfowl. The effects of lead toxicosis may predispose birds to traumatic encounters, such as collision with power lines. Rotating wind turbine blades have caused the death of many bird species, including bald and golden eagles, when flight paths intersect wind farms. We conducted an analysis of the relationship between liver lead concentrations and mortality from collisions with wind‐turbine blades (WT) in golden eagles submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory (NFWFL) from 2011 to 2016 from across the United States. During that time, 116 golden eagles were determined to have died of wind turbine blade collision and 52 were tested for lead exposure. Liver lead concentrations in our sample were compared to those from 25 golden eagles that died of other causes including electrocution, gunshot, and other trauma. Eagles that died from wind turbine blade collision had lower (P &lt; 0.01) lead concentrations (geometric mean 0.25 ppm wet weight [ww]; median 0 ppm ww) than those with other mortality factors (geometric mean 0.65 ppm ww; median 0.42 ppm ww). Across both control (non‐WT mortality) and WT groups, liver lead concentrations did not differ significantly between males and females (P = 0.95), or between adults and sub‐adults (P = 0.45). The ratios of life stages and sexes in the WT group were similar to that of the broader population of golden eagles submitted to NFWFL during the same time period. Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

PTSD symptoms and coping mechanism of nurses in Poland before the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a consequence of the indirect experience of trauma. The symptoms of STS are similar to those experienced by people who directly experience traumatic events in the form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the symptoms of PTSD and to establish the role of coping strategies in the development of PTSD symptoms among Polish nurses. The study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The study was conducted in the Podkarpackie Province (Poland) in clinical hospitals and hospital out-patient clinics. The results of studies conducted among 509 nurses were analyzed. The mean age of the respondents was 35 years, and the mean work seniority was 11 years. The IES-R scale and Mini-COPE were used in the study. Results. At least moderate PTSD symptoms were found in 42.4% of the surveyed nurses. The results showed that maladaptive stress coping strategies played a major role in the development of PTSD symptoms in the group of nurses. Conclusion. Nurses are a professional group exposed to a high risk of traumatic encounters that may result in PTSD/STS, therefore this professional group should be targeted at prophylactic programs and training in dealing with traumatic stress. The COVID pandemic and the related restrictions, organizational chaos, constant fear and a sense of danger are serious traumatizing factors and can seriously contribute to the increase in stress disorders among nurses and other medical professionals.

Trauma, psychosocial factors and coping mechanisms among first-generation Rwandan refugees living in Zambia

This paper explores trauma, psychosocial factors and coping strategies among Rwandan refugees in Zambia. Using a qualitative interpretative research design, 22 participants were purposively selected from the townships in Lusaka. Two focus group discussions for males and females were conducted. The discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, coded and analysed based on the objectives of the study. The findings indicate that Rwandan refugees have experienced adverse traumatic encounters as a result of atrocities witnessed during the 1994 genocide. The findings also show that the journey to Zambia was punctuated with challenges and inhumane treatment. The study revealed that participants resorted to social support, religious, spiritual, cultural beliefs and practices as their coping strategies. These offer insightful resources for policymakers and future research.

Making sense of Harvey: An exploration of how journalists find meaning in disaster

Thirty journalists who covered hurricane Harvey and who also lived in affected areas were interviewed to explore how journalists make sense of and cope with their exposure to hurricane-related trauma. Baumeister’s four needs for meaning framework was used as a guide to uncover how journalists used justification, purpose, efficacy, and self-worth to find meaning in their traumatic experiences. Journalistic mission and purpose were strong drivers for making sense of hurricane coverage hardships. Justification and efficacy helped journalists reframe traumatic encounters. Self-worth helped reframe experiences as furthering career goals. The article discusses implications for news managers and journalists.

A Population-Based Analysis of Interpersonal Trauma, Psychosis, and Suicide: Evidence, Pathways, and Implications.

Subthreshold psychotic experiences (PEs) are known to confer a risk for suicidality. Yet, despite evidence of a strong etiological trauma-psychosis pathway, the coalesced effect of such concurrences on suicide risk is largely discounted. Our aims were to examine the impact of different manifestations of life span trauma and PEs on the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, using an exploratory person-centered approach. Data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (N = 7,403) were analyzed. PEs were assessed using the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) alongside items probing childhood and adult trauma, in addition to 12-month suicide thoughts and attempt. A manual three-step latent class analysis elicited four distinct profiles, namely, a socially disconnected/high PE, a sexual victimization/moderate PE, a life span trauma/low PE, and a baseline class. The socially disconnected class, characterized by a moderate likelihood of social disconnection, a high probability of various PE endorsements, yet a low likelihood of other significant trauma, showed the greatest risk of 12-month suicide ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 13.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [8.539, 19.021) and attempt (OR = 24.2, 95% CI = [10.349, 56.860). Neither multiple nor recurrent traumatic experiences invariably result in the emergence of PEs. Instead, a sense of social disconnection may be either resultant of PEs or alone sufficient to cultivate such symptom presentations, even in the absence of prior traumas. Moreover, just as traumatic encounters increase the risk of suicidality, so too might seemingly more innocuous adversities, such as poor-quality social relationships, further elevate the risk, particularly when proximal and coupled with the simultaneity of PEs.

Necrofeminismo y redes de indignación en Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda y Emilia Pardo Bazán

In this essay, I explore how Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda and Emilia Pardo Bazán process their traumatic encounters with sexual and gender discrimination within the intimate space of correspondence. Though the two never met in person, they shared the experience of being rejected by the Real Academia Española—Gómez de Avellaneda in 1853, and Pardo Bazán in 1889, 1891 and 1912. Writing to an already dead Gómez de Avellaneda, Pardo Bazán creates what I refer to as a necro-feminist bond: a political alliance between embodied and disembodied subjects fighting against patriarchal biopolitics. By focusing on the affective contours of each woman’s correspondences, I trace the ways in which they respond to the cultural imperative to repress their anger at social injustice while devising oblique forms of communicating their rage through sarcasm and irony. Finally, I argue that these epistolary corpuses act as a counterpoint to the Academia’s misogyny and serve as a productive site for considering non-normative modes of expressing and forming collectivities around traumatic experiences.

On “Saidiya”

AbstractThis article attempts to address the contemporary turn to astrophysics lexicons in Black feminism by bringing together scholarship on Indian Ocean slavery and Black studies. Through an experimental reading of encounter with Indian Ocean and African slavery in Saidiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother, the article suggests that exhaustions of representation manifested in the turn to black theories of the subatomic reveal an absolute nonrecuperability of time-as-history. The argument unfolds through an impossible historicization of racial blackness that engages the figure of the black eunuch slave in medieval Persian history. The difficulty of the historicity of race produces and involves crises of origins that manifest in traumatic encounters with trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean slavery that explode the scalar coherence made possible by established narratives of racial modernity.