Traumatic Experiences Research Articles

Predicting the future caretakers of traumatic vascular injury management via operative exposure among surgical trainees

BackgroundThe management of vascular trauma requires specialized training and expertise. Although traumatic vascular injury is treated currently by both vascular and trauma surgeons in modern practice, it remains unclear who will inherit the role of managing vascular trauma in the coming decades. In this study, we examined disparities in operative experience in vascular trauma among surgical trainees across different surgical specialties. MethodsAccreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education national operative log reports were collected for graduating vascular surgery residents (VSRs), vascular surgery fellows (VSFs), and general surgery residents (GSRs) from 2012 to 2022. Total operative volume for traumatic vascular injury was examined, as were the five major contributing operative domains (neck, thoracic, abdominal, peripheral, and fasciotomy). ResultsA total of 22,052 GSRs, 334 VSRs, and 1672 VSFs graduated over the 10-year study period. VSR had the highest vascular trauma case volume (24.9 ± 3.9 cases/5 years), followed by VSF (22.1 ± 1.5 cases/2 years) then GSR (2.4 ± 0.3 cases/5 years; P < .001). Thoracic vessel exploration/repair (0.7 cases vs 0.6 cases vs 0.0 cases), abdominal vessel exploration/repair (1.0 cases vs 0.9 cases vs 0.0 cases), neck vessel exploration/repair (4.0 cases vs 3.4 cases vs 0.2 cases), peripheral vessel exploration/repair (12.1 cases vs 9.5 cases vs 1.1 cases), and lower extremity fasciotomy for trauma (7.2 cases vs 7.6 cases vs 1.1 cases) were most frequent among the VSR and VSF groups (P < .001 each). On linear regression analysis, both VSF (+0.5 cases/y; R2 = 0.81; P < .001) and GSR (+0.1 cases/y; R2 = 0.75; P = .001) groups experienced a growth in vascular trauma volume. Contrariwise, vascular trauma volume did not change among graduating VSRs (R2 = 0.13; P = .31). ConclusionsDedicated vascular surgical training provides the highest operative exposure to civilian vascular trauma in the United States.

Defining and distinguishing early life stress, trauma, adversity, toxic and chronic stress and allostatic load: a descriptive review.

Various concepts are used to study the impact of stress on childhood development. These concepts are often used inconsistently or interchangeably. Our main objectives were to determine how selected stress concepts (chronic stress, toxic stress, allostatic load, early life stress, childhood adversity, childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences; ACEs) are defined, operationalized and described, and to provide a theoretical context to aid the choice for a preferred concept in public health research. For this descriptive review, we systematically searched for literature published before 4 August 2021, on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo. Two independent reviewers included studies. Exclusion criteria were: no systematic review, not peer reviewed, not published in English, selected stress concepts were no predetermined variable or a substantial topic in the discussion, full text was unobtainable or study described non-human or non-childhood populations. Data extraction forms were used. Descriptives were gathered, publication fields were identified through Journal Citation Reports categories, and verbatim descriptions were ordered in text and Venn diagrams. Of 264 screened studies, 124 were included. ACEs, childhood adversity and childhood trauma were used most. ACEs were the main concept used most frequently (47.6%). A total of 11 of 14 public and environmental health journals used ACEs. All concepts refer to prolonged, repeated, interpersonal stress from 0 to 18 years, that can alter physiological systems. Four concepts were stressor oriented, two concepts focused on stress response and effect and one on the state of challenged homeostasis. ACEs seem most fitting for public health setting, due to their operationalizability, large set of core experiences and widespread use.

Examining the impact of spirituality religious strength on behavioral and emotional health among youth with multiple adverse childhood experiences

PurposeAlthough spiritual/religious strengths (SRS) are widely believed to be a protective factor for youth physical and mental wellness, scant evidence is available regarding how much and in what direction a person’s past adverse experiences can affect the said protection. The study aims to validate the overall protective effect of SRS on health and investigate the mutual effect modification of SRS and accumulated adverse experiences exposure. MethodsThe study is a cross-sectional design utilizing the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) administered to foster care youth aged between 5 and 17 in a large, mid-western state from July to December 2020. Logistic regressions were used on a gender-balanced working sample of 4,802 youths to model the odds of physical and mental unwellness measured by 12 behavioral and emotional needs (BEN) items in CANS and the combined multi-BENs (MBE) as 4 or more BEN items, given the presence of (a) SRS identified by CANS, (b) past trauma as having 4 or more out of 10 adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) items on the CANS, denoted as multi-ACEs (MAC), and (c) co-occurring SRS and MAC. ResultsPrimarily, the study found supported the protective benefits of SRS as the presence was associated with lower levels of BEN. However, the higher levels of adverse experiences exposure were associated with an attenuation of the relationship between SRS and BEN. Secondarily, females were found to have higher SRS and lower BEN than males; adolescents between 13 and 17 had disproportionally more ACES, greater BEN and lower SRS; Black youth had disproportionally more trauma exposure and higher BEN, but had higher SRS. ConclusionThe findings imply that having spiritual/religious strength helps promote wellbeing among foster care youth. However, it appears the greater levels of traumatic experiences exposure can overwhelm this positive impact. These findings are consistent with the complex literature on the role of spiritual/religious strength in mental health and may help clarify this complex relationship. Trauma-informed intervention should be considered nuanced approaches to address SRS among children and youth who present with these strengths.

Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Biological Aging During Pregnancy and in Newborns

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), potentially traumatic experiences occurring before the age of 18 years, are associated with epigenetic aging later in life and may be transmitted across generations. To test evidence of the transmission of biological embedding of life experience across generations by analyzing maternal ACEs and epigenetic clocks measured in mothers during pregnancy and in their children at birth. For this cross-sectional study, data from the Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies (ARIES) substudy of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were analyzed. The ALSPAC study recruited 14 541 women who gave birth in the Avon Health District in the UK between April 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992. The ARIES substudy comprised 1018 mother-offspring dyads based on the availability of DNA samples profiled in 2014. Epigenetic age was estimated using DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks (including Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE) in mothers during pregnancy and the Knight and Bohlin cord blood epigenetic clocks in newborns. Analyses were performed between October 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023. A composite measure of maternal ACEs was the primary exposure in both maternal and offspring models; as a secondary analysis, individual ACEs were measured separately. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to investigate depression during pregnancy as an exposure. Changes in epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) were investigated as the primary outcome in maternal models during pregnancy. Changes in epigenetic gestational age acceleration (GAA) were the primary outcome in offspring analyses. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between maternal ACEs and both outcomes. This study included 883 mother-child dyads. The mean (SD) maternal age at delivery was 29.8 (4.3) years. Pregnant women with higher ACE scores exhibited higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.33] years; P < .001). Maternal ACEs were not associated with GAA in newborns using P < .05 as a cutoff to determine statistical significance. Depression was associated with higher GrimAge EAA (β, 0.06 [95% CI, 0.02 to 0.10] years; P = .01) in mothers during pregnancy, but not in newborns, and did not mediate the association between ACEs and EAA. The findings of this study suggest that maternal ACEs may be associated with epigenetic aging later in life, including during pregnancy, supporting a role for maternal ACEs in offspring development and health later in life.

A Review of Trauma-Informed Care for Youth and Their Families in Inpatient Pediatric Settings.

Due to the pervasiveness of trauma, it is likely that many children and families seen in pediatric health settings have incurred traumatic experiences. These experiences can lead to a variety of negative medical, psychological, and social health outcomes. Therefore, a provider's focus on supporting resilience is integral. The use of trauma-informed care (TIC) is one way providers can work toward promoting a family's resilience. TIC is considered an organizational, attitudinal shift to understanding the broad impacts of trauma. This shift can contribute to changes in policies and procedures to make each system more welcoming to all those accessing the health system. This review will discuss the current pervasiveness of trauma, its associated impacts, the importance of TIC, and practical applications of TIC based on guiding principles provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. [Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(8):e299-e304.].

Beyond reconsolidation: The need for a broad theoretical approach in clinical translations of research on retrieval-induced plasticity.

Experimental findings showing that retrieved memories are labile and vulnerable to disruption have led to important theoretical ideas at a basic science level that have been applied to the clinic at a translational level. At a theoretical level, these findings suggest that retrieved memories can be modulated by behavioral or pharmacological treatments as they are reconsolidated and returned to storage. At a clinical level, these findings suggest that treatments that target reconsolidation may help dampen or even erase especially problematic memories, such as those associated with trauma. However, there are many caveats to these effects and issues that need to be considered when thinking broadly about retrieval-induced plasticity and extensions into the clinic. First, performance during a memory test often does not reflect the entirety of the animal's knowledge about a situation; asking questions in different ways may reveal the presence of a memory that was thought to be eliminated. Second, although reconsolidation and extinction are often treated as competing processes, there is abundant evidence that extinction can progress through associative and nonassociative changes in the original memory that are often described in terms of reconsolidation effects. Third, targeting a reconsolidation process as a therapeutic may not be helpful in disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder, in which traumatic experiences induce a cascade of symptoms that are self-perpetuating and may ultimately maintain themselves long after trauma. Underlying all of these challenges is the need for a rich theoretical framework focused on retrieval-induced plasticity that is informed by developments in associative learning theory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Delivering Exercise Services to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in High-Income Countries

ABSTRACT Given the recent unprecedented number of refugees resettled in the United States of America yearly, exercise professionals in high-income countries are increasingly likely to engage with refugees and asylum seekers in their practice. Resettled refugees and asylum seekers often experience an array of stressors, including traumatic experiences associated with forced displacement, postdisplacement challenges, and cultural adjustment. These stressors place refugees and asylum seekers at greater risk of both mental and physical health disparities than people who have not experienced forced displacement. While exercise is associated with improved physical and mental health outcomes, refugees and asylum seekers are at a high risk of inactivity, and they face barriers at interpersonal, structural, and sociocultural levels. This expert commentary outlines strategies to address considerations in working with refugees and asylum seekers, including the impact of the refugee experience, the need to harness the client’s strengths and resources to foster exercise self-efficacy, and the cultural capability of the exercise workforce. The aims are to draw attention to the refugee experience and to equip exercise professionals with guidance to provide quality, person-centered, and strength-based services to refugees and asylum seekers within a safe and culturally sensitive environment.

Psycholegal issues in marital conflict

Background: Marital conflict and disputes involve many issues to be settled between the couples like finance, health, assets, children, postdivorce securities, etc. The traumatic experiences of separation affect their mental health and the future of their children. Not being conscious of their legal rights and court procedures leads to long court litigation, causing distress and trauma to the couples. Aim: The aim of the article is to find out the level of psycholegal awareness among couples in conflict, approaching forums like police and courts, and to find the difference between the two groups. Materials and Methods: A sample of 30 couples each from court and noncourt forums was taken. The demographic details were taken and a psycholegal checklist was administered. It is a cross-sectional study and exploratory research design was applied. Results: There was a significant difference in legal awareness of couples opting for redressal in the court and those opting for counseling in noncourt resolution centers. Conclusion: The results indicate that a lack of legal awareness among the couples in the two groups may be leading to lengthy litigation.

Introduction to the special issue on the consequences of immigration policies on children, youth, and families who experience migration-related trauma.

We are excited to introduce this special issue on the consequences of immigration policies on children, youth, and families who experience migration-related trauma. International migration has increased over the last 5 decades. Recent estimates suggest that 281 million people live in a country other than the one in which they were born (McAuliffe & Triandafyllidou, 2021). These migratory patterns are complex and present both challenges and opportunities for trauma psychologists and professionals from diverse disciplines who approach their work with immigrants from a trauma-informed perspective. In this 21st century, a variety of stressors and crises continue to propel the movement of children, youth, and families across the globe. Trauma often pervades the experiences that cause people to leave their homes. They may need to escape oppressive political systems; criminal gangs, war, or disasters; or simply to survive. Migration itself can lead to exposure to additional traumatic events, such as physical and sexual violence, kidnapping, and trafficking. Finally, upon arrival in a host country, individuals may experience further stressors as they struggle to navigate immigration systems with discriminatory processes and inadequate resources. In this special issue, 14 articles illustrate various ways by which migration-related traumatic experiences can inform assessment and treatment, public health policy, and human rights advocacy. Focusing primarily on children and families, unaccompanied youth, and adult migrants from Latin America and other regions, the authors explore premigration, migration itself, and postmigration issues that arise when individuals migrate to survive. The articles highlight how the resiliency and strength of individuals and families can be called upon to empower them in their journey toward healing and the critical need for cross-disciplinary treatment and advocacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Communicative Generations between Cold War Trauma and HBO-Type ‘Televisuality’: Entering the Paratextual Flow of Chernobyl, The Informant, and Spy/Master

The aim of the article is to characterize an emerging type of cultural memory-work with reference to Eastern European collective traumas and various media platforms. Through an analysis of the introductory parts and the credit sequences of 2019 Chernobyl, 2022 The Informant, and 2023 Spy/Master it is demonstrated that historical Cold War era television – as institution and objects, but also as an electronic medium – is remediated in these (paratextual) segments for the digital era, while making use of ‘cool medium’ characteristics (McLuhan 1964), or of the four ‘televisual modes’ (Caldwell 1993). The HBO-type ­‘aestheticization’ (Caldwell) of Cold War era, collectively traumatic experiences in the three segments exposes the addressees of these messages: those who do not have a personal memory of that period, having been born after the 1989–1990 regime changes, or the ‘forgetters’ and/or ‘mourners’ in the Assmannian model of the three communicative generations (2011, 2012). The comparative analysis allows for the suggestion that Chernobyl may be considered a ‘benchmark hit[s] in a genre [that] serve[s] as [a] prototype’ (Grindon), preformatting the field of non-autobiographical, second or third generation(al), transnational, and ‘televisual’ remembrance of Cold War era traumatization – as indexed by secret service characters.

A feasibility model for restructuring the role of the hand surgeon taking call at a level I trauma center

BackgroundThe discrepancy between the volume of hand-related consults and the concurrent lack of specialized hand surgeons available continues to strain an overburdened system. Recent attention has focused on the redistribution of this workload towards management in the outpatient realm. MethodsThis is a retrospective review of hand consults for the plastic surgery service over summer and winter intervals at a Level I trauma center. Consults were triaged with non-plastic surgery residents managing consults through remote direction of a plastic surgery resident. Demographic, clinical and outcomes data were analyzed to make inferences regarding care. ResultsThere were 116 hand consults of which 94.8 ​% were managed acutely by non-plastic surgery clinicians. Lacerations and fractures were more common in the summer, while infections and dislocations were more common in the wintertime (p value ​= ​0.0029). The three most common procedures were reduction and splinting (41.4 ​%), suturing (28.4 ​%), and incision and drainage (6.0 ​%). 12.1 ​% were admitted for management of the hand-related issue. Average time to the OR was shortest for infections or compartment syndrome as compared to that for other acquired concerns (1.0 days versus 11.6 days, p ​= ​0.0027). There were two complications (1.7 ​%) involving an unplanned return to the OR, but neither resulted from a delay in treatment. ConclusionsWe propose a model of offloading the majority of hand consults through coverage by trainees with trauma experience knowledgeable in the basics of hand exams and general procedures. This model was safe and effective across a wide range of hand-related complaints.

From Self-Hardship to Alleviating Others’ Struggles: CEO Trauma Experiences and Poverty Alleviation

From Self-Hardship to Alleviating Others’ Struggles: CEO Trauma Experiences and Poverty Alleviation

A Qualitative Landscape of Trauma: Mental Health Professionals’ Therapeutic Work Processes with Adult Clients who Have Experienced Trauma

Most people experience potentially traumatic events at least once throughout their lifetimes. Even if this event does not lead toward posttraumatic stress disorders, mental health can be affected significantly. The difficulties caused by traumatic experiences are often addressed in psychotherapy, therefore understanding the specifics of trauma work and the challenges faced both by clients with traumatic experiences and by therapists providing support is important. This study explores and describes the views and experiences of psychotherapy practitioners working in the field of trauma with adult clients. Thirty mental health professionals participated in the study. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses revealed three main themes: 1) the vulnerability of the therapeutic process, 2) experiencing trauma work, and ٣) helping yourself to help others. Trauma work is described as a slow process that calls for patience, high-level care, and attentiveness in addressing clients’ pain. Clients often mistrust others and therapists put a great effort into establishing trusted relationships with them. Therapists experience a high emotional load, often feel hopeless, but also find their work rewarding and meaningful when clients make progress. Most therapists emphasize the importance of helping yourself: studying and preparing for trauma work, understanding personal traumatic experiences, and taking excellent care of one’s psychological well-being. The study revealed the subjective complexity of therapeutic trauma work. The insights can be valuable for the development and/or review of therapy training programs, supervisors, and therapists looking for information about their professional challenges in working with trauma.

Effects of Well-Being Cognition Feedback on Grateful Disposition, Adaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Posttraumatic Growth Among College Athletes with Traumatic Experiences: Pilot Test

Effects of Well-Being Cognition Feedback on Grateful Disposition, Adaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Posttraumatic Growth Among College Athletes with Traumatic Experiences: Pilot Test

Inpatients with a history of suicide attempts in routine clinical care exhibit specific characteristics regarding sociodemographics, life events, personality, and symptom burden

Research indicates that patients with a lifetime history of suicide attempts are particularly burdened. However, investigations of their characteristics and comparisons with other patients are scarce. This study aimed to fill this research gap, using routine clinical data and guided by theoretical models. Data of N = 706 patients (54.4% women) was collected at the psychosomatic inpatient/day-clinic unit of a German university clinic. It comprised sociodemographic data and information about previous experiences (e.g., childhood abuse and neglect), symptom measures (e.g., the PHQ-9) and individual differences (e.g., the level of personality functioning assessed with the OPD-SQS). Groups were compared using independent t-tests or χ2-tests. Of the total sample, 118 patients (16.7%) reported suicide attempts. Those with a history of suicide attempts were more likely to have a migration background and a lower level of education, smoke (heavily) and use illegal substances. They reported lower levels of personality functioning, more current symptoms and traumatic previous experiences of abuse and neglect. Screening for previous suicidal behavior as well as associated factors can yield valuable information for clinical practice. Many group differences map onto previously observed specific risk factors for suicidal behavior, supporting the conceptual models and underscoring their relevance among clinical populations as well.

The Postmodern Narrative Techniques in Tim O'Brien's "How to Tell a True War Story"

The Vietnam War had an irreversible negative impact on the United States, Vietnam, and the world at large. Its effects extended beyond geopolitics and seeped into the domain of literature, where numerous works have profoundly depicted and contemplated the conflict. Tim O'Brien's "How to Tell a True War Story" stands as a prime example of such literature, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Drawing on Jean-Franois Lyotard's theory of postmodern metanarratives, this paper examines how O'Brien employs postmodern narrative techniques that diverge from traditional grand narratives to articulate the essence of his war fiction. Upon analysis, the paper contends that Tim O'Brien adopts the narrative mode of metafiction, blending narrative and commentary texts alongside real and fictive elements. By doing so, he seeks to alert readers to the constructed nature of both the textual and real worlds, encouraging them to perceive war through the lens of individuals' traumatic war experiences.

Cultural Memory as Selection of the Past: Practices of Oblivion the Study is Conducted Through the Grant of the Russian Science Foundation (RNF) № 23-28-00698

The article examines the role of oblivion in the phenomenon of cultural memory. An analysis is given of oblivion as a sociocultural practice that can “reconcile” different cultural narratives regarding traumatic events from the country’s past. A theoretical understanding is given to the problem of cultural memory as a selection of the past through oblivion, as one of the ways for transforming cultural memory. The types of oblivion in the context of drastic social transformations of society are highlighted using the example of the Chechen Republic. The authors come to the conclusion that in conditions of fragmentation of the political and cultural space, such a path is an important condition for social stabilization through the creation of a common cultural metanarrative. An institution such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission can serve as a mechanism for eliminating from memory traumatic experiences that threaten to separate the carriers of different narratives.

Examining the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and sexual risk-taking in dually diagnosed adolescents.

Prior research has identified traumatic experiences and substance use as risk factors for adolescent engagement in sexual risk-taking; however, these studies have relied upon subthreshold or non-dually diagnosed samples. The present study examined differences in sexual risk behaviors between adolescents with a substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) versus those with an SUD and another co-occurring psychiatric disorder. Participants were 269 adolescents who met the clinical screening criteria for an SUD and at least one psychiatric disorder. Bivariate comparisons and generalized linear models were used to compare sexual risk behaviors in participants with co-occurring PTSD (30.0%) and those with a different psychiatric disorder (70.0%). Participants with co-occurring PTSD were twice as likely to have multiple sex partners during the same period compared to those without PTSD, odds ratio (OR) = 2.35, p =.012. They also reported, on average, over twice the incidence rate of unprotected sexual encounters, incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.06, p =.034, and a 51.0% higher incidence of sexual risk behaviors, IRR = 1.51, p =.008, than participants without co-occurring PTSD. The results suggest dually diagnosed adolescents with co-occurring PTSD are more likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors than those with a different co-occurring disorder, placing them at higher risk for adverse health effects, such as sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. As such, this population is likely to benefit from targeted trauma-informed sexual health education programs focused on sexual risk reduction.

COLLECTIVE TRAUMA: THE CASE OF BELARUS AFTER 2020

This article is devoted to the analysis of the collective trauma of Belarusian society received during the violent suppression of protests that broke out in 2020 after the falsification of the presidential elections and lasted for several months. The empirical basis for the article comprised two sociological studies conducted in 2022 and 2023 under the leadership of the author of this paper. The methodological basis of the study is grounded in the theoretical developments of trauma studies research programs. However, the specificity of the Belarusian situation, which consists in ongoing retraumatization, necessitated the development of the author’s version of the research methodology. It is based on a distinction between “traumatic experience”, “trauma” and “post-traumatic growth.” Based on this, the scale of traumatic experience, the degree of traumatization of so- ciety and the coping strategies used by society are separately examined. All parts of Belarusian society need to be studied from the point of view of collective traumatization, but this article considered only the protesting part of Belarusian society as the most traumatized during the protests. The article shows that the entire protest-minded part of Belarusian society has a traumatic experience. In addition to the ongoing repression, the traumatic situation is aggravated by media retraumatization. At the same time, there is no need to talk about a high degree of traumatization. Although Belarusian society is characterized by an increased level of anxiety, there are no negative assessments of past protest experiences. On the contrary, participants in the 2020 protests tend to idealize this experience. In addition, both the adoption of intact coping strategies and the functioning of a predominantly positive protest narrative help overcome traumatic experiences. At the same time, the “protest narrative” has not yet been formalized to the extent that collective trauma would begin to function as cultural trauma.

SONIC VIOLENCE CONTINUUM IN CONTEMPORARY BELARUS

This article analyses the use of sound — music, noise, and vocalization — within the context of politically motivated violence in Belarus since 2020. The goal of this study is to analyze the sonic violence practices and map their range. The first part of the text reviews literature about the use of sound and music for public space control, political indoctrination and “re-education”, interrogations, tortures, and executions by various — not only authoritarian — political regimes. The concept of sonic violence used in the following analysis, allows studying the use of musical and non-musical sounds, and focusing not only on external sonic influence but also on victims’ own voices weaponized and used against them. Since 2020, Belarusian pro-democratic media and human rights initiatives have gathered hundreds of interviews with people who underwent harsh treatment and violence from “law enforcers”. Many witnesses mention experiencing forced listening, speaking, chanting, singing, and other kinds of sonic violence. The article’s second part presents a qualitative analysis of publications in independent and state-funded media (2020–2023), reports of human rights NGOs, as well as other empirical materials (audio recordings, participant observations) that identify situations where sound, music, and vocalization were used by various Belarusian state agents in a coercive or violent context. Coding and categorizing such cases allows creating a typology that can be mapped as a continuum — according to the character, intensity, duration, and impact of violent techniques and traumatic experiences caused by them. This is the first study of sonic violence in contemporary Belarus, that not only shows its widespread and systemic character, but also analyzes its forms and strategies used to counteract it. The study shows the place of the current Belarusian events in the history and genealogy of sonic violence, revealing parallels with similar practices of other political regimes, both contemporary and historical.