Childhood Traumas, Journeys, and Healing in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-66
Author(s):  
Mar Gallego
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Psychological Healing ◽  
Traumatized Children ◽  
Sense Of Identity ◽  
To Come ◽  
Childhood Traumas ◽  
Brighter Future

In Morrison’s works, traumatized children are victimized by the dreadful impact of racist and sexist stereotypes and their subsequent patterns of exclusion and marginalization. My contention is that in Morrison’s latest novel God Help the Child (2015), these children learn to survive their early traumatic experiences, and develop diverse strategies of resilience, re-embodiment, and self-empowerment in order to articulate a new sense of identity on their path to physical and psychological healing. Drawing from gender and intersectional studies, I argue that Morrison’s God Help the Child delineates the coming into being of alternative female and male identities that are intrinsically dynamic and highly performative. The main protagonists, Bride and Booker, embark on a mysterious journey back to their childhood to be able to come to terms with their former selves that eventually leads to healing and wholeness, allowing them to envision a brighter future.

scholarly journals The language of wounds and scars in Edwige Danticat's "The Dew Breaker" : a case in trauma symptoms and the recovery process

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor Ibarrola-Armendáriz
Keyword(s):  
Short Stories ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Trauma Symptoms ◽  
American Writer ◽  
The Past ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Haitian American ◽  
To Come

This article examines the representation of a violent and traumatizing past in Edwidge Danticat’s The Dew Breaker (2004), a collection of short stories that depicts the effects of a torturer’s atrocious crimes on the lives of his victims and their descendants. The contribution argues that this work of fiction by the Haitian-American writer is structured upon the principle that traumatic experiences can only become intelligible – and, therefore, “representable” – by considering the severe psychical wounds and scars they leave on the victims. These scars habitually take the form of paranoia, nightmares, ghostly presences, schizophrenia, and “dead spots” that have a very difficult time finding their place in the protagonists’ consciousness and language. In spite of the fragmented and discontinuous character of these representations, the writer manages to unveil the kind of psychological and social dysfunctions that often surface when people have not fully accepted or assimilated aspects of the past that keep itching in their unconscious. However, despite the prevailingly bleak tone of the stories, Danticat still leaves some room for hope and recovery, as many of the victims find ways to come to terms with and overcome those individual and collective dysfunctions.

GXE interaction as a protective factor: 5HTTR and bad environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2163-2163
Author(s):  
V. Carli ◽  
L. Mandelli ◽  
L. Zaninotto ◽  
V. Gatta ◽  
L. Stuppia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Psychopathological Symptoms ◽  
Gxe Interaction ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Genetic Risk Variant ◽  
S Allele ◽  
Childhood Traumas

Early traumatic experiences have been consistently associated with a higher risk to develop psychopathological symptoms in adulthood. Resilience, a trait reflecting tolerance of negative affect, positive acceptance of change and an action-oriented approach to problem solving, has been hypothesized to be a protective factor against stressors. Genetic aspects have been also hypothesized influencing resilience to stress and risk to develop psychopathological symptoms in response to both early and recent adverse events. In particular, a common polymorphism within the gene coding for serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR s/l) has been consistently associated to the risk to develop depressive-anxious symptoms in response to stressful life events. In the present study we aimed to investigate the role of childhood traumas and 5-HTTLPR on measures of resilience and depression in a sample of individuals at a high risk for psychological distress.A large sample of male prisoners was investigated (n = 1516). 5-HTTLPR genotype was available for 762 individuals. Overall, childhood traumas were significantly correlated to poor resilience and more severe depressive symptoms. 5-HTTLPR genotype did not influence resilience and depressive severity. However, a significant interaction was observed between 5-HTTLPR and childhood traumas on both resilience and depressive severity. Contrary to expectations, s/s individuals exposed to a high number of early traumas had a current higher resilience and less depressive symptoms than l-allele carriers. Present data did not confirm the 5-HTTLPR s-allele as the genetic risk variant for psychopathology in individuals exposed to stressors.

scholarly journals Postcolonial dilemmas in Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss

IJOHMN ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Abraham Panavelil Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Central Character ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Material Loss ◽  
Material Wealth ◽  
Diasporic Literature ◽  
To Come

The paper will try to analyze Kiran Desai’s Booker winning novel The Inheritance of Loss as story dealing primarily about the problems of migration faced by her characters, their tensions and dilemmas. One of the major concerns of diasporic literature is the problem of exile, displacement and the resulting consequences. Uprooting from one’s own home land is an agonizing process that brings numerous material and emotional traumas in the process of re-rooting in an alien land. The characters are often victims of circumstances and by the time they realize the problems, they are exhausted, miserable and frustrated.  Even when they come back after their traumatic experiences, like the Judge in the novel, they often develop a sense of distrust and anger. They are in a state of confusion from which they find it difficult to come out. The paper will focus on the experiences of some of the characters in the novel – Jemubhai Patel, the Judge, and Biju, the son of Judge’s cook who is the central character of the novel. The book seems to suggest that true happiness does not lie in material wealth or comforts, but in one’s own dignity, identity and sense of belonging. In the novel, the characters especially Biju has to undergo number of traumatic experiences that brought a lot of material loss, but he has a spiritual gain- the realization of what brings true joy in life.   Keywords: Alienation, Assimilation, Diaspora, Hybridization, , Identity, Immigrant, , Postcolonial

scholarly journals Efficacy of Exposure in Group Settings for Youth With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Pfeiffer
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment ◽  
Group Settings ◽  
Traumatized Children ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
Exposure Sessions ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Background: Exposure to traumatic experiences is a fundamental part of evidence-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) but in group settings it is discussed controversially among researchers and practitioners. This study aims to examine the individual participants’ stress level during group sessions with exposure and disclosure of traumatic events.Method: N = 47 traumatized youth (Mage = 17.00, 94% male) participated in a group intervention comprising six 90-minute group sessions (exposure in sessions 2-5). It is based on trauma-focused CBT principles. The individual stress level was assessed by the participants and group facilitators at the beginning, during, and at the end of every session. Results: During the sessions including exposure, the stress level of the participants was higher than during sessions without exposure (Z = -3.79; p ≤ .001). During the exposure sessions, the participants showed significant changes in stress level (d = 0.34 - 0.87) following an inverse U-shaped trend.Conclusion: The results show that exposure is feasible within the scope of a trauma-focused group intervention for youth. The further dissemination of trauma-focused group treatments is an important component in the mental health care of traumatized children and youth.

scholarly journals Life course traumas, phenotypic aging, and cardiovascular disease: retrospective analysis of 104,939 UKB participants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingqi Cao ◽  
Jingyun Zhang ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Xueqin Li ◽  
Chia-Ling Kuo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Childhood Traumas ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Mental Health Questionnaire

Background: While childhood and adulthood traumatic experiences have been linked to subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD), the relationship between life course traumas and CVD and the underpinning pathways are poorly understood. This study aimed to: (1) examine the associations of childhood, adulthood, and lifetime traumas with CVD; (2) examine the associations between diverse life course traumatic profiles and CVD; and (3) examine the extent to which Phenotypic Age (PhenoAge), a well-developed phenotypic aging measure, mediates these associations. Methods: We included 104,939 participants from the UK Biobank who completed the 2016 online mental health questionnaire. CVD outcomes including ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke were ascertained. Childhood, adulthood, and lifetime traumas were categorized into three subgroups (mild, moderate, and severe), respectively. Four life course traumatic profiles were defined as non-severe traumas across life course, non-severe childhood and severe adulthood traumas, severe childhood and non-severe adulthood traumas, and severe traumas across life course based on both childhood and adulthood traumas. PhenoAge was measured using an equation previously developed. Multivariable logistic models and formal mediation analyses were performed. Results: Of 104,939 participants, 7,398 (7.0%) were diagnosed with CVD. Subgroups of childhood, adulthood, and lifetime traumas were associated with CVD, respectively. Furthermore, life course traumatic profiles were significantly associated with CVD. For instance, compared with subgroups experiencing non-severe traumas across life course, those who experienced non-severe childhood and severe adulthood traumas, severe childhood and non-severe adulthood traumas, and severe traumas across life course had higher odd of CVD, with odds ratios of 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.15), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.25), and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.43), respectively. Formal mediation analyses suggested that PhenoAge partially mediated the above associations. For instance, PhenoAge mediated 5.8% of increased CVD events in subgroups who experienced severe childhood traumas, relative to those experiencing mild childhood traumas. Conclusions: Childhood, adulthood, and lifetime traumas, as well as diverse life course traumatic profiles, were associated with CVD. Furthermore, phenotypic aging partially mediated these associations. These findings suggest a potential pathway from life course traumas to CVD through phenotypic aging, and underscore the importance of policy programs targeting traumatic events over the life course in ameliorating inequalities in cardiovascular health.

The Effects of Bibliotherapy and Equine – Assisted Therapy on Traumatized Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jūratė Sučylaitė ◽  
Donata Grakauskaitė-Šličienė
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
The Body ◽  
Internal Conflicts ◽  
Traumatized Children ◽  
Equine Assisted Therapy ◽  
Childhood Traumas ◽  
Somatic Diseases ◽  
Early Trauma ◽  
Equine Assisted

Background. Early childhood traumas leave serious consequences: during adolescence and adulthood people often experience internal conflicts, more often suffer from mental and somatic diseases, so it is important to look for therapies that can neutralize or reduce the effects of early traumas. One of the options is to apply a complex of bibliotherapy and equine assisted therapy. However, there is a lack of studies analysing how these two therapies affect the development.The aim was to explore the influence of bibliotherapy and equine-assisted therapy on the emotions and behaviour of children with early trauma.Methods. Qualitative research used interview, observation, and projection techniques.Results. Bibliotherapy created preconditions for the emergence of repressed feelings and for deeper, more sensitive dialogue with the psychologist. Riding helped to relax, captured the attention of the present, strengthened positive emotions.Conclusions. 1. Equine – assisted therapy affects the body and gives positive emotions, reduces child’s inner anxiety, improves mood and consolidates bibliotherapy results. 2. The combination of bibliotherapy and equine – assisted therapy creates the conditions for stabilizing and even transforming the negative emotions of children with early trauma and restoring the fullness of childhood life.Keywords: psychological trauma, child development, emotions, horse assisted therapy, bibliotherapy.

The Sleeping Dogs Method to Overcome Children’s Resistance to EMDR Therapy: A Case Series

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-241
Author(s):  
Arianne Struik
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Traumatic Memories ◽  
Traumatized Children ◽  
Family Case ◽  
Waking Up ◽  
Emdr Therapy

This article provides three case descriptions to demonstrate the use of the “Sleeping Dogs” method to engage children who initially refused to participate in EMDR therapy. The metaphor “sleeping dogs” refers to traumatic memories that children refuse to or cannot discuss; by waking up the “sleeping dogs,” traumatic memories become accessible and treatable. Children in the cases discussed displayed severe symptoms and refused to discuss memories of traumatic experiences. All resided in a residential facility and their symptoms were preventing transition into foster care. Case 1 (age 6) displayed increasingly violent behavior. He witnessed his father kill his mother and was the crown witness in his father’s trial, which isolated him from his family. Case 2 (age 3), was abused by her biological family, and experienced foster placement breakdown. Case 3 (age 6) was abused by her mother, yet idolized her and denied past abuse. This article describes how the Sleeping Dogs method was applied in each case, created stabilization, and led to engagement in EMDR, in which trauma memories were processed. After treatment all children transitioned into foster care. The cases demonstrate the benefits of involving (extended) family members, even when they have abused or neglected the child and may have little or no contact with them, and when reunification is no option. The implications for utilizing the Sleeping Dogs method to engage chronically traumatized children in trauma-focused therapy are discussed.

scholarly journals An analysis of the recent Eurozone recovery: is it sustainable?

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo Pezzuto
Keyword(s):  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Debt Overhang ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Macroeconomic Imbalances ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Brighter Future ◽  
Political Economic

This article addresses the topic of the surprise European Economy recovery in 2017 and its possible implications. The article aims to provide a broad and comprehensive understanding of the triggering factors that have contributed to this unexpected economic revival and to the slow and uneven economic recovery in Europe after the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and the Great Recession. The article also aims to highlight the potential downside risks related to the still unsolved structural issues that caused the debt overhang and macroeconomic imbalances in Europe in the past decade. Thus, the European Union and the Eurozone seem to be on course for a potential brighter future in the years to come but internal and external risks might still undermine the path to sustained growth, full economic recovery, and stronger integration in the region unless proper political, economic, fiscal, and monetary governance and policies are assured to make the euro area more resilient to future systemic shocks.

Holding a Steady Beat: The Effects of a Music Therapy Program on Stabilising Behaviours of Newly Arrived Refugee Students

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicity Baker ◽  
Carolyn Jones
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Symptom Index ◽  
Refugee Students ◽  
Refugee Youth ◽  
Therapy Program ◽  
Group Music Therapy ◽  
To Come ◽  
Therapy Sessions

Vulnerability to crisis in newly arrived refugee youth is common as they try to come to terms with past traumatic experiences and acculturate to the new country in which they have settled. This study examined the effects of a short-term music therapy program on the changes to the Behaviour Symptom Index (BSI, Reynolds and Kamphus, 1998) of 31 new refugee youths attending an English language reception centre in Brisbane. A cross-over design with two five-week intervention periods was employed with group music therapy sessions conducted one-two times per week. Results indicate that changes to BSI scores approached significance indicating trends that music therapy affected a positive change on generalised behaviour. Findings are discussed with reference to stabilizing and preventing crises with this population.

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