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Understanding Trauma: How to overcome post-traumatic stress
What is post-traumatic stress disorder? What does it feel like? And how can it be overcome? Trauma is a term that many of us find alienating and clinical. But in fact trauma is something most people encounter at some point in life, and post-traumatic stress - far from being a mental disorder - is a normal reaction to abnormal events: even breaking a bone or witnessing a car crash. Drawing on 20 years of research and clinical practice, Roger Baker explains the many symptoms of post-traumatic stress and lays out a self help programme - emotional processing therapy - which can defuse the distressing memories of trauma and reduce the occurrence of flashbacks, nightmares and tensions. Dr Baker also advises strategies to prevent post-traumatic stress in the first place. Full of real-life case studies, this is essential reading for trauma sufferers, their family and friends, and specialists alike.
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 30, 2015
There were times while reading this book that I thought 'this is a 4 or a 5 star book'. At other times, I thought 'this is a 1-2 star book'. I wanted to split the difference and give three stars but in writing the review realized no, I can't. The flaws are too large. So, I bumped it down to a 2 star, acknowledging that there are parts of the book worth reading
Where I would give the book 4 or 5 stars is in the way Baker covers trauma, the 'understanding' part of the book. However, I will make a quick note that if, like me, you have done some reading about trauma already then there is also not a whole lot that is new or revelatory. I will also note that while the information is 'Trauma 101' it is a more accessible read than some of the others in the field (I guess authors must choose between 'accessibility' and 'dumbing down'). Finally, on the positive side, I do appreciate that Baker reassures the reader that PTSD can be curable with work and support, though he also acknowledges that sometimes other factors in a person's life can hinder recovery beyond their control.
Where I would give the book 1-2 stars is largely (though not entirely) in the 'overcoming' part of the book. Some examples:
>somewhere along the line Baker starts using the word 'accident' rather than 'trauma'.
--the switch surprised me until Baker reminds the reader that he often testifies on behalf of people who have been traumatized by accidents
--it is understandable that Baker has this bias but it tends to negate the fact that many of us suffered trauma(s) at the hands of others and our trauma was NO accident
--Baker claims to write on 'trauma' so really ought to have put aside his bias while writing the book (or changed the title to reflect the bias of understanding and overcoming 'traumatic accidents'
>Baker mentions the trauma of abuse in the list of 'ways people might be traumatized' (it's pretty much obligatory in a book on trauma) but then Baker does not really re-visit it in the book (a similar example is trauma from people who have been involved in war - mentioned but not really covered)
--in fact, as mentioned above, the focus seems to be on accidents, with occasional acknowledgements of trauma caused by medical diagnosis and procedures
--accidents and medical events are generally random incidents that 'could happen to anyone'
--abuse is deliberately 'done to you', often by those who are supposed to love and protect you
--To show the bias: 'war' has 8 listings in the index; 'abuse' is NOT included in the index ('sexual abuse' has 7 listings, though no other type of abuse - e.g. physical or emotional, is listed). 'Accidents', however, shows 30 listings, with examples of how accidents affect individuals fully fleshed out in various places throughout the book (interestingly the listing after 'accidents' is 'aircraft accident/crash' with 4 listings, with some overlap with 'accidents')
>Baker made the bad judgment of including Susan's Story, then used the story throughout the next chapter Healthy and Unhealthy Reactions to Trauma
--Susan's story is about a woman (it turns out Baker's friend) who suffered a traumatic event (while he was writing the book) and who "was a textbook case of what to do right" (pg. 90).
--I get that Baker might have been excited to seemingly have this example of 'how to do trauma right' fall into his lap while writing this book
--he should have, however, better thought through the implications of including the chapter and examples in his book (at least I believe that he did not think it through and realize the implications of including Susan's story as he does not come across as a nasty person)
--If Susan "did everything right" and moved on from the traumatic event without PTSD then the corollary of that is that those of us who ended up with PTSD must have 'done it wrong'
--While reading I was (sarcastically) thinking thoughts such as, 'OH, that was my mistake! As a toddler I had mistakenly not yet formed a worldview that would have allowed me to move on more easily from the traumas inflicted upon me. My bad!'
--Baker must realize that a huge part of his reading audience is suffering from PTSD. For many with PTSD reading these two chapters comes across a lot like victim blaming (again, I doubt he meant it that way but it is still there)
--I have read other books that list circumstances that make it more or less likely for a person to suffer from PTSD that did not come across as victim blaming. For me, the inclusion of the 'Susan did it right' (and so you did it wrong) example is the only real difference between the way this information is interpreted.
>Baker insists that the only to recover from trauma is to deal with each memory in detail, which ignores the fact one of the coping mechanisms the brain has toward trauma is to shatter the memory and/or repress it to make the memories of the trauma(s) inaccessible
--notably, he does not really deal with repressed memory in the book (suppressed emotions, consciously and unconsciously but not the memories themselves)
--information we know about the brain, however, does show that trauma memory (or lack thereof) can, and does, work this way
--research shows that in fact you CAN process and recover from trauma without having full memory of the trauma(s)
>Baker seems to insist his way of doing things is 'the only way' for people to recover from PTSD.
--his way, as mentioned above, means picking through the memories of the trauma (again, impossible for some of us - does that mean we cannot recover?)
--his way is also a form of CBT
--Yes, CBT is effective for many people BUT research has shown that there are many ways for people to recover from PTSD and CBT is only one, and that CBT is often NOT the most effective way for people to recover from PTSD
--CBT can re-traumatize people in recovery
--CBT only works if you have memory of the trauma
--CBT might work but (like many other therapies) might also require using other methods to create full processing of the trauma
There are some other critiques that I could put in but I have spent enough time on this book (and who reads reviews this long anyway? :) ).
So overall, while there is some good information in the book, there are also some problems with it too. I could not get past the problems to give the book a higher rating.
Where I would give the book 4 or 5 stars is in the way Baker covers trauma, the 'understanding' part of the book. However, I will make a quick note that if, like me, you have done some reading about trauma already then there is also not a whole lot that is new or revelatory. I will also note that while the information is 'Trauma 101' it is a more accessible read than some of the others in the field (I guess authors must choose between 'accessibility' and 'dumbing down'). Finally, on the positive side, I do appreciate that Baker reassures the reader that PTSD can be curable with work and support, though he also acknowledges that sometimes other factors in a person's life can hinder recovery beyond their control.
Where I would give the book 1-2 stars is largely (though not entirely) in the 'overcoming' part of the book. Some examples:
>somewhere along the line Baker starts using the word 'accident' rather than 'trauma'.
--the switch surprised me until Baker reminds the reader that he often testifies on behalf of people who have been traumatized by accidents
--it is understandable that Baker has this bias but it tends to negate the fact that many of us suffered trauma(s) at the hands of others and our trauma was NO accident
--Baker claims to write on 'trauma' so really ought to have put aside his bias while writing the book (or changed the title to reflect the bias of understanding and overcoming 'traumatic accidents'
>Baker mentions the trauma of abuse in the list of 'ways people might be traumatized' (it's pretty much obligatory in a book on trauma) but then Baker does not really re-visit it in the book (a similar example is trauma from people who have been involved in war - mentioned but not really covered)
--in fact, as mentioned above, the focus seems to be on accidents, with occasional acknowledgements of trauma caused by medical diagnosis and procedures
--accidents and medical events are generally random incidents that 'could happen to anyone'
--abuse is deliberately 'done to you', often by those who are supposed to love and protect you
--To show the bias: 'war' has 8 listings in the index; 'abuse' is NOT included in the index ('sexual abuse' has 7 listings, though no other type of abuse - e.g. physical or emotional, is listed). 'Accidents', however, shows 30 listings, with examples of how accidents affect individuals fully fleshed out in various places throughout the book (interestingly the listing after 'accidents' is 'aircraft accident/crash' with 4 listings, with some overlap with 'accidents')
>Baker made the bad judgment of including Susan's Story, then used the story throughout the next chapter Healthy and Unhealthy Reactions to Trauma
--Susan's story is about a woman (it turns out Baker's friend) who suffered a traumatic event (while he was writing the book) and who "was a textbook case of what to do right" (pg. 90).
--I get that Baker might have been excited to seemingly have this example of 'how to do trauma right' fall into his lap while writing this book
--he should have, however, better thought through the implications of including the chapter and examples in his book (at least I believe that he did not think it through and realize the implications of including Susan's story as he does not come across as a nasty person)
--If Susan "did everything right" and moved on from the traumatic event without PTSD then the corollary of that is that those of us who ended up with PTSD must have 'done it wrong'
--While reading I was (sarcastically) thinking thoughts such as, 'OH, that was my mistake! As a toddler I had mistakenly not yet formed a worldview that would have allowed me to move on more easily from the traumas inflicted upon me. My bad!'
--Baker must realize that a huge part of his reading audience is suffering from PTSD. For many with PTSD reading these two chapters comes across a lot like victim blaming (again, I doubt he meant it that way but it is still there)
--I have read other books that list circumstances that make it more or less likely for a person to suffer from PTSD that did not come across as victim blaming. For me, the inclusion of the 'Susan did it right' (and so you did it wrong) example is the only real difference between the way this information is interpreted.
>Baker insists that the only to recover from trauma is to deal with each memory in detail, which ignores the fact one of the coping mechanisms the brain has toward trauma is to shatter the memory and/or repress it to make the memories of the trauma(s) inaccessible
--notably, he does not really deal with repressed memory in the book (suppressed emotions, consciously and unconsciously but not the memories themselves)
--information we know about the brain, however, does show that trauma memory (or lack thereof) can, and does, work this way
--research shows that in fact you CAN process and recover from trauma without having full memory of the trauma(s)
>Baker seems to insist his way of doing things is 'the only way' for people to recover from PTSD.
--his way, as mentioned above, means picking through the memories of the trauma (again, impossible for some of us - does that mean we cannot recover?)
--his way is also a form of CBT
--Yes, CBT is effective for many people BUT research has shown that there are many ways for people to recover from PTSD and CBT is only one, and that CBT is often NOT the most effective way for people to recover from PTSD
--CBT can re-traumatize people in recovery
--CBT only works if you have memory of the trauma
--CBT might work but (like many other therapies) might also require using other methods to create full processing of the trauma
There are some other critiques that I could put in but I have spent enough time on this book (and who reads reviews this long anyway? :) ).
So overall, while there is some good information in the book, there are also some problems with it too. I could not get past the problems to give the book a higher rating.
May 9, 2017
Finally help for ptsd
Roger Baker does an excellent job of providing step by step instructions for overcoming trauma. I gave this book a four star rating because the writing was mediocre and forced as though it should have been a research paper rather than a full length book. Additionally more should be written about how to engage the frightened and reluctant client. Most importantly this book was focused on addressing singular incidents of trauma rather than complex trauma. I would like to know more about how this method could be used to overcome complex trauma, perhaps if attachment and relationship issues were addressed in conjunction with emotionally focused processing.
Roger Baker does an excellent job of providing step by step instructions for overcoming trauma. I gave this book a four star rating because the writing was mediocre and forced as though it should have been a research paper rather than a full length book. Additionally more should be written about how to engage the frightened and reluctant client. Most importantly this book was focused on addressing singular incidents of trauma rather than complex trauma. I would like to know more about how this method could be used to overcome complex trauma, perhaps if attachment and relationship issues were addressed in conjunction with emotionally focused processing.
July 22, 2016
For somewhat obvious and understandable reasons, I read a lot of books on PTSD [1]. Perhaps the most obvious reason is that I have dealt with it for my entire life, sometimes stronger and sometimes less irritating, but always an aspect of my interior life. This book is different from most of the books on the subject I have read because it is written by a British clinician who has some criticism of the DSM-IV (the version used in this volume) and with a great deal of varied experience in treating trauma survivors and also being involved as an expert legal witness. There are a lot of mentions here of various solicitors, something American reading audiences would be less likely to be familiar with, unless they had some level of personal experience or intellectual interest in the legal system of other countries. At any rate, the book is a worthwhile one and at under 200 pages of material, it will not present difficulties by its length, even if its subject matter is not something that many people would read for fun unless they had some compelling to read for their own benefit or for the help of a loved one.
The contents of this book are somewhat varied, a mix of case studies and personal reflections as well as self-help assessments and historical and psychological analysis. The 175 pages or so of this book are divided into 17 short chapters in 5 sections. Section I deals with defining and describing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, giving a case study of a life spoiled, a chapter that seeks to define it according to the DSM-IV, an account of the author’s experience in the dock, or what Americans would say in the witness stand [2], and an exploration the common question “why me” to the experience of trauma. Section II of the book contains an exploration of the psychology behind PTSD, including emotional processing, the problem of burying traumatic memories, and a call for people to openly deal with emotions. Section III of the book looks at the need for therapy, starting with a case study of a lady named Susan, a discussion of healthy and unhealthy reactions to trauma, and the benefits of emotional processing therapy. Section IV of the book, recognizing that not all readers will want to enter therapy, gives a self-help program (spelled in the book in the customary British way), including a case study of a man named Max, providing a guide on preparing for therapy, discussing the various emotional processing style people, and bringing up the difficulty many people have in facing the memories at the base of PTSD. The fifth and final section of the book looks at various stumbling blocks to recovery, gives a case study of a businessman whose pursuit of “the deal” was derailed by a horrible case of appendicitis, and closes on an optimistic note about post-traumatic strength and growth. The book then closes with extensive references and an index.
What makes this book a success? Let us make no bones about it, although this book is written for a British audience, it is accessible to sufficiently Anglophile Americans, who will be rewarded for the read. For one, the author includes a plethora of case studies that indicate different matters of PTSD, including a detailed description of the process of therapy by a skilled clinician—admittedly not an easy thing to find—as well as the way it feels like for someone in court as an expert witness. Few books combine both the details that allow the reader to enter the shoes of a clinician as well as other sufferers of PTSD, and also contain thoughtful and intelligent discussion of PTSD as well as therapy options. The author makes a strong case that a strong social network and competent help is of vital importance in helping people overcome PTSD, and that one of the most important aspects of whether someone will recover from PTSD is their ability to directly face the painful and traumatic thoughts and wrestle with their emotional content. Despite its short size, the book is a worthwhile one that has hopefully helped many readers in the UK and beyond.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] Saying something is in the dock is a very common English legal expression. See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
The contents of this book are somewhat varied, a mix of case studies and personal reflections as well as self-help assessments and historical and psychological analysis. The 175 pages or so of this book are divided into 17 short chapters in 5 sections. Section I deals with defining and describing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, giving a case study of a life spoiled, a chapter that seeks to define it according to the DSM-IV, an account of the author’s experience in the dock, or what Americans would say in the witness stand [2], and an exploration the common question “why me” to the experience of trauma. Section II of the book contains an exploration of the psychology behind PTSD, including emotional processing, the problem of burying traumatic memories, and a call for people to openly deal with emotions. Section III of the book looks at the need for therapy, starting with a case study of a lady named Susan, a discussion of healthy and unhealthy reactions to trauma, and the benefits of emotional processing therapy. Section IV of the book, recognizing that not all readers will want to enter therapy, gives a self-help program (spelled in the book in the customary British way), including a case study of a man named Max, providing a guide on preparing for therapy, discussing the various emotional processing style people, and bringing up the difficulty many people have in facing the memories at the base of PTSD. The fifth and final section of the book looks at various stumbling blocks to recovery, gives a case study of a businessman whose pursuit of “the deal” was derailed by a horrible case of appendicitis, and closes on an optimistic note about post-traumatic strength and growth. The book then closes with extensive references and an index.
What makes this book a success? Let us make no bones about it, although this book is written for a British audience, it is accessible to sufficiently Anglophile Americans, who will be rewarded for the read. For one, the author includes a plethora of case studies that indicate different matters of PTSD, including a detailed description of the process of therapy by a skilled clinician—admittedly not an easy thing to find—as well as the way it feels like for someone in court as an expert witness. Few books combine both the details that allow the reader to enter the shoes of a clinician as well as other sufferers of PTSD, and also contain thoughtful and intelligent discussion of PTSD as well as therapy options. The author makes a strong case that a strong social network and competent help is of vital importance in helping people overcome PTSD, and that one of the most important aspects of whether someone will recover from PTSD is their ability to directly face the painful and traumatic thoughts and wrestle with their emotional content. Despite its short size, the book is a worthwhile one that has hopefully helped many readers in the UK and beyond.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] Saying something is in the dock is a very common English legal expression. See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
March 11, 2014
This book for my research
April 28, 2016
Very helpful in understanding PTSD.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews