Though counseling and individualized therapy can also be hugely important and effective -- as will be discussed momentarily -- no psychological practitioner ever could (or ethically should) replace a network of family and friends to provide ongoing support and security to those suffering from survivor's guilt (Khouzam & Kissmeyer 2006; Herman 1997). Reducing feelings of isolation and providing a sense of the lost security are both important steps in assisting recovery from survivor's guilt.
One of the most effective therapeutic methods for dealing with feelings of survivor's guilt is, strangely, to have the survivor relive the traumatic event(s) that have led to these feelings, and to have them express -- and therefore fully acknowledge and come to accept -- their feelings regarding the incident (Herman 1997, pp. 181-5). This allows the traumatic memory to be transformed, not by altering the details or attempting to erase the most traumatic portions, but rather by allowing these memories to become less traumatic through increased yet controlled exposure. This process is enormously important in aiding recovery, as guilt essentially stems from an inability to face one's feelings about oneself, and these therapeutic techniques focus on facing one's feelings regarding the trauma.
There are also techniques that have proven surprisingly ineffective. The use of pharmaceuticals to treat depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder has achieved no small measure of success in recent decades, yet pharmaceutical therapies seem uniquely unsuited to handling the issue of survivor's guilt and can actually exacerbate the condition (Khouzam &...
During her reorganization phase, her personality and the emotional support from other social units played a vital role. As a person, she was a survivor. She appeared to posses a character which made her endure the pain yet live through the moment. It was her resilience that made her go to public authorities even after she lost her case the first time. Alice always wanted to be somebody whose
PTSD Effects on Mass Shooting SurvivorsIntroductionPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among soldiers returning from active duty overseas, where they encountered combat, shelling, intense encounters with the enemy and so on (Thomas et al., 2010). Symptoms of PTSD can range from anger, hostility, and aggression, to depression and suicidal ideation (Jakupcak et al., 2007). While it is understandable that combat veterans might experience PTSD, what is less frequently appreciated
Hinder/Help Downsizing Negatives In recent years, there has been a great deal of downsizing in corporations, businesses and other organizations throughout the United States. According to the two papers noted below, the negative effects of such layoffs cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be helped or reduced moderately through specific actions such as increased communication and counseling and trust- and team-building. Amundson (2004) notes that corporate downsizing has become an important
Fear of Success through Positive Psychology Perhaps we are blinded to the survival value of positive emotions precisely because they are so important. Like the fish who is unaware of the water in which it swims, we take for granted a certain amount of hope, love, enjoyment, and trust because these are the very conditions that allow us to go on living. They are the fundamental conditions of existence, and
As Stowman and Donohue (2005) note: "Child neglect is the most prevalent type of child maltreatment, yet only a few standardized methods exist to assist in the assessment of this widespread problem. Existing measures of child neglect are limited by the nature of child neglect itself, in addition to issues of social desirability responding, and items that may infer blame and parental responsibility" (p. 491). There is nothing, of
Responsibilities of Corporations Most people would agree that the purpose of business is to make a profit, but at what cost in human lives and suffering? On December 3, 1984, a cloud of highly toxic gas rose above the city of Bhopal, India. When it settled, it instantly killed approximately 3,000 people, and left up to 600,000 people dying slowly or suffering various kinds of medical problems (Economist, par. 2). Union Carbide's
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