Does Experiencing Trauma Require Talking About It to Promote Recovery?

Trauma recovery is a major part of what psychotherapists do. There is much made about the traumatic effects of major disasters like the Typhoon in Myanmar, the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq, and the tragic events of 9/11. There have been many reports about the walking psychologically wounded from these events. There has been considerable effort to training emergency responders in "Psychological First Aid".

Does everyone who was traumatized need therapy? The answer is a resounding "No". There is research to show that many if not most people adjust to trauma as a matter of course. It's as if their own built in coping mechanisms are sufficient for recovery. So, unless there are symptoms of "Acute Stress Disorder" treatment is not indicated and could do more harm than good.

PsyBlog

"These techniques are in line with the 'hydraulic theory' of the emotions - a popularly held view of how the emotions work. In this view, people's emotions work in the same way as a pressure cooker. Emotions build up inside until the mind can no longer contain the pressure. Then steam is 'let off', releasing the pressure inside and improving the mood.

[..]People who choose not to let off steam in this way are popularly seen as being in denial, and this denial is often seen as pathological. Dr Seery's study extends these criticisms to attack the broader idea that talking about a traumatic event soon after it has occurred is usually beneficial. Mounting evidence suggests that those who do not talk about a traumatic event are simply more resilient, rather than being in a state of pathological denial."

3 Comments

By pedrito1414

on July 14, 2008 10:25 AM

Hi there, interesting post... You might like to look at the following article from Medecins Sans Frontieres, in which Kaz de Jong, an MSF mental health expert talks of his experiences from the Delta in myanmar and talks about how high levels of loss or grief leave "natural coping mechanisms obliterated"..

Article is here.

Wondered if you had any thoughts on this?

By Dave_MSW

on July 14, 2008 6:42 PM

Many of the survivors of the Myanmar typhoon tragedy have experienced trauma well beyond natural coping mechanisms. Recent research on combat veterans who have had many return trips to Iraq have found similar responses in many.

Victims of trauma need to rebuild their sense of safety and community. Obviously, that is not possible until basic human needs like food, water and shelter are met.

By Maria

on January 8, 2009 2:30 PM

It looks like trauma could be a predictor for mental illness:

Linda A. Teplin, PhD; Gary M. McClelland, PhD; Karen M. Abram, PhD; Dana A. Weiner, PhD (2005) Crime Victimization in Adults With Severe Mental Illness: Comparison With the National Crime Victimization Survey Arch Gen Psychiatry. 62(8):911-921.

Petersilia, J.R. (2001) Crime Victims With Developmental Disabilities: A Review Essay Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 28, No. 6, 655-694 (2001)

Gauthier, L., Stollak, G., Messe, L., & Arnoff, J. (1996). "Recall of childhood neglect and physical abuse as differential predictors of current psychological functioning," Child Abuse and Neglect, 20, 549-559

Malinosky-Rummell, R. & Hansen, D.J. (1993). "Long term consequences of childhood physical abuse," Psychological Bulletin, 114, 68-69