I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors

I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors
by Aphrodite Matsakis Ph.D.

I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors
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Book Summary Information

Author: Aphrodite Matsakis Ph.D.
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-11-01
ISBN: 157224058X
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

Book Reviews of I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors

Book Review: Best Overall Reference both for Professionals and Self-help
Summary: 5 Stars

This is the best self-help book on the topic of trauma recovery. I have used this book with literally hundreds of patients who have experienced severe trauma -- and have yet to find a better single reference. The author guides you (and your therapist, if you have one) step by step through the entire process of recovery. She takes a psychoeducational approach through out. This approach helps to create necessary cognitive frameworks that trauma survivors desperately need in order to begin to make sense of the strange experiences they are often frightened to share with others. The careful building of these frameworks buffer the survivor against overwhelming emotions and feelings of helplessness. The author includes exercises for each phase of recovery, helps you with pacing and timing, and most of all, normalizes the subjective experience of the survivor. One of the most important things she articulates is the phenomenon of "secondary victimization." In brief, secondary victimization results from the well-meaning but damaging responses of your friends and loved ones to your trauma. Often, these ignorant reactions amplify the original trauma and complicate, or completely prohibit, healing. Her description of the biological reaction to traumatic incidents is priceless. Many fail to connect the many possible negative physical reactions to trauma with the traumatic experience itself. Because the physical symptoms sometimes occur weeks or even months after the event, people fail to see them as connected to the trauma. They often see them as isolated entities, adding to the feelings of craziness and being out of control. Just understanding how trauma can affect us biologically (sometimes permanently) lessens the pain and confusion of those reactions and can help the survivor reduce feelings of weakness and self-blame. This enables a person to begin to design effective strategies to address these symptoms. One of the other strengths of this book the inclusion of various kinds of trauma -- from childhood sexual abuse to military terror to auto accidents. This normalization of the survior's reaction across domains of trauma helps to de-emphasize the event and to refocus the indiviudal on moving through the sequale to complete healing. Healing is truly possible. This book is a wonderful tool.

Summary of I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors

In this ground-breaking book, Dr. Matsakis explains that post-traumatic stress disorder affects not just soldiers, but also suruvivors of many other types of trauma including:

  • crime
  • vehicular accidents
  • rape
  • family violence
  • sexual abuse
  • natural catastrophes

I Can?t Get Over It directly addresses survivors of trauma. It explains the nature of PTSD and describes the healing process. This book will help you:

  • Find out whether you have PTSD
  • Cope with post-traumatic anger, grief, and survivor guilt
  • Recognize related problems such as depression, substance abuse , compulsive behavior and low self-esteem
  • Identify ?triggers? that set off flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and other symptoms
  • Relieve wounding caused by others? blaming and insensitivity Gain a sense of empowerment and hope for the future

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