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Trauma and PTSD

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Photo of a woman’s face reflected in a glass window with soft, abstract focus and greenish tones.

Therapeutic relationships

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Psychodynamic therapy helped me overcome trauma when CBT couldn’t

The toxic memories of trauma governed my life for years. But psychodynamic therapy made me feel seen and set me free

by Lucia Osborne-Crowley

Black and white photo of a snowy landscape with bare trees and a view through branches.

Nature and the environment

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Trees don’t rush to heal from trauma and neither should we

Trees teach us that healing from trauma involves balancing short-term protection with the slower process of adaptation

by Beronda Montgomery

Photo of three people in winter coats standing on a snowy path with bare trees in the background.

Resilience and flexibility

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What the distinctive brains of resilient people can teach us

Resilient people have brains that are distinct in their structure and function, providing clues for how to build resilience

by Laura Moreno-López

Kim Kardashian in a sparkling dress walks down an aisle, waving, as people on either side clap and cheer.

Trauma and PTSD

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Maladaptive daydreaming made me feel trapped in my own mind

Extended daydreams were a much-needed escape, but turned into a compulsion that crowded out my waking activities

by Zainab Al-Hassani

Photo of an elderly hand resting on a wrist, tattooed with the number 58288, on a dark fabric background.

Trauma and PTSD

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Trauma unmakes the world of the self. Can stories repair it?

Trauma needn’t be medicalised or replaced with reckless optimism. It can be a catalyst for better stories about ourselves

by Anna Gotlib

Photo of a person with a bun sitting by a window smoking. Sunlight streams in highlighting smoke tendrils and a plant.

Trauma and PTSD

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A broad definition of trauma is useful; an open-ended one isn’t

Trauma encompasses a variety of experiences and manifests in many ways. But there are risks to stretching the concept too far

by Ahona Guha

A photo of a woman in historical attire watching over a sleeping child by candlelight, with a mural of ships in the background.

Rituals and celebrations

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In the cinema, my father’s unspeakable childhood finally surfaced

Not too distant and not to close: how rituals help us process trauma, and why watching Anna Karenina helped heal my father

by Christiana Spens

Abstract painting featuring bold black lines, geometric shapes, and colourful forms in red, blue, and earth tones.

Psychosis and schizophrenia

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Psychosis can be a personal hell. It can also inspire growth

From a new sense of purpose to improved relationships, there are hopeful signs of post-traumatic growth after psychosis

by Gerald Jordan, Robyn Thomas & Veenu Gupta

a frightened child whose face is partially obscured peers down from by a play area structure

Trauma and PTSD

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The shadows cast by childhood abuse and neglect are not the same

Unravelling the pathways from different forms of childhood maltreatment to mental illness could lead to better treatments

by Anne Alkema & Marco Boks

Person spreading strawberry jam on a piece of toast with a spoon in a kitchen setting, with a microwave and wooden countertop in the background.

Eating disorders

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The important link between eating disorders and past trauma

For someone who’s endured trauma, an eating disorder might be one of the aftereffects. That should inform their recovery

by Giulia Suro

A large crowd wearing masks and sashes, holding a sign reading “Hommage à Samuel Paty” against an evening sky.

Trauma and PTSD

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History teachers are no longer just educators but trauma specialists

History teachers practise on the frontlines of trauma and memory, always at risk of triggering violence and pain

by Nena Močnik

Photo of an arm reaching into a dimly lit cupboard filled with shelves and various items.

Violence and aggression

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Why psychological research on child sex offenders is important

‘I am not one of those guys.’ The cognitive distortions of child sex offenders need to be better understood and treated

by Meetali Devgun