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Trauma and PTSD

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Abstract image of a face in profile with soft focus and reflections creating a serene, dreamlike effect.

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 viewed through bare tree branches, with scattered trees and distant houses visible.

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

Three teenage girls in winter coats stand outdoors in a snowy landscape, with trees and snow-covered ground 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

A hand tattooed with the number 98288, covered by another hand, both showing signs of ageing, against a dark 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

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

Person with hair in a bun sits by an open window, exhaling smoke, with a cup, lighter, and potted plant on the sill.

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 woman in a period dress with pearls watches over a sleeping child in bed, against a historical maritime painting.

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 with geometric shapes, lines, and stylised faces on a red, beige, and black background, featuring a mix of blue, yellow, and orange elements.

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

A hand holding the frame of an open door, revealing a dimly lit storage area with shelves holding various items, including books and boxes.

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