Disasters and Trauma 3E: The Struggle for Psychological and Spiritual Growth

Third EditionWe are being attacked by the chaos of natural disasters, terrorism, violence, hateful protest, social rudeness and vulgarity, and moral decay. Trauma is inflicting its claws on us everywhere.Terrorism, social violence, and man-made and natural disasters are overwhelming our societies, and neither our governments nor our mental health systems really understand what is looming in front of us. This book addresses the psychological and spiritual components of trauma that are critical to coping with unexpected and shocking reality.An event is traumatic because it disrupts your previously secure sense of self. So when something disastrous happens, the psychological damage from the shattering of your illusions about life and identity may be more problematic than any physical damage. When your life is motivated by pure faith, hope, and love, trauma has no place to sink its claws in you, and psychological and spiritual growth can arise from trauma.Includes information on:Disasters and Trauma (The Imaginary, the Real, and the symbolic; Maladaptive Coping Strategies; Spiritual Growth; Breaking the Cycle of Blame and Hatred)Evil (The psychological and spiritual nature of evil and demonic influence)Terrorism (The relationship between social fraud and hatred)Cultural Violence (The relationship between family dysfunction and cultural violence)Growth from Trauma (How growth can come from trauma)NotesSubject Index