I thought this article might be helpful to some who are coming to terms with their trauma. When my T suggested I read the book, Trauma and Recovery by Judith Lewis Herman M.D., things started to click for me right away.

I felt validated in my suffering. I began to go easier on myself.

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdo...plex_ptsd.html

Here is a link to Judith Herman's book Trauma and Recovery.

I like Google Books because it lets you read quite a few excerpts.

[Dingoroo]

Looks like a good read, and another book to add to my list. Thank you.

You're very welcome.

[skeksi]

Thanks, Orange Blossom, I have found Trauma and Recovery to be really affirming. I go back to it again and again to remind myself that I'm not alone, I'm not a freak, and I'm not overreacting. It's hard to remember when things get bad.

I'm not overreacting

That's a biggie for me. I've heard that ever since I was a little girl.

'grow up' is a biggie for me ....... jinny

OH YES! Me too. When I was around ten I was crying just about everyday because my father died and my brothers would constantly tell me to grow-up.

So I did. Sort of.

[pachyderm]

> When I was around ten... grow-up.

A little early.

That's when I started smoking.

Being in long-term abuse kind of accelerates the "growing up", and robs you of ever being a kid. I think a lot of us had to grow up fast for the sake of survival.

I hear half of it happened ages ago, can't you just move on? All the time. Yeah, right, there's nothing like someone telling you to get over yourself and telling you to hurry up and move on to help.

[(JD)]