Understanding Trauma

What is post-traumatic stress disorder? What does it feel like? And how can it be overcome? Trauma is a term that many of us find alienating and clinical. But in fact trauma is something most people encounter at some point in life and post-traumatic stress - far from being a mental disorder - is a normal reaction to abnormal events: even breaking a bone or witnessing a car crash. Drawing on 20 years of research and clinical practice Roger Baker explains the many symptoms of post-traumatic stress and lays out a self help programme - emotional processing therapy - which can defuse the distressing memories of trauma and reduce the occurrence of flashbacks nightmares and tensions. Dr Baker also advises strategies to prevent post-traumatic stress in the first place. Full of real-life case studies this is essential reading for trauma sufferers their family and friends and specialists alike.