Summary
The authors critique trauma and illness models of the effects of adversity, and go on to consider alternative societal and political understandings. They then review biological insights from attachment theory and affective neuroscience. An analogy with grief leads to consideration of post-traumatic growth, and adversity activated development.
A review of symptoms resulting from adversity then leads to consideration of the factors that help people rebuild their lives after major adversity, such as safety and security, interpersonal bonds, and networks.A positive sense of one’s identity and role, and feeling that life is just and meaningful, also helps.Effects of the asylum process often counter these factors.
People’s problems often have to be categorised as ‘health’ issues in order to access care. Positive and negative effects of this are reviewed.
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