Information for new NHS patients
Trauma
Trauma can include natural disasters, accidents, combat, torture, verbal, physical and sexual assault or abuse, and bullying.
Self Help Articles
Post-Traumatic Stress: A Self-Help Guide
A useful guide produced by the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust.
Loss: A Self-Help Guide
A useful account of bereavement in pdf format, including references at the end.
Produced by the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust.
Recommended Books
Overcoming Traumatic Stress
Claudia Herbert and Ann Wetmore
A reviewer said “As a sufferer of PTSD this book made me realise I was not "Crazy", or "abnormal", my body and mind was just trying to cope with the truama that had been inflicted upon it. It gives logical and rational advice to help rebuild a life following a traumatic experience … The step by step guides to recovery serve as a reminder of how far you've come towards recovery, and allow you, perhaps for the first time, to start laying the bricks to build the path to recovery. The Authors are to be commended on this amazing piece of literature”
Overcoming Childhood Trauma
Helen Kennerley
A straightforward and practical self-help guide using cognitive –behavioural techniques for people who have suffered the psychological consequences of being neglected or abused in childhood.
Overcoming Low Self Esteem
Melanie Fennell
A straightforward and practical self-help guide to developing self esteem and confidence using cognitive – behavioural techniques.
I Can't Get Over It: Handbook for Trauma Survivors
Aphrodite Matsakis
A very comprehensive book explaining our reactions to trauma with practical suggestions to aid in recovery. Synopsis: This work guides and supports readers through the healing process of recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from crime, accidents, rape, family violence, and sexual abuse. It seeks to help in coping with memories and emotions, such as anger, grief, survivor guilt, and recognizing related problems, such as depression, compulsive behaviour and low self-esteem. The support this book offers aims to help identify the triggers that may set off flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and other systems of PTSD, relieve secondary wounding caused by other's blame and insensitivity, and gain a sense of empowerment and hope for the future.
The Rape Recovery Handbook:
Step-by-Step Help for Survivors of Sexual Assaults
Aphrodite Matsakis
This work aims to help rape victims cope with the reality of the experience and deal with the aftermath of conflicting and debilitating feelings. It instructs how to develop a community and supportive network to assist during the journey to recovery.
Trust After Trauma: A Guide to Relationships
for Survivors and Those Who Love Them
Aphrodite Matsakis
Examines the feelings of loneliness and mistrust suffered by trauma survivors, explores how these feelings affect personal relationships, and suggests ways of negotiating and coping with the trauma for improved relationships.
The Survivor's Guide to Sex: How to Have
an Empowered Sex Life After Child Sexual Abuse
Staci Haines
Reviews describe this as a down-to-earth and readable book which is helpful for male as well as female survivors undertaking the sexual healing process.
Allies in Healing: When the Person You Love Was Sexually Abused as a Child, a Support Book for Partners
Laura Davis
Filled with information, support, and guidance, here is the eagerly awaited book that answers the most important questions asked by partners of survivors of child sexual abuse.
The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and How to Respond
Patricia Evans
The Secret of Overcoming Verbal Abuse: Getting Off the Emotional Roller Coaster and Regaining Control of Your Life
Albert Ellis, Marcia Grad Powers
Defending Ourselves: A Guide to Prevention, Self-Defense, and Recovery from Rape
Rosalind Wiseman
Understanding date rape, the psychology of perpetrators practical defence strategeies.
The Sexual Healing Journey : A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Revised Edition)
Wendy Maltz
This is a sensitive and carefully written self help book particularly for women who have lost their partner.
Best Links
National Center for Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
This American site is the National Centre for Post Traumatic Stress Disorders and it contains a wealth of information on PTSD, diagnosis and treatment. It contains much generalise information about trauma but is especially useful for service personnel and civilians who have had experience of war or conflict.
Bully Online
Lots of information and links on workplace bullying and related topics.
Cornwall County Council
Contacts in Cornwall for victims of physical or sexual violence.
Childhood sexual abuse survivor support
Information and support for male and female survivors of sexual abuse and assault in childhood or adulthood.
Self-Injury, Abuse & Trauma Resource Directory
A directory of useful resources and links.
Patient UK
Violence, abuse and rape: A useful an comprehensive list of resources in the UK.
Partners of Abuse Survivors
This site offers help and information to partners of abuse survivors.
Survive
A good resource site for male and female survivors of sexual assault.
Partners And Allies of Sexual Assault Survivors Resources List
A list of resources for partners and allies of abuse survivors.