ADVANCE PRAISE FOR
OVERCOMING SHOCK
In Overcoming Shock, Zimberoff and Hartman pool their decades of therapeutic experience to differentiate shock from trauma, trace the many ways shock reorganizes our psychic systems, survey the many kinds of experiences which generate shock, and provide a pragmatic approach to the relief of shock. The authors digest a wealth of physiological and psychological information in clear, easy-to-comprehend prose which serves therapist, victim, and family member well.
— James Hollis, PhD, Jungian analyst and author of Hauntings: Dispelling the Ghosts Who Run Our Lives
Copyright © 2014 by Diane Zimberoff and David Hartman
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, including electronic, mechanical or any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission should be addressed to:
New Horizon Press
P. O. Box 669
Far Hills, NJ 07931
Diane Zimberoff, LMFT, and David Hartman, LICSW
Overcoming Shock: Healing the Traumatized Mind and Heart
Cover design: Charley Nasta
Interior design: Scribe Inc.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014930467
ISBN-13 (eBook): 978-0-88282-481-9
New Horizon Press
18 17 16 15 14 1 2 3 4 5
AUTHORS’ NOTE
This book is based on the authors’ research, personal experiences, interviews and real life experiences. In order to protect privacy, names have been changed and identifying characteristics have been altered, except for contributing experts.
For purposes of simplifying usage, the pronouns his/her and s/he are sometimes used interchangeably. The information contained herein is not meant to be a substitute for professional evaluation and therapy with mental health professionals.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are indebted to Dr. William Emerson for first introducing us to the concept and dynamics of shock, and for his mentorship regarding the clinical recognition and treatment of shock. We are grateful to Dr. Stephen Porges for his contribution to our understanding of the intricacies of the dual functions of the vagus nerve system. We value the inspired elucidations of Carl Jung’s work provided by two giants in the field: Dr. James Hillman and Dr. James Hollis. We acknowledge the foundations for our work provided by pioneers in the field of trauma treatment: Peter Levine, Bessel A. van der Kolk, Christine Courtois, Judith Lewis Herman, Babette Rothschild, Ellert Nijenhuis, Allan Schore, Robert C. Scaer, Donald Kalsched, Michael Eigen and so many others.
We are also grateful to all of our thousands of students who have taught us so much about the concepts presented in this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Seeking Refuge—A Creative Way to Handle Shock
Chapter 2 From Hypnotherapy to Psychodrama—The Terms of Our Trade
Chapter 3 Running Away to the Circus
Chapter 4 The Witness Protection Program
Chapter 5 A Clinical Perspective
Chapter 6 The Physiology of Shock
Chapter 7 Shock and Natal Issues
Chapter 8 The Nourishment Barrier—The Shock Response to Toxic Intimacy
Chapter 9 How Shock Calcifies Addictions
Chapter 10 How Shock Affects Our Relationships
Chapter 11 The Shock Response to Critical Incidents
Chapter 12 Shock and Spirituality
Chapter 13 First Aid vs. Lasting Treatment—Tips on Managing Shock
Conclusion
Appendix 1 Therapist Advice on Treatment of Shock and Trauma
Appendix 2 Treatment of Therapist Shock
Glossary Definitions of Shock Terminology
References
Notes
How many times do we hear people say, “My spouse (or friend, boss, child, etc.) is so disconnected. I keep trying to connect with him (or her) but I can’t seem to do it and I don’t know what else to do.” This disconnection is a common form of shock. Shock attacks almost all of us and also affects those with whom we may be in relationship, at different times in our lives.
A common example may be evident when we are trying to speak with our children, spouses, bosses or friends. We are telling them something that seems really important to us and we discover that they haven’t been listening to a word we have said. Books such as Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus may explain some of these experiences; however, they do not address the more pervasive issue of people who do not hear us, because they are just not present. They may be in shock.
Another
