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It can be read charitably as claiming that society is traumatic in different ways, maybe, and in a wider variety of ways. Which is much more defensible. A rapid

It can be read charitably as claiming that society is traumatic in different ways, maybe, and in a wider variety of ways. Which is much more defensible. A rapid change in everyday psychological or physiological reality is traumatic, by definition, as one must adapt to it or bear the consequences. There may be less instances of stoning and flogging but many more of subtle conditioning, for instance. Quantity comparisons are challenging when there are big differences in kind

giantg2 1y ago
I think it would have been more interesting if they spent any amount of time exploring the causes. Such as basic life sustaining tasks being easier so there are fewer distractions from trauma. Or feedback mechanisms around effort, success, struggles, and triumph are reduced compared to a hunter gatherer. Etc
- walleeee 1y ago
  I agree with you.
- lanstin 1y ago
  And our being adapted to many of those struggles - it's a rare person that won't be happier walking 10 kilometers a day compars to walking less than 1. Or happier seeing 1000 trees a day rather than just walls.
Aurornis 1y ago
The social media definition of trauma has diverged from the clinician definition. The social media version of “trauma” is used to define anything stressful. When we start redefining trauma to cover everything down to the basic realities of life like having to pay for rent to live somewhere, the term loses meaning. With a definition this broad, where do we draw the line between stress and trauma? Is there a line between basic inconvenience and trauma, if the person suffering the inconvenience doesn’t handle it well? The less discussed problem is that some people have a problem of exaggerating everything into catastrophic stressors, thereby turning common experiences into traumas. This itself is a problem that is addressed through therapy, but it’s not as amenable to garnering sympathy on social media. It’s not appealing to read someone whine about having to work a job to eat food in a first world country, because that’s life and it’s a hundred times easier than it was for our ancestors. However, reframe that as a high-brow article about the perils of capitalism and how it inflicts trauma on us and causes PTSD and now it feels like we are the victims who deserve sympathy.
- crawfordcomeaux 1y ago
  The idea that you can draw a line between stress and trauma is an attempt to generalize something experienced on a personal level. That's not how to handle any complex system with accuracy and effectiveness. Therapy doesn't address systemic oppression, which does lead to more incidents resulting in PTSD & is a generator of CPTSD (which isn't just for edge cases, but for recurrent stressor that don't allow the body time to recover from past events). Western therapy is failing. The therapists attending to what's going on are speaking out and some are abandoning their practices because they realize they've been co-opted in systemic harm.
  - kennyadam 1y ago
    So you know of any personal blogs or articles or other writings from therapists who feel this way and left the profession? It sounds fascinating, but I wouldn't know where to start.
    - rendx 1y ago
      Maybe not exactly what you're after, but you might like https://www.traumaandphilosophy.com/ https://www.traumaandphilosophy.com/ and https://traumatheory.com/ https://traumatheory.com/ Other writings: For example the books by Vivian Broughton, a UK therapist: https://www.vivianbroughton.com/my-books/ https://www.vivianbroughton.com/my-books/ Her latest book ("You were just a child...") contains critical essays, which you might enjoy. Essential reading: The books by Judith Herman, who coined the term "Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" and lobbied to get it added to the DSM. Her latest book is all about justice for victims (and how the system is failing them). The most famous critical essays about modern society from a therapist are by Sigmund Freud. You may want to start with "Civilization and Its Discontents" (1929). Quote: "The present cultural state of America would give us a good opportunity for studying the damage to civilization which is thus to be feared. But I shall avoid the temptation of entering upon a critique of American civilization; I do not wish to give an impression of wanting myself to employ American methods."
      - 1y ago

giantg2 1y ago

I think it would have been more interesting if they spent any amount of time exploring the causes. Such as basic life sustaining tasks being easier so there are fewer distractions from trauma. Or feedback mechanisms around effort, success, struggles, and triumph are reduced compared to a hunter gatherer. Etc

walleeee 1y ago
I agree with you.
lanstin 1y ago
And our being adapted to many of those struggles - it's a rare person that won't be happier walking 10 kilometers a day compars to walking less than 1. Or happier seeing 1000 trees a day rather than just walls.

Aurornis 1y ago

The social media definition of trauma has diverged from the clinician definition. The social media version of “trauma” is used to define anything stressful. When we start redefining trauma to cover everything down to the basic realities of life like having to pay for rent to live somewhere, the term loses meaning. With a definition this broad, where do we draw the line between stress and trauma? Is there a line between basic inconvenience and trauma, if the person suffering the inconvenience doesn’t handle it well? The less discussed problem is that some people have a problem of exaggerating everything into catastrophic stressors, thereby turning common experiences into traumas. This itself is a problem that is addressed through therapy, but it’s not as amenable to garnering sympathy on social media. It’s not appealing to read someone whine about having to work a job to eat food in a first world country, because that’s life and it’s a hundred times easier than it was for our ancestors. However, reframe that as a high-brow article about the perils of capitalism and how it inflicts trauma on us and causes PTSD and now it feels like we are the victims who deserve sympathy.

crawfordcomeaux 1y ago
The idea that you can draw a line between stress and trauma is an attempt to generalize something experienced on a personal level. That's not how to handle any complex system with accuracy and effectiveness. Therapy doesn't address systemic oppression, which does lead to more incidents resulting in PTSD & is a generator of CPTSD (which isn't just for edge cases, but for recurrent stressor that don't allow the body time to recover from past events). Western therapy is failing. The therapists attending to what's going on are speaking out and some are abandoning their practices because they realize they've been co-opted in systemic harm.
- kennyadam 1y ago
  So you know of any personal blogs or articles or other writings from therapists who feel this way and left the profession? It sounds fascinating, but I wouldn't know where to start.
  - rendx 1y ago
    Maybe not exactly what you're after, but you might like https://www.traumaandphilosophy.com/ https://www.traumaandphilosophy.com/ and https://traumatheory.com/ https://traumatheory.com/ Other writings: For example the books by Vivian Broughton, a UK therapist: https://www.vivianbroughton.com/my-books/ https://www.vivianbroughton.com/my-books/ Her latest book ("You were just a child...") contains critical essays, which you might enjoy. Essential reading: The books by Judith Herman, who coined the term "Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" and lobbied to get it added to the DSM. Her latest book is all about justice for victims (and how the system is failing them). The most famous critical essays about modern society from a therapist are by Sigmund Freud. You may want to start with "Civilization and Its Discontents" (1929). Quote: "The present cultural state of America would give us a good opportunity for studying the damage to civilization which is thus to be feared. But I shall avoid the temptation of entering upon a critique of American civilization; I do not wish to give an impression of wanting myself to employ American methods."
    - 1y ago