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Module 1: Trauma, Recovery and Torture Survivors

Recovery after torture

Recovery takes many forms, but it can and does occur. Recovery may result from obtaining
justice, finding safety and/or disclosing to appropriate individuals what has happened.

Recovery also comes from being rejoined with one’s family, re-establishing one’s sense of
self through employment and safe housing and through medical and psychological care.
Gaining legal status in one’s new country, through a successful asylum application, for
example, may have a greatly beneficial effect on recovery. For many people, talking about
difficult life events can be helpful and contribute to healing.

In the same way, speaking about
horrific events to a compassionate
listener or discussing a physical
problem with a caring physician
may also lead to relief and healing.
However, speaking about the
trauma requires the survivors to
trust someone they do not know, to
describe an experience about which
they might feel great shame and
humiliation and to endure the sense
of vulnerability and exposure that
often results from discussing horrible
experiences. Recovery after torture

Feelings of self-blame and guilt can sometimes distort the survivor’s understanding of
what happened to them and their family. With the aid of a provider, through the course
of treatment, survivors may come to understand that they were not responsible for what
happened to them—which can be liberating and healing.

Explaining the persecution one has experienced to an asylum officer or a judge can fulfill
part of the legal requirements necessary to attain political asylum. This, however, may
require the individual to describe horrific events before being psychologically ready to do
so. The same problem can also occur with family and friends, or as part of legal testimony
or other potentially hostile and confrontational situations.

There are many reasons why torture survivors find it difficult to share their experiences.
They may have been told that no one will believe them or fear that they will not be believed.
For some, the past is the past and their focus is on moving forward. It is difficult to talk about
painful things or feel that one is not understood. Moreover, one may fear retribution against
one’s family for revealing the truth. Symptoms are sometimes triggered by disclosure.

Therefore, it is easy to understand why speaking about torture can be an insurmountable
challenge to some people. For others, given the appropriate preparation and environment,
sharing their trauma history is often an essential element in healing.

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