Re: Book Title: Women who hurt themselves by Dusty Miller (review included)

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: From Kirkus Reviews , March 15, 1994 : Women Who Hurt Themselves explores the suffering of women who reenact childhood trauma, particularly abuse or neglect, through : self-destructive behavior. Miller is a therapist who has treated hundreds of women with this condition (which she labels Trauma : Reenactment Syndrome, or TRS) and whose behaviors include self-mutilation, alcoholism, drug addiction, and eating disorders. She : argues that women with TRS did not feel protected as children, and thus have trouble protecting themselves as adults. She explains what : TRS is and outlines her therapeutic program, which begins by exploring the symptoms and, as therapist and patient develop a trusting : relationship, gradually moves into an examination of the original trauma. The goal of therapy is for the patient to develop her own : ``protective presence.'' Miller's responsiveness as a therapist is evident; she warns against blind adherence to existing formulas, stressing : the need for multifaceted approaches to abuse and addiction. She cautiously avoids buzzwords and admirably emphasizes the differences : in women's situations. However, the breadth of experiences that could be described as traumatic, and of behaviors that could be called : self-destructive (chain-smoking and sexual promiscuity are included), make this book confusing for the lay reader. Surely women inflict : violence on themselves for a variety of reasons; like much recovery literature, Women Who Hurt Themselves may exaggerate the : explanatory power of trauma. Further confusing the discussion are the many traits that Miller attributes to TRS that are actually common : to women with a wide variety of histories--excessive apologizing, for example, or caring for others at the expense of oneself. Women : Who Hurt Themselves should be helpful to mental health professionals who work with female trauma survivors, though some of its : generalities should be taken with caution. - : Another author is Lenore Walke: Battered Women. Much of this material falls into "recovery" material rather than "Clinical Text." : Some people are very difficult to help and even harder to have a relationship.

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