Suffering, healing, and the discourse of trauma

Abstract

We introduce the forms of post-earthquake suffering that have been described using the new concept of trauma and supplement descriptions of suffering for which this concept is not applicable. We attempt to divide this broad phenomenon along the lines of locally relevant categories. We take a closer look at deep distress of the heart as a severe form of suffering and provide a detailed example in the form of a case study. Views on the treatment of suffering include a wide array of normalizing, non-pathologizing approaches to handle suffering. In this context, however, we discuss suffering and healing based on a conception of the local, which includes an understanding of global processes.