Illuminating Complex PTSD with Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott
Location
Old Dominion University, Learning Commons at Perry Library, Room 1306
Start Date
4-8-2017 1:50 PM
End Date
4-8-2017 2:10 PM
Description
Superficially, a Victorian poem appears to have little in common with a disorder that has plagued war veterans for centuries and only recently gained a designation and acceptance. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become normalized and those who live with the symptoms are no longer ostracized, although their experiences can be enigmatic and difficult to understand. Art and poetry can be used to distill and express concepts with a clarity that is lacked by typical conversation. The imagery within the poem "The Lady of Shalott" and the behaviors displayed by the eponymous character illustrate the complex coping mechanisms and rich inner world that characterizes someone struggling with PTSD with comorbid dissociative symptoms.
Presentation Type
Presentation
Illuminating Complex PTSD with Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott
Old Dominion University, Learning Commons at Perry Library, Room 1306
Superficially, a Victorian poem appears to have little in common with a disorder that has plagued war veterans for centuries and only recently gained a designation and acceptance. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has become normalized and those who live with the symptoms are no longer ostracized, although their experiences can be enigmatic and difficult to understand. Art and poetry can be used to distill and express concepts with a clarity that is lacked by typical conversation. The imagery within the poem "The Lady of Shalott" and the behaviors displayed by the eponymous character illustrate the complex coping mechanisms and rich inner world that characterizes someone struggling with PTSD with comorbid dissociative symptoms.