The mind that flees war: suffering and trauma among civilian refugees

Separated from their ecological niche, refugees always experience multiple difficulties (Miller & Rasmussen, 2017). Language and culture of origin may prove insufficient to address the challenges posed by places of transit, temporary reception areas and communities that offer refuge (Mela, 2015). The conditions of daily life are often very demanding, sometimes seriously hindering even the possibility of responding to one’s basic needs. Staying united with a group of compatriots often represents a resource and a protective factor, since it makes personal drama a shared condition and allows for greater recognition and help at a social and political level. International research agrees in detecting a higher incidence among refugees (compared to host populations) of anxiety disorders, depression and disorders related to stress and trauma: adaptability disorders, acute stress disorders, PTSD and complex PTSD (Fazel et al., 2005; Lindert et al., 2009; Slewa-Younan et al., 2015). However, we must not make the mistake of thinking that psychological discomforts are all and only rooted in the experience of forced escape from the places of origin. The refugee condition is part of life paths that are sometimes already compromised by previous negative experiences, risk factors and consolidated vulnerabilities.