Near-fatal experience,crisis intervention and the anniversary reaction

Grief and death-related reactions have been growing psychotherapeutic concerns during the last several decades. Beginning with Freud'sMourning and Melancholia, a host of depth-psychologists have devoted extensive attention to the psychodynamics of tramatic object-loss. More recently studies of biological resuscitation and phases of near-fatal experience have been widely researched. Concurrently, investigations of stress syndromes have sought to offer suggestions to those involved in the intervention of crisis effects. The author integrates several pronounced insights derived from this literature while shifting their dominant tenors of object loss or life after death recollections to repercussions associated with passive assults to the self. His own pre-terminal reflections, experimental research and psychoanalytic ministry form the foundation of his conclusions for pastoral counselors dealing with victimized clients who re-experience acute anxiety close to the anniversary of their injury.He also serves as Pastoral Consultant to The Canterbury House of Northwestern, Evanston, as well as All Saint's and Holy Innocents' Episcopal Churches, Atlanta.