Women Who Hurt Themselves: A Book of Hope and Understanding

by Dusty J. Miller

Many books have described victims of rape and battering, but scant attention has been paid to another form of harm increasingly common among women. Here at last is a book that provides help for the thousands of women who secretly inflict violence on themselves. Filled with moving stories, this powerful and compassionate book is the first to focus on women who harm themselves through self-mutilation, compulsive cosmetic surgeries, eating disorders, and other forms of chronic injury to the body.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Feminism, Self Help, Reference

294 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1994

About the author

Dusty Miller’s passion as an activist, and her life-long addiction to fiction compelled her to write the adventures of Alice Ott, Raging Granny and cyber sleuth.Danger in the Air takes the reader on a fast-paced adventure from the quiet villages of Western New England into the epicenter of biological warfare, the high security labs at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Alice Ott, with the help of a small band of concerned senior citizens, exposes a lethal cover-up. Alice successfully eludes dangerous covert operatives in her quest to reveal the origins of the infamous anthrax letters. Along the way, she reunites with her long-lost French lover and co-conspirator, Gerard, and proves that age is a state of mind.

Before starting her current life as a mystery writer, Dr. Dusty Miller spent many years as a psychotherapist and trauma expert, teaching nationally and internationally. She is the author of numerous articles and books about the impact of childhood trauma in the adult lives of survivors. Her most popular book, Women Who Hurt Themselves (1994; reprinted in 2005 as a 10th Anniversary edition) has been a national and international success. She has appeared on popular television talks shows and has been interviewed nationally and internationally.

Miller is already hard at work on a the sequel to Danger in the Air, another political mystery featuring 80 year old sleuth Alice Ott and the Raging Grannies.Burning Questions involves Alice in the investigation of a poison-spewing nuclear plant, exposing Government corruption and covert alliances. She expands her investigative team to include three young adventurers from the Occupy Movement.

Dusty Miller is a member of the Raging Grannies, and lives on a small lake in Western Massachusetts with her wife and two cats.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically, this book is in two halves. The first half is incredible, easily worthy of 5 stars. The author approaches the topic of women who self-injure in a non-judgmental way--something that is rarely seen. She goes on to demonstrate an actual understanding of how a self-injurer's internal process works, putting into words something which we often cannot. However, the second half of the book talks about the therapy process she uses, and not only is it obvious to me that this process wouldn't work, but also it is badly written. A very disappointing ending to a promising beginning.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated. May be of some help to others, I found it not particularly accessible.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. The author has a theory called Traumatic Reenactment Syndrome. Women reenact trauma inflicted upon them in childhood through a pattern of behaviors, etc. The TRS woman experiences the feeling that she is more than one person. I am a woman who hurts herself and yet I do not feel that way. I'm willing to believe that my issues MAY have originated in childhood but this part just does not fit me at all and therefore I think her theory is false and I've decided not to read the book. I'll move on to Bodily Harm by Karen Conterio and Cutting by Steven Levenkron.

I spent $4 on this book on ebay and wasted my money. Oh well, it wasn't much. I'm not sure this book would be entirely unhelpful but... I think you'd be better off with a different book. If you're interested in the subject, research books available through your library system or on ebay or amazon. It's something constructive to do, as opposed to destructive.

[Lisa M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was in graduate school, I utilized Dusty's theory in a major academic paper. Shamefully, I read parts of the book but not the whole thing. I finally took the time to read this book. I really appreciate Miller's conceptualization of women and trauma--I think one of the major takeaways from this book is that a complex, multi-modal treatment is necessary to help address complex childhood trauma. I can appreciate her theory and believe it is applicable for some women who hurt themselves. Beyond these positive feelings about the content--which are strong--I can recognize some of the flaws of the book. While acknowledging the complexity of traumatized women, Miller's theory/assertions become very broad (to the point that one may wonder if it is too broad.) Her assertions about sexuality/gender identity are dated and could be considered problematic. While I acknowledge these issues, this work is really important to me and I value it deeply.

[duo-la · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative read thus far, but I find it also quite triggering (which...is obvious/to be expected). Kind of problematic that as it's talking the readers through the problems/behaviours the book focuses on in order to help enhance our understanding of them, it can also enable/exacerbate those very same behaviours.

[Valerie Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting perspective.

[Elizabeth Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

While parts of this book were informative and interesting, I think the name of the book was misleading. This was not a book about women who hurt themselves in general, but specifically a book about women who hurt themselves due to what the author calls "Trauma Reenactment Syndrome" (TRS). While this may certainly be a real phenomenon -- that some adult women hurt themselves after being abused or neglected in childhood -- it by no means can account for all women who hurt themselves. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that the book is somewhat outdated (first written in 1994, with an updated version written in 2005), but the author blatantly states near the beginning of the book: "In my own work, I find that women who have developed entrenched patterns of seriously self-harmful behavior are unlikely to do such things to themselves without an underlying history of abuse or neglect. I have yet to encounter a woman with a severe eating disorder, unremitting substance-abuse problems, or a history of self-mutilation who did not experience some childhood trauma, whether it was sexual abuse, physical abuse, severe neglect, or, in a few cases, chronic and incapacitating childhood illness." This I know to be absolutely untrue. Again, while this may be the case for SOME women who hurt themselves, it is by no means the case for all of them. This book was exclusively about how women who hurt themselves did so because of the trauma they experienced in childhood, and to say this is the case for all women who hurt themselves is false and misleading.

The other problem I had with the book was how the author seemed to refer to homosexuality as a choice. "The choice to be in lesbian relationships is sometimes related to the wish to avoid replication of a childhood abuse experience." Being a lesbian is not a choice. Period. To suggest that it is a choice is offensive and untrue.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dense book with a lot of information some repetitive. But an incredible book for those who want to work with trauma victims (physical, neglect, sexual, etc..) who engage in self-injurious behaviors.
I learned an invaluable amount that I will be able to use in practice. It took me a while to read it because I was learning so much.

[Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

i know all mine have 5 stars but honestly the books i red get better and better. her theory on Chronic Reanactment Syndrome i really dont think is a theory. its fact and im one of the patients who know it deep down. its very good too because she explains the proper wa to be a therapist so u understand the steps to treatment and they freakin work!!11

[Emma J Hin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book that I learned a LOT from. It offers a complex look into the life of the abused woman while pairing psychological perspectives with personal narratives. I really took my time reading this book and took many notes on it. I recommend for any future psychologist to read this book.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative about a new diagnosis for women who have suffered childhood abuse and/or trauma that changed who they are today. With a proper diagnosis, these women may be able to heal themselves. Very interesting.

[Spook Sulek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came really close and had to put it down, but picking it up again, I'm struck by how much I've grown and changed! TRS is still a fitting diagnosis, but I've come so far in addressing my issues. A lengthy time to absorb all the information here is necessary. A very worthwhile read.

[stephanie]

picked up at apa convention.

[Kiera Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a look at this book when browsing through the psychology section at Barnes and Noble. It looks very good!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very helpful for my career, but reads like a textbook

[Joseph Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish

[Livie · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Sigh* Unreliable. Bases none of her findings on any proper studies, but rather anecdotes from only her own patients. Extrapolating to try and make women think they have this made up "TRS".

[Jrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, but quite traumatic to read. The stories were very graphic and I found it difficult to get through. There definitely needs to be a trigger warning for sure.

[Savina · Rating 3 out of 5]

un grande romanzo di rieducazione alla vita...

[Gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provided an deep and an eye-opening insight into inner demons