Attacked by Poison Ivy: A Psychological Understanding

by Ann Belford Ulanov

With a particularly strong emphasis on Jung's theories of archetypes, Dr. Ulanov's examination of her own experience with affliction is an example of psychology in practice. She details the terribly severe attacks of poison ivy that besiege her annually/ her personal point of view in applying the symbolism of Jung's archetypes to these attacks is refreshing in its individualization of the analysis.

As a modern excursion into the territory handled by animistic cultures where priests make mandalas in the sand and ritual dancers dance away the spirits of illness, Ann Ulanov examines her own illness in the light of modern psychology. These sorts of rituals have been performed for many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years, and still resonate today.

Dr. Ulanov discusses the physical, psychological, psychosomatic, psychosocial, and psycho-spiritual aspects of asking to be healed.

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ryan Miller]

As a personal journal with connections to Jungian thought and many levels of individual meaning, Ulanov’s self-analysis seems effective. Her processing of her own experiences—both with poison ivy and with her own family history—has clearly led her to an important place in her own self-discovery. However, even as a fellow poison ivy sufferer and a relatively reflective person who has more than a passing knowledge of Jungian theory, I got little from this book. Again, I fully laud Ulyanov for her own personal journey of discovery, but I can’t see her experience as helpful to me. I’ll just keep recognizing and avoiding poison ivy instead of regularly exposing myself to the weed and looking for deeper meaning.

[Anna]

As someone in ‘the Ivy League’ I didn’t get much out of this. I have a contact allergy and a relationship with my family that is very different than the author. I can respect that she worked through all this and came to her conclusions about her personal reactions to PI, but it doesn’t have much use IMO if you aren’t her. I don’t have a deep fear of PI, and have a protocol to clean myself after potential contact. I usually get it once a year and am able to use a prescription to take care of it since I work in it often. I respect it. I don’t neglect it. I point it out to others. My relationship with the plant and family are very different than hers, as my history with a reaction, thus - if you want to read one persons journey through analyzing her reaction this is for you. If not, or you’re looking for a reasoning behind your own reaction to a known allergen, this probably isn’t the book.

[Melissa Fondakowski]

As all of Dr. Ulanov's books, this one is deep cutting and filled with observations, interpretations, and ideas that are super applicable. I am not a poison ivy sufferer myself, but the point Ulanov is making overall, is that the way we perceive our illnesses, and experience our illnesses, often have deep traumas and emotions attached to them. Working to uncover and heal from these traumas can help us better cope with our illnesses, particularly chronic and recurring ones...for me, that's back pain. And I'll just say - entering the book with an open mind helped me gain more understanding around what I need - and how to give it to myself.