Mourning the Dying of the Unharmed Self
Abstract
A woman who had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by her father was haunted by a fantasy of what her life could have been like if the incest had not occurred. This vividly imagined “unharmed self” enjoyed freedoms and pleasures that were unavailable to the survivor. In treatment, her depression deepened as she remembered more about the abuse. Questions arose about abuse’s inevitable legacies, the mourning process, and the shame and regret that shadowed the survivor’s life. Poetry and literature provide insights about potential paths toward healing.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Child Abuse and Trauma
Grief
Bereavement
and Mental Health
Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 93–100
- Publication date
- 13 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter