Post Traumatic Stress in Holocaust Survivors Across Three Generations - Essay Example

Introduction Social prejudice and racism has been associated with several social problems, which have been witnessed globally. In Germany, the social prejudice was high during the reign of Adolf Hitler. This gave the Nazis (as they were called), the impression that they were superior to other races. The main hatred was especially, directed towards the Jews who apart from being considered inferior to the host country members. They were also considered a threat to the economy, though this was merely an impression. With the need to maintain the group ‘purity,’ there as need the ethnic cleansing. This led to one of the most heinous acts to have been committed on a particular group of people. At that time, it is estimated that about 6 million of the Jews were exterminated (Bower 2000, p.89). This left only less than 700,000 of the survivors who have lived to narrate the story of what happened that time (Fogelman 2001, p. 45). Majority of the victims were taken to the concentration camps where they lived in deplorable situations. Strong and talented men and women were forced to provide labour to the foster economic development. However, they lived in worrying status based on the fact that those who fell ill were never taken care of. On the other hand, the oppressors had a systematic way of eliminating those who would not provide any meaningful services because of their health. They were either killed or taken to the concentration camps where they died of hunger and sicknesses. Some of the survivors have lived to narrate the story of what happened during the holocaust. However, it is reported that the transmission of traumas has affected not only the first, but second and the third generations. When the survivors left the camps, they lived with their children, who in this case, are the second generation. They were taken care of considering the fact that majority of them had been maimed in the process. They did not have sources of income and therefore the second generation had to take care of them. The latter are however the most affected by the holocaust post-traumatic stress (Garland 2000, p.77). However, one of the main reasons apart from being in close constant with the survivors is that they fear sharing their experiences. They have harboured hatred and pain in them, which affects them psychologically and emotionally. They have not been able to forgive the oppressor making it also difficult for them to heal. This has been a major problem, which the psychologists and psychiatrists have been grappling with. On the other hand, however, majority of the third generation have not been affected by the holocaust post-traumatic stress. This is despite the fact that there has been transmission of trauma to the third generation as well. However, the main difference between the third and second generation is that the former appears to be more realistic on this matter. The grandchildren have been able to share their experiences freely with one another therefore been able to address such fears. In the process, they have been able to accept the reality of what happened. Secondly, they have been able to forgive the oppressors. Despite this, there are others who face psychological problems. This is especially those who have been taking care of the survivors of the holocaust. Such family members constantly remind them of what happened. This haunts many of them, exposing them to various psychological disorders such as stress, depression, lack of sleep, sleep phobias and suicide thoughts. To understand whether the second and third generations were actually affected, the focus will be on two main survivors, that is, Primo Levi and Jean Ameri. Primo Levi and Jean Ameri have similarities between them. They had both escaped the brutality and oppression in the hands of the Germans during the infamous holocaust. The two were acquaintances by the tie they were escaping from the concentration camps (Helmreich 2000, p.90). However, each went on his way during the escape. They were both authors and did their communication through the same avenues. Their writings reflected majorly their feelings about the holocaust. However, in 1978, Ameri is said to have died in some of the shocking circumstances. Despite his success in writing, he decided to commit suicide. According to some analysis and other observers, Ameri must have planned this for some time. Like Primo, he had children in the second and third generation. When Primo received the news of his death, he condemned the act saying that one should not commit suicide. However, in 1979, a similar incidence occurred. Primo had committed suicide, and his death shocked many. Analysis of the above incident It is indicated that the first and the second generations of holocausts are the worst affected psychologically and emotionally. Most of the analysts indicate that there was a correlation between the suicide acts witnessed and the holocaust post-traumatic stress. It is indicated that it is as a result of the two had gone through that prompted them to commit suicide. The first and the second generation are said to lack resilient when they are faced with many challenges. This is true in the case of Primo. For instance, it is indicated that he had many responsibilities on his side. Apart from taking care of his sickling and old mother, he was also supporting others financially. His health had also been deteriorating after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Studies also indicate that one of the main post- traumatic stress disorders as a result of holocaust was effect on the immunity system. The survivors of holocaust took long before they could recover from any ailment. This explains why he was not able to live long after he developed cancer. Due to lack of resilient, he committed suicide just like his friend. Effects of holocaust on the first generation (grandparents) This is the group that was the most affected, considering the fact that it had witnessed the realities on the ground (Mark 2001, p.12). This is unlike the second and the third generations who rely on secondary information. They witnessed families and close friends die in their eyes. They were exposed to some of the most grotesque situations that have continued to disturb them emotionally and psychologically. Some of them were rescued from the concentration camps, and therefore, understand the real problems faced by the victims (Paula 2013, p.12). For instance, majority of the victims could spend time with no clothes. This is despite the fact that weather was not favourable at times. These incidences have permanently affected most of the remaining survivors. Majority of them experience sleeping disorders. They may not get sleep immediately they get to bed. Some of them still experience night terrors as a reminiscence of the traumatic experienced they had. Due to this, majority of the old generation has not been able to forgive their oppressors (Julia 200, p.29). They harbour a lot of hatred and pain. This has interfered with the healing process. Primo for instance was a cancer victim. His health deteriorated majorly because he was also experiencing many psychological problems. Apart from being a writer and appearing to be okay, he was experiencing stressful moments just like many other survivors. The decision by the two survivors to commit suicide is a demonstration of the emotional and psychological problems that the survivors go through. As indicated before, this is a group that had lost many friends and families members. They normally feel empty, powerless and hopeless. This is especially those who are taken care in the homes where contact with the family members is minimal. Secondly, the traumatic experiences affect them mostly because of their helpless nature. With the majority of them being maimed and sick, they are taken care by the family members or well-wishers. This makes them feel helpless and a ‘burden’ to those assisting them. These feelings of powerlessness are the main causes of other major psychological disorders within the first generations. When they fall sick, the first generation will take long to recover compared to the third generation. Psychologists also state that this group of people respond negatively to psychological intervention mechanisms such as therapy. They are not willing to let go. They have been able to forgive the oppressors and themselves. For that reason, this explains the main reason why it takes them long to heal once they fall sick. However, their age could also be a major contributing factor. Majority of the old people do not want to see any images that would remind them of what they experienced. This is because they wish to ‘forget’ about the whole incidence. However, this has not been the case since they have only managed to suppress the situation. The reality of the matter is that the effects of holocaust are manifested in their behaviours. The bottom-line therefore is that the first generation are the most affected by the holocaust posttraumatic stress. Effects of the post-traumatic stress disorder on the second and third generations As indicated above, both Primo and Amari had children in the second and third generation, though they might not have had a chance to interact with the latter. Whether their children had the effects of the holocaust post-traumatic stress or not is not clear. It has not been explained in details. However, from the literature review, it is clear that these generations experienced post-traumatic stress disorders throughout their lives. However, there is a difference on how the second and third generations are affected. The second generation is said to be the most affected. There are various reasons to explain this. Firstly, the second generation were the immediate recipient of the news of holocaust. Some of them were actually born during that time. The impact of the incident on their lives was greater than that of the third generation. One of the other main striking features about the Jews is that they have strong family bonds. They live together and maintain close contacts with each other. For that reason, the second generation was the most affected. They lived with the survivors of the holocaust. They nursed the wounds and provided the basic needs to most of these survivors. It is imperative to note that during the escape, majority of the survivors had sustained injuries. The second generation had the responsibility of taking care of their individuals. Another important phenomenon that would have affected is the fact that such people had limited sources of income. Taking care of the survivors of the holocaust and their lives became difficult. This exacerbated the situation further making the second generation succumb to stress and depression. Secondly, the second generation had repressed hatred and feared to share about the incidences of the holocaust (Fara 2000, p.12). Different researchers on the issue of holocaust indicated that most of the people who did not share their experiences suffered post-traumatic stress disorders. The second generation was not willing to share the experiences of the holocaust. They feared to talk because they did not want to remember the incidents of that time. They decided to repress all that they had observed or heard about the holocaust. However, they did not know that they were actually causing problems to themselves. Apart from the psychological trauma, this group of people took long to recover from common ailments. According to experts, sharing the repressed feelings had an effect on how the second generation responded to the social issues. The second generation had not been able to forgive their oppressors. They hated them for causing them the different problems that they went through. This harboured and unexpressed anger is said to be the main cause of different problems in the second generation. Had they been able to express it, it would be easy for them to heal and begin to live better lives. Thirdly, the third generation were suffering from low self-esteem and were not resilient (Yehuda 1997, p.15). Most of them identified themselves with the incidences and challenges experienced by their parents in the concentration camps. They considered this incidence as the one to be blamed for the poor state of the survivors. Within the society, the second generation feels as if they are failures due to the similar incidence. This is especially those who are socioeconomically challenged. They have low self-esteem and feel pity for themselves. They tend to blame the past events for their current plight. On the other hand, they blame the people who were behind the holocaust. The effects on the third generation vary from one group to another. One of the main differences between the third and the second generation is that the former is willing to talk about the incidence. However, due to the unwillingness of the third generation in sharing, the second and the first generation find themselves together. It is indicated that it is common to find the young people with their grandparents. The third generation show interest in understanding what exactly happened. In the process, the first generation heals. Explaining the incidence helps them to take it out of their hearts and feel better. This is the main difference when comparing the situation with that of the second generation. The third generation therefore understands what exactly happened in the concentration camps. The third generation is said to be more resilient and autonomous (Fogelman 2008, p.13). They do not succumb to the stories about the incidences that took place during the holocaust. They seem to be more composed and realistic about the issue. This however, does not mean that they do not feel anything about it. While they do so, they understand that moving forward and learning from the incident is the best way. There is a striking difference through between the third and second generation. The third generation is more willing to tell stories and hear about what happened on the concentration camps. They talk with their grandparents and any other person who would want to share. They have also learnt about the issue from books and internet. One of the other explanations about this is that this is a generation that has been born in a risky world. There are terrorist acts almost everywhere in the world. They have witnessed people dying during terrorist attacks like the incident on the World Trade centre. They understand that these incidences area reality of what is happening in the real world. However, it is through talking that thy have been able to become better than their parents. However, there are third generations who experience anxiety and stress due to the same incidence (Litvak & Chaitin 2010, p.12). This is especially amongst those who fear talking about what they go through. As indicated above, the Jews have been able to maintain strong family bonds. This may actually be as a result of what happened. With the need to take care of the affected members of the society, some third generation members have great responsibility to play. They take care of their parents by providing them with health care and any other financial assistant. This is despite the fact that they have not settled down themselves. They struggle to ensure that they have provided services to their affected grandparents. In the process however, they may experience stress and shift the blame on the Nazis who were responsible for the holocaust. Therefore, whether the third generation are victims of holocaust depends on how they receive the news and how they deal with it. Telling stories has been one of the best ways that the third generation has used to heal and break the stress disorder. However, one of the greatest question that various experts have been dealing with is the effect of forgives and emotional and psychological healing. There has been a difference that has been observed in the third and second generations. As indicated above, most of the third generation members have not been able to forgive themselves and the oppressors. They carry the burden and hatred daily (Stephane and Annette 1979, p.251). On the other hand, the third generation have been able to go through this process easily. Majority of them have been able to forgive those who did oppress their parents and grandparents. They agree that the incident was ugly and should not have happened. However, they have found it necessary to forgive rather than blaming others. This is the main reason why they have been able to go on with their lives just like any other members of the society. Salient effects of the posttraumatic stress There are actual psychological and emotional disorders, which have been reported from the third and some second-generation members. They include anxiety, sleeping disorders, irritability and recurrent dreams. Majority of the second generation and some of the survivors have reported experiencing nightmares. They experience sleeping phobia, which makes difficult for most of them to fall asleep. The happenings of the incidence are still fresh in the minds of majority of these people. This according to researchers happens because such people have not been able to express such fears. They suppress the traumatic experiences but express them through sleep in a form of dreadful dreams. In addition to that, such people are irritant, which is a defence mechanism of the depressive situation. Trivial matters of life easily anger them. It is indicated that most of them do not want to see or come into contact with any item that may remind them of what they went through or observed. For instance, they cannot watch movies and do not want to see some kinds of chains that remind them of the situation. This may be considered absurd but according to them, it assists them ‘forget’ about the incidences. However, this has not assisted them to become better. Establishing strong attachment with the rest of the members of the society becomes a problem. Majority of the survivors and affected individuals appear suspicious of others and situations. They tend to be lonely seeking to only interact with the members of their families, whom they can trust. This is despite the fact that the rest of the society members will not harm them. On the part of the third generation, one of the main challenges has been to establish strong attachments with other members of the society. For instance, it is indicated that majority of the young people have not been able to marry. Firstly, they lack the confidence to express themselves to the people of the opposite sex. They tend to be fearful and sometimes shy. This is especially those who have not been able to overcome the holocaust incidence. Secondly, some of them indicate that they though they understand the importance of marrying, they are not willing to do so. Of the major explanation would be that they fear losing such individuals in the event of a disaster. They had been told how close friends and family members had perished during the holocaust. They therefore fear that a similar incident may happen causing them to lose everyone that they loved and cared for. Some of the depressed members of the society may experience suicidal thoughts in the process unless they are assisted. Feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness and numbness are common amongst the depressed groups. Such people do not see the need to live in this ‘meaningless life.’ majority of the victims of holocaust experience similar problems. While many of them have been able to seek psychological assistance, others have not been able to do that. This is especially amongst those who take the responsibility of providing care and support for their parents and grandparents who were affected during holocaust. According to Emile Durkheim, one of the main causes of suicide is lack of social integration. When social bonds weaken, people may become lonely, depressed and lack meaning of life. This may prompt them to commit suicide especially if they do not have any hope in life. However, the case for the third and second generation is different. They have been able establish strong bond with one another. Nevertheless, some of them have suicidal tendencies especially if they are unable to provide for their parents. They commit suicide due to the pressures put on them and the limited resources. They do this because they do not want to see their family members suffering. This is a common incident that is actually supported by the story of Primo and Amari. As indicated before, the former had many responsibilities taking care of his family and others. This is despite the fact that he had limited resources. However, one of the main contributing factors to depression amongst the third and second generation has been to nurse sick parents. This has put many of them in a difficult situation. While they are required to work to meet their daily needs, they are also expected to take care of their family members who are affected. Psychologists dealing with the second and third generation members indicate a difference and similarities between them. For instance, it is indicated that most of the third generation members responded to therapy easily and within a short period of time compared to the second-generation members. This was because of the degree of acceptance of holocaust. As a result, it is reported that it takes long time for the second generation to heal emotionally. In addition to that, when they are sick, they take long to heal due to the weakened immune system. According to psychologists, increased stress levels affect the immunity system causing the victims to succumb in sickness. They are also at a risk of succumbing to psychological disorders such as sleeping problems and other health complication related to depression. Majority of the victims report that it takes them long to fall asleep. Some of them have to take pills to fall asleep. They keep waking up at night because of experiencing nightmares as indicated before. In conclusion, holocaust is one of the social phenomenons that will never be forgotten. The main target members of the society were the Jewish community. Social prejudice and racism was the main contributing factor to this social evil. The Germans considered them superior to this race and therefore decided to focus on a way of eliminating them. Led by Adolf Hitler, they systematically annihilated all the members of the society who were considered ‘impure.’ The Jews were the main victims of this ‘ethnic cleansing.’ It is reported that at that time, about 6 million were killed in different part of Europe. The only number of survivors of holocaust was less than 700,000 individuals. Though this incident took place many decades ago, its effects are still felt in the generations today. The second and third generations have been affected either directly or indirectly. The second generation are however, the most affected. This owes to the fact that some of them were born at the time of the incident. Secondly, majority of them have been living with the survivors of holocaust. They have experienced the pain of living with such parents. This reminds them of the heinous acts that their parents were exposed to. For that reason, they have harboured a lot of hatred towards the oppressors, particularly the Nazis. For that reason, they experience many psychological and emotional problems. They may have sleeping phobia, anxiety and irritability. They are suspicious of any individuals who are not part of the family. Primo and Amari were some of the survivors who lived for decades after. However, they both succumbed to stress and depression and chose to commit suicide. This is a common phenomenon especially amongst the members of the society with the responsibility of taking care of the affected family members. With strong family bonds, majority of the Jews have been tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that they provide for the family members. This is despite the fact that some of them have limited resources. This situation adds more stress to them and therefore may consider committing suicide. While the second generation has not been able to forgive and express their emotional status, the third generation has. This explains why the latter is not affected compared to the former. For instance, the third generation is said to share the incidences with their grandparents. They understand every detail of what ensured, the causes and how their ancestors were treated. However, they appear to be more resilient and strong, they have chosen to forgive the oppressors, than harbour such ill feelings, which impede healing. However, some of the third generation are also affected. It was found that some of them have difficulties when it comes to establishment of strong social bonds. They are unable for instance to establish love relationship. This is because of the psychological effect of holocaust. The transmission of the traumas has affected them to this day, making their daily lives to be characterized by anxiety. However, the bottom-line in the two generations has been the need to express ones emotions and seek to forgive all the members who were involved in holocaust. Those who have been able to do that have lived happily like any other members of the society. Bibliography Bower, B. 2000 Trauma syndrome transverses generations. Science News, 149, (20), 310-311. Fogelman Eva 2008 Psychological Dynamics in the Lives of Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Fogelman, E. 1999. Survivor victims of war and Holocaust. In D. Leviton (Ed.), Horrendous death and health: Toward action (pp. 37-45). Washington DC: Hemisphere. Fara Kaplan 2000 Holocaust Survivors and Their Children: A Search for Positive Effects http://www.aaets.org/article96.htm Garland, C. 2000. 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