Torture is a particularly dreadful type of trauma because it is designed to do destroy the will, personality and autonomy of the victim. Not only may people be tortured themselves but they may be forced to witness their loved ones being tortured.

I must say that speaking to these people is extremely disturbing and I certainly am left with the resounding feeling that my little troubles on this earth are as nothing compared with the real world out there.

Refugees, particularly torture victims present further complications with respect to their reaction to their traumas, and again I’ve listed some of them up there.

• Torture itself is often a particularly brutal trauma and might involve beatings or rape or electric shock or burning or mutilation.
• Guilt and shame about giving in to the torturer
• Grief over loss of others
• Survivor guilt
• Treatment in a foreign culture
• Language difficulties
• Fear of retribution to those still at home
• Fear of institutions and of doctors