Last night in Stress Management class we briefly talked about Locus of Control as it applies to being in prison. We didn't have much time to really get into it but if you're interested in exploring that more, I would recommend a book titled Man's Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl.
This book is the detailed account of a Holocaust survivor who chose to use his mind creatively while he was in the Nazi death camps. He was starving and freezing. The was beaten and humiliated. His food, shelter and bedding was worse than what you would give to a dog.
He witnessed his friends and family being murdered right before his very eyes and he knew that if he had a breakdown, he'd be the next to go. This book is an incredible testimony of how you can jail the body but not the mind. Below is a video that gives an overview of Victor Frankl's theory of counseling called Logotherapy.
Another book I would recommend is A Child Called 'It' by Dave Pelzer. Pelzer was severely tortured and abused by his demented alcoholic mother nearly everyday of his childhood. No one came to his rescue until he was 12. He had wounds on his body. He was starving. His life was literally in danger. Some how, he turned things around in his mind and decided he was going to use his tormented upbringing as a testimony of how powerful attitude is when it comes to success and happiness.
Below is a video that summarizes the book and Dave Pelzer's story. It will be upsetting to some. After all, it is about child abuse.
Maybe we can talk about this more in a future class.
Have a great week and don't forget to take a big, deep breath everytime you start stressing out about the test.
Ms. Z
My daughter read the book “It” in school a couple of years ago and I know that it was so compelling that she cried numerous times reading the book. She also told my husband and I about some of the ways that the boy would be beaten. It sort of reminded me of the story about Joan Crawford and how she treated her adopted daughter Cristina. The one vivid memory that I had about that movie was the scene where she wakes up the kids in the middle of the night and starts raving about why there are wire hangers in the closet. She then beats the little girl with the hangers, makes a mess in the bathroom and then tells her very calmingly to clean up the mess.
I will get my hands on the book “It” and refresh my memory for next week.
Thanks!
Hi Beatrice,
The book is a real mind (and heart) opening experience. I highly recommend it for anyone who plans to work in the field because it will be common to hear about abuse from your clients and I think it’s important to believe in them and their ability to be resilient regardless of their past history.
Ms. Z
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