Joana P. Becker

Abstract

Faced with a society marked by violent events, the study of psychological trauma and itsconsequences for victims remains prominent, especially in the areas of psychiatry andpsychology. Although they diverge with regards to the theoretical approach, manyresearchers [Freud, 1913; Young, 1995; Cyrulnik, 2004, 2005; Costa, 2015; Pitch, 2016]have highlighted expression as a means of dealing with trauma. However, it is not alwayspossible to put suffering into words. For various reasons, victims are silenced or remainsilent, and these are the situations that can lead to psychosomatic manifestations.Somatisation is the inscription of a psychic conflict on the physical state - it is the expressionof the symptom. The present study stems from the interest in this trauma-psychosomaticrelationship. In the search to unveil such a relationship, it explores the impact of wars, dueto the understanding that they bring together factors considered predictors of traumaticstress. In this way, the text develops from the concept of trauma, exposing the maincontributions to the current understanding of its causes and consequences. Sincesomatisation is one of these, the second chapter is devoted to psychosomatic theories and toemphasizing the psychoanalytic view [Freud; Marty; Maldavsky], without excludingpsychiatry. On the contrary, when discussing the theme, convergences are presented. Thethird chapter of the paper discusses the issues involved in the military context from conceptsto war trauma, through the obstacles faced by soldiers and ex-combatants during and afterthe conflict, and the symptoms that express the group's unspeakable conflicts. In order tosupport the theory presented and to bring it closer to the Portuguese reality, the last chapterpresents the research carried out at the Centre for the Prevention and Treatment ofPsychogenic Trauma at the Hospital and University Centre of Coimbra, with former Colonialwar combatants. Even those who do not suffer from physical after-effects have the marks ofwar on their bodies. From traumatic stress to somatisation, ex-combatants are still waitingto put an end to their symptoms. For this, narration appears as a possibility to give newmeaning to memories and feelings, thus allowing for the redirection of their lives - fromtrauma to resilience.