Truly wondeful article. I actually only just watched Jacob’s Ladder recently (as in, this year...) - it’s one of those classic films I knew I needed to see.

You’re right about the horror imagery being so highly memorable, but I think you nail the point about trauma not just being something that happens to you and that you then try to “get over” or run away from - you can’t excise it from your psyche completely, and it’s questionable whether or not you should even try.

I think Bruce Joel Rubin’s point is so highly applicable to all aspects of life where trauma is concerned; if your reaction is always just to run, or just to ease the pain, then you run the risk that trauma will consume you in horrific ways. But if you accept that it is now part of you, and you allow it to re-contextualise your life...that can be a strength (or, at least, you can find some accommodation in your life that gives you a sense of equilibrium).

Long ramble from me there, but I really think you raised some important points here. It’s one reason why I sometimes get a bit irked when I see people believing that life is all about avoiding all trauma, avoiding all bad news, and never exposing yourself to dangers, negative thoughts, or risks. It’s a false economy, and virtually guarantees that those demons will haunt you rather than free you.