Violence and its victims

Friends,

I believe that the texts in this little book will move you as we were moved when we worked on them. The authors we invited to participate are very young. We all expect the public and professional response to our articles. It will be an important guidance for us. For most of us these are the first steps on the road to writing and not only reading.

I like this little book. I am aware that it can be achieved much more in terms of the precision of expression, style, tone, etc. At times the texts could sound even naive but it is certain that the words are sincere. It was difficult and painful to write about aggression, violence, victims and trauma. It is very important for me that we managed to prevent ourselves from the temptation to hide behind scientific theories. We offered personal opinion as we touched painful feelings and memories. It is my hope that "every pain is a delivery pain".

I would like to thank our colleagues! We asked a lot from you and you gave us a lot. I would like to thank in advance to all those readers who, in their turn, will write to us to offer us feedback. Blessed is the feeling that you are not alone.

Maria Tchomarova, Co-chair
"Animus Association" Foundation

Contents

The other opinion

1. Violence, its victims and perpetrators - Toma Tomov, psychiatrist
2. Manifestations of violence in Bulgarian society - Kharalan Aleksandrov - M.A., anthropologist
3. Violence against women in Bulgaria - Nadejda Stoytcheva, psychologist, psychotherapist
4. Aggression - Maria Tchomarova, psychologist, psychotherapist
5. Psychic trauma - Nadia Kozhukharova - psychologist
6. Crisis, a consequence of the experienced violence - Rumen Petrov, psychiatrist
7. Psychic mechanisms for defense against violence - Toma Tomov, psychiatrist
8. Violence cannot be stopped with silence - Pavlina Petkova, M.D., clinical psychologist, psychotherapist

Our place

1. Women in help of women - Maria Tchomarova, psychologist, psychotherapist
2. Needs and opportunities - Nadejda Stoytcheva, psychologist, psychotherapist