Edin has problems (INTEGRA-01-EN)

As an eleven-year-old boy, 41-year-old Edin escaped from the war zone of Bosnia and Herzegovina with his relative. He had already lost his father in the previous year, and his mother's mental state deteriorated significantly after the death of her brother. Therefore, his mother's sister took care of him. He never forgot that spring day when he said goodbye to his mother and boarded the train to the free North with his aunt. In a new country, as a child he had problems with adaptation, as well as learning a new language and customs. He had no new friends and as a teenager he gradually became more and more socially isolated. Because he was interested in music, he taught himself to play quite a few instruments. At the age of 22, he also released his first S*CD. Despite his creativity, it was with difficulty that he established closer and more authentic contacts. His problems began to deepen at the age of 25 after his mother's death – which he assumed was due to the insufficient medical care related to the war -, when he increasingly felt guilty for having survived the war. As a result, he increasingly suffered from insomnia and chronic muscle pains, as a result of which he was presented to the disability commission several times, but this basis for his early retirement was not found in chronic illness and a reduction in his working capacity. Due to repeated problems, he was referred to employment and vocational rehabilitation services by the Center for Social Work and the Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance.

The interdisciplinary rehabilitation expert team, on the basis of preliminary examinations and in-depth data, concluded that the rehabilitated person, based on several traumatic events from his early youth, shows psychological and social trauma that followed the events of war, the death of the ghouls and the defection to a new environment.

Early emotional shock and later detachment from other people and emotions were recognized as psychological signs. His physical reactions, however, were recognized in both cognitive and behavioural responses. On the cognitive level, especially in intrusive thoughts about the event, which appeared unexpectedly and out of the blue, and on the behavioural level as social isolation and withdrawal.

In working with him, they expressed empathic support and understanding of his personal story of the many losses he suffered at such an early age.

Considering the deeper traumatic experience and the resulting symptoms, he was suggested to be included in cognitive behavioural therapy treatment, which proved to be an effective method of treatment in the treatment of trauma.

At the same time, they expressed hope and confidence that with professional help, he will also overcome his social isolation more easily and, after initial inclusion in therapy and their rehabilitation support, will soon join a self-help group for people with PTSD.

With a good prognosis of professional and lay help, there is also a more active participation in the process of employment and professional rehabilitation.

INTEGRA INSTITUTE, Sonja Bercko Eisenreich