Dangerous Secrets [antikvár]

Foreword There is a persistent myth that dangerous behaviors occur only among certain segments of our society. We prefer to think that others, "elsewhere," are alcoholics or child abusers; people we know do not commit incest, abuse a spouse, or attempt suicide. The truth is that each of us, knowingly or not, will at some time have intimate contact with persons who have lost control of themselves and are acting in maladaptive, destructive ways. These people may be friends, family members, patients—or even oneself. For the most part, we are more adept at dealing with physical distress than with psychological upset. Many of us do not recognize the early symptoms of behavioral problems or do not know what to do when dangerous behaviors are suspected or identified. This book attempts to answer frequently unspoken questions. In an authoritative way, it offers information that will be useful to family, friends, and health care professionals—in other words, to all of us who deal with the vagaries of human behavior. Dr. Weissberg provides an excellent framework for an understanding of why people do what they do to each other and to themselves. Stress is an essential part of life, and we all respond to stress in diverse ways that are sometimes adaptive,