Glendale to host discussion on trauma, loss and Armenian identity

PanARMENIAN.Net - Mental health clinician Dr. Shoghagat Sharon Aroian will present a talk on Trauma, Loss and Armenian Identity with the presentation her newly released book, “Crossing the Euphrates: A Story of Love and Redemption Inspired by the Armenian Genocide, 1915” on Wednesday, March 23, at Abril Bookstore in Glendale, Asbarez reports.

“Crossing the Euphrates” presents the voice of Galoust Moloian who survived the Genocide dressed in female clothing.

He was a slave, boy soldier, served in General Andranik’s army, and died suddenly by a hit and run driver in 1989. He left his diaries to his granddaughter. Her shock and grief led her on a 25 year journey to come to terms with her own tragic loss. With the presentation of her grandfather’s diaries, Dr. Aroian will discuss how generational trauma transfers to the newly born child. This impacts the child’s ability to function fully in the world around them. Genocide becomes a type of blueprint for being Armenian. Trauma continues in the Armenian psyche and mental health which interrupts our full potential for happiness in our community, in our parenting, and in our mate selection. Dr. Aroian will present how Post traumatic stress is handed down generation to generation disguised as pride, closeness, yet this defense is fear, grief, and anger hidden in our tradition.

Dr. Aroian is a licensed Mental Health clinician that was with the first psychiatric team that entered Armenia after the devastating earthquake of December 7,1988. She facilitated Armenian families in the 80’s to get their rights in Children’s Hospitals, she was one of the first mental health professionals to set up therapeutic play rooms in the main hospital in Gyumri. She spoke on Armenian and Russian news about play therapy and recovering from trauma. She attended the 70th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Washington D. C with her beloved Grandfather.