A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
anorexia (eating disorder) treatment, 182–90
Arab-Israeli War, 122
Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland, 34–49
arrival at, 34–35
barracks at, 39
Béla’s mother’s death in, 98
blood donations for wounded German soldiers in, 50
“Blue Danube” dance performance for Mengele in, 39–41, 161
calling on memories of mother during, 43, 45
connection between Edith and Magda during, 37–39, 41, 47, 48, 205
Edith’s first pregnancy and memories of, 107–8
Edith’s later return to, 220, 221–33, 251, 268, 269
fantasies of Eric in, 44–45, 47, 59, 63
first day with head shaving and waiting for uniforms at, 37–39
flashbacks to, 135, 204, 237, 272
food fantasies and desires during, 41–42
Frankl’s experiences in, 161
Horthy’s hold on deportation of Jews to, 47
inner strength of prisoners and hope for survival in, 43–45, 135
kapos (prisoner administrators) at, 35–36, 37, 39, 44, 68, 156
keeping in line with Magda in, 48
kindness of guard at, 48
later memories of, 6
liberation of, 49
line for tattooing in, 47–48
rules of survival at, 41–43
separation from mother upon arrival at, 35–36, 37
total number of dead at, 228–29
train transport with Magda to thread factory work, 48–49
Australia, Klara’s move to, 105–6, 121, 123, 137
ballet
childhood training in, 16, 18, 21, 37, 139, 159, 187
dancing for life and, 40
Mengele’s viewing of routine from, 39–41
message about “ecstasy in life” in, 16, 37, 159
Baltimore
Edith’s clothing factory work in, 133, 135
Edith’s job moves in, 142
Edith’s struggles in adjusting to life in, 134–35, 136, 137–38, 142
first apartment in, 138
lack of job prospects in, 144, 145
life with Béla’s brother in, 133–34, 137–38
Magda’s move to, 142–43
move to El Paso from, 145
Bartók, Béla, 27
Berchtesgaden, Germany, visit to, 207–20
arrival at hotel for, 209–10
background on audience for training during, 207–8
daughter’s advice on visit to, 203, 204
Edith’s keynote address during, 211–12
Edith’s thoughts about her legacy from war experiences and, 205–6
invitation to address military chaplains at, 201, 207
train trip to, 208–9
visit to Hitler’s old residence during, 210–11, 212
calamity theory of growth, 173–74
Chamberlain, Neville, 207
Choice Therapy, 173
Communists, in Czechoslovakia
Béla’s arrest by, 115–19
Béla’s relationship with, 109, 110, 111
immigration and need to escape from, 105, 111, 117, 119
roster of permissible baby names kept by, 108
concentration camps. See also Auschwitz concentration camp; Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp; Mauthausen concentration camp
connection between Edith and Magda in, 37–39, 41, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53–54, 67, 69, 106, 107, 205
control, in eating disorders, 184–85
Czechoslovakia
Communist in, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 115, 117–18, 119
Hungarian Jewish minority in, 19–20
Nazi policy against Jews in, 27
return of Košice to, 85
dance
“Blue Danube” performance for Mengele, 39–41, 161
childhood ballet training and, 16, 18, 21, 37, 139, 159, 187
granddaughter’s classes in, 190
learning music and dances from American soldiers during recovery, 77–78, 79
postwar recovery in Košice and, 97
The Red Shoes movie on, 138–40, 162
social dancing with Béla, 159, 163
danger, sense of
repeated encounters with an event reinforcing, 257–58
Death March to Gunskirchen, 64–65, 80, 135
as common diagnosis, 7
grief work to diminish, 257, 258
as reaction to past, 6
displaced persons camps, 80
Eagle’s Nest (Berghof), Hitler’s residence at, 207, 210–11, 212
eating disorder treatment, 182–90
Eger, Audrey (daughter)
birth of, 143–44
family life in El Paso and, 146, 147, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 158, 159, 165
move to El Paso and, 145
parents’ divorce and, 157, 167
Eger, Béla (husband)
accountant job and studies of, 142, 144, 149, 151
American immigration papers secured by, 112–13, 116, 145
arrival in New York City and, 129–31
birth of second child and, 143
birth of third child and, 149
childhood music studies of, 141
children’s reaction to divorce of, 157
Communists’ arrest of, 115–19
Communists’ harassment of, 109, 110, 111
courtship letters to Edith from, 97–98, 163
decision to immigrate to America with Edith by, 130
desire for new relationship with Edith after divorce, 167–68
earlier romantic relationships of, 93, 95–96, 100
early married life in Eger mansion in Prešov, 103–5
Edith’s decision to divorce, 158–59, 162, 163
Edith’s decision to immigrate to America and, 125, 130, 140
Edith’s decision to marry, 99–100
Edith’s feeling of love for, 96, 99, 118, 160
Edith’s pregnancy and birth of first child and, 104–5, 107, 108
Edith’s return to Auschwitz and, 221–22, 227, 228, 233
Edith’s survivor past and family life and, 151, 153–54
Edith’s trip to Berchtesgaden and, 204–5, 208, 209–10
El Paso move and, 145–46
escape from prison and train trip out of Czechoslovakia by, 118–21
family background of, 98–99
family life in El Paso and, 149, 150, 155
first American job of, 137, 140, 142
first marriage to a gentile woman by, 96, 99
initial meeting with Edith, 93
Israel immigration plans of, 111–13, 122, 123–24, 125
marriage and honeymoon with Edith, 101–2
Marianne’s childhood pneumonia and, 109–10
refuge stay in Vienna and, 121–25
second marriage with Edith, 168
son’s challenges and, 152–53
struggles adjusting to life in Baltimore and, 137–38
stutter of, 94, 98, 102, 137, 144
TB hospital stay of, 95–96, 124, 130–31
TB recurrence in Baltimore and, 140–41
trip to Israel with Edith, 173
trip to TB hospital with Edith, 94
wartime escape from Nazis by, 98–99
Eger, Dickie (Richard), 148–49
Eger, Dr. Edith Eva
childhood, 12–33
ballet training during, 16, 18, 21, 37, 139, 159, 187
expulsion from Olympic gymnastics training team during, 23–25, 82
family’s use of identifying phrase for Edith, 188
father’s forced labor camp imprisonment during, 22–23
first romance with Eric during, 21–22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 63
Hungarian Jewish background of, 19–20
imprisonment in Jakab brick factory camp during, 31–33
last moment together with sister and mother, 11
memories of parents and sisters during, 12–27
parents’ decision not to flee Hungary and, 27
soldiers’ removal of family from their apartment, 29–31
train transport to and arrival at Auschwitz, 33–35
yellow star wearing in, 21
WORLD WAR II EXPERIENCES, 34–69. See also Auschwitz concentration camp; forced march through Germany; Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp; Mauthausen concentration camp
Edith’s thoughts about her legacy from, 205–6
learning American music and dances during recovery after, 77–78, 79
physical recovery in Wels, Austria, 73–79
psychological recovery after, 79
questioning reasons for survival after, 17, 19, 88
rescue of, at Gunskirchen concentration camp, 68–69
POSTWAR LIFE IN KOŠICE, 80–100
learning of Eric’s death, 92
reclaiming family piano, 89, 105
return to Košice, 85–92, 96–100
reunion with Klara, 85–88
TB hospital stay, 92–96
train journey home after recovery, 80–83
MARRIED LIFE IN PREŠOV
Béla’s arrest by Communists, 115–20
Béla’s escape from prison and train trip out of Czechoslovakia, 118–21
clothing factory work, 133
decision to marry Béla, 99–100
early married life of luxury in Eger mansion, 103–5
Klara’s proposed move to Australia, 105–6, 123
love for Béla, 96, 99, 118, 160
marriage and honeymoon with Béla, 101–2
Marianne’s childhood pneumonia, 109–10
pregnancy and birth of first child, 102–3, 104–5, 107–8
IMMIGRATION
American immigration papers secured by Béla, 112–13, 116, 122–23, 124, 145
Béla’s decision to immigrate to America, 130
Edith’s decision to immigrate to America, 125, 130, 140
Israel immigration plans, 111–13, 122, 123–24, 125
refuge stay in Vienna and, 121–25
LIFE IN AMERICA
arrival in New York City, 129–31
Béla’s desire for relationship after divorce, 167–68
birth of second child, 143–44
birth of third child, 149
children’s reaction to divorce, 157
daily family life rituals, 151–52
divorce decision, 158–59, 162, 163
Edith’s college studies, 152, 154, 163, 159–60, 170, 179
El Paso move, 145–46
first grandchild, 190
hunger for self, 158–59
second marriage with Béla, 168
survivor past and family life, 149–50, 151–52, 153–54, 166
taking responsibility for oneself, 204
PROFESSIONAL WORK
address to returning army veterans, 271–72
address to military chaplains in Berchtesgaden, Germany, 201, 207–20
Agnes and breast cancer diagnosis, 191–96
Beatrice’s loss of childhood and panic attacks, 255–62
California licensure, 179–80
Capt. Jason Fuller’s anger and catatonic state, 3–5, 195–201, 238–39
Carlos’s anxiety at college, 251–55
colonel’s family problems, 213–18
dissertation on survivors, 173–74, 176
Elise’s despair in a relationship, 246–479
Emma and eating disorder treatment, 182–90
establishment of private practice, 181
first patient in private practice, 181
Jim and Ling’s marriage problems, 239–45
mentors in, 170–73
need to establish new relationship with own trauma for success in, 181–82
older woman’s experience of grief over mother, 218–20
parents after a child’s suicide, 263–67
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, 7, 135, 203
teaching career in El Paso, 164, 165–66, 169
Vietnam veterans in treatment, 177–78, 216, 224–25
William Beaumont Army Medical Center work and, 176–77, 179, 201
Eger, George, 98, 101, 133–34, 137, 143, 145
Eger, John “Johnny” (son)
birth of, 149
college graduation of, 179
Edith’s support for, 152–53, 154, 155, 162
parents’ divorce and, 157, 163
Eger, Marianne (daughter), 176
arrival in New York City by, 129, 131
birth of, 107–8
childhood in Baltimore of, 136–38
family life in El Paso and, 146, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154
father’s arrest by Communists and, 115, 117–18
father’s escape from prison and train trip out of Czechoslovakia and, 118–21
Hanukkah party attendance by, 136–37
infancy pneumonia of, 109–10
marriage and family of, 176, 190
mother’s adult relationship with, 167, 176
mother’s early teaching relationship with, 116–17
mother’s later return to Auschwitz and, 203–4, 221, 222
mother’s survivor past and, 151–52, 153–54, 166
mother’s trip to Berchtesgaden and, 203, 204
move to El Paso and, 145, 146, 148, 149
naming of, 108
refuge stay in Vienna and, 122, 123, 124, 125
sister’s birth and, 144
Eichmann, Adolf, 207
Elefánt, Ilona (mother)
advice on marriage from, 91
calling on memories of, during concentration camp experiences, 42, 43, 45, 52–53, 63, 66
daughters’ separation from, upon arrival at Auschwitz, 35–36, 37
decision not to flee Hungary by, 27
Edith’s childhood memories of, 12–13, 17–18, 19–20, 22, 25–26, 62, 106–7, 148
Edith’s divorce and experiences of, 158
Edith’s immigration papers for America and thoughts about, 122, 124
Edith’s later life and memories of separation from, 175, 229–31
Edith’s later return to Auschwitz and memories of, 221, 229–32
German occupation of Hungary and, 20–21, 22
goodbye letter to Klara from, 33, 86–87
granddaughter named after, 144
Hungarian Jewish background of, 19–20
husband’s forced labor camp imprisonment and, 22–23
loss and death of, during war, 36, 41, 62, 64, 80, 81, 106, 160, 205, 269
memory of last moment together, in line at Auschwitz, 11, 35, 61, 229, 231
mother’s death during childhood of, 13, 15, 205, 265, 266
portrait of mother of, 15, 52, 266, 267
postwar recovery and memories of, 69, 75, 88, 97
practicality and hope of, 29–30, 106–7
soldiers’ removal of family from their apartment and, 29–30, 31, 75
train transport to Auschwitz and, 33–34
warning about Germany ignored by, 26–27
Elefánt, Klara (sister). See Korda, Klara
Elefánt, Lajos (father)
arrival at Auschwitz and, 34–35
calling on memories of, during concentration camp experiences, 38, 42, 43, 57, 66, 68
decision not to flee Hungary by, 27
Edith’s childhood memories of, 13–14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27
forced labor camp imprisonment of, 22–23
German occupation of Hungary and, 20–21, 22
goodbye letter to Klara from, 33, 86–87
Hungarian Jewish background of, 19–20
loss and death of, during war, 80
love of sweets by, 13, 66, 68, 69
Magda’s learning of tailoring skills from, 140
separation from children at Auschwitz, 35
soldiers’ removal of family from their apartment and, 29, 31, 75
train transport to and arrival at Auschwitz and, 33, 34–35
warning about Germany ignored by, 26–27
World War I service of, 21
Elefánt, Magda (sister). See Gilbert, Magda Elefánt
Elefánt. Matilda (aunt). See Spitzer, Matilda
Ellis, Albert, 170, 171, 172, 173
El Paso, Texas
daily family life rituals in, 151–52
Edith’s teaching career in, 164, 165–66, 169
Eger family’s move to, 145–47
Laci Gladstein’s (later Larry Goldstone) move to, 96, 106, 147
third child born in, 149
Engle, Lindsey, 190
Engle, Marianne. See Eger, Marianne
Engle, Rob, 176
Eric (childhood friend of Edith)
feeling of loss associated with later memories of, 154, 155, 205
first romance with, 21–22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 63, 95, 96–97, 111, 160
learning of death of, 92
memories of, in concentration camps, 44–45, 47, 59, 63
postwar fantasies about reunion with, 80, 81, 90–91, 92
family
anger at partner’s infidelity in marriage and impact on, 196–200
eating disorder treatment of child and, 182–90
establishing constitution of rules in, 189
parents’ use of identifying phrases for children in, 188
flashback responses
Edith’s experience of, 135, 204, 237, 272
food as trigger for, 256
patient’s fear of, 256
as reaction to trauma, 135–36
forced march through Germany, 49–60
arrival at Mauthausen concentration camp during, 60
attempted escape with Magda from train during, 51
as boxcar decoys on ammunition trains, 50–52, 208–9
bombing of ammunition factory during, 53–54, 107
calling on memories of mother during, 52–53
connection between Edith and Magda during, 48, 51, 52, 53–54, 106, 107
crossing into Austria during, 59
death of prisoners during, 52
Edith’s later return to Auschwitz and memories of, 222
food fantasies and desires during, 50, 51, 53
Magda’s attempt to steal food during, 52–53
Magda’s rebellion against soldiers and beating during, 59–60
revenge fantasy during, 54
soldier’s gift of bread during, 56–57
stealing carrots for Magda during, 54–56
thread factory work at beginning of, 49–50
chaplains’ work with soldiers on, 208
Edith’s experience of, 211, 218, 230
grief and grieving and need for, 212
lost childhood of patient and, 255, 257, 258
rage and, 258
survivors and, 174
Frankl, Viktor, 155–56, 159, 161–62, 169, 222, 237, 249
Gilbert, Magda Eléfant (sister)
attempted escape from train by, 51
attempt to steal potatoes by, 52–53
Auschwitz concentration camp experiences of, 37–39, 41, 43, 47, 48, 49
bombing of ammunition factory and, 53–54, 107
as boxcar decoys on ammunition trains, 50–52
connection between Edith and, in concentration camps, 37–39, 41, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53–54, 67, 69, 106, 107, 205
Death March to Gunskirchen and, 64
decision to move to America by, 106–7, 111, 113
divorce of, 165
Edith’s arrival in New York City and, 129
Edith’s childhood memories of, 13, 14–15, 20, 25–26
Edith’s desire to be reunited with, in Baltimore, 140
Edith’s later return to Auschwitz and, 221
Edith’s recovery in Košice and, 89, 96
Edith’s stealing of carrots for, 55–56, 57
Edith’s wedding and, 101
family’s use of identifying phrase for, 188
father’s forced labor camp imprisonment and, 23
forced march through Germany and, 52–53, 54–55, 59–60, 222
Gunskirchen concentration camp experiences of, 65–66, 67
Klara’s courtship and marriage and, 90, 96, 105
Klara’s proposed move to Australia and, 105–6
marriage to Nat, 143, 144, 165
marriage to Ted, 165
Mauthausen concentration camp experiences of, 61, 62, 63–64
nightmares of, 267–68
postwar physical recovery in Wels, Austria, 73–75, 76–77, 78–79
rebellion against soldiers and beating of, 59–60
rescue of, at Gunskirchen, 68–69
return to Košice and reunion with Klara, 85, 86, 88–89, 93
revenge fantasies of, 54, 78–79, 209
soldiers’ removal of family from their apartment and, 29, 30–31
thread factory work and, 50
train journey home after recovery, 80–83
train transport to Auschwitz and, 33–34
Gilbert, Ted, 165
Gladstein, Laci (later Larry Goldstone), 107
Edith’s early friendship with, 81–82, 83
Edith’s reunion with, 147–48
move to El Paso by, 96, 106, 147
talk with Edith about past, 211–12
Gone with the Wind (Mitchell), 12, 243
grief and grieving
denial and, 104
Edith and Béla’s marriage and unfinished, 101
Edith’s experience of, 94, 190–91, 206, 218, 232, 267
Edith’s mother’s childhood loss of her mother and, 205
Edith’s mother’s death and, 37, 92
Edith’s return to Auschwitz as rite of, 220, 232–33
Eric’s death and, 92
failed marriages and, 239, 256–57, 258
forgiveness and, 212
healing by choosing to let go of, 6, 263
lengthy mourning as impediment to process of, 266–67
older woman’s experience of grief over mother, 218–20
parents after a child’s suicide and, 263–67
physiological manifestation of, 164
Vietnam veterans and, 224–25
for what happened and what didn’t happen, 190–91
Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp, Austria, 65–69
broken back at, 66
calling on memories of mother during, 66
connection between Edith and Magda during, 67, 69
Death March from Mauthausen to, 63–64, 80, 135
Edith’s rescue from, 68–69
food fantasies and desires during, 66–67, 68
Magda’s flirting as escape at, 65–66
gymnastics
Edith’s training for, 23–25, 82
Edith’s reaction to Keleti’s performance in, 149–50
Hartmann, Ava, 103, 104, 105, 108
art student’s story about, 213
Béla on Edith’s approach to, 204–5
Edith’s rage at, 140, 143, 177
experience of forgiveness of, 211, 218
Final Solution and, 207
visit to Berchtesgaden retreat of, 201, 204, 207, 210–11, 212
Hungary
Horthy’s hold on deportation of Jews in, 47
imprisonment of Jews in Jakab brick factory camp in, 31–33
Jewish life in, before World War II, 19–20
Nazis in, during World War II, 20–21, 22, 47
Soviet squashing of anti-Communist rebellion in, 149
Interpretation of Dreams, The (Freud), 32, 92
Israel
Béla’s final decision not to immigrate to, 130
Bricha’s help for immigrants to, 111–12, 115, 122, 123
Edith and Béla’s plans to immigrate to, 111–13, 122, 123–24, 125
Edith’s concerns about life in, 123
reports about problems with life in, 122
survivors in, 173–74
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, 124
Jews
art student’s story about, 213
deportation to concentration camps of, 47
Edith’s school harassment for being, 25
expulsion from Olympic gymnastics training team and, 23–25
forced labor camp imprisonment of, 20, 22–23
imprisonment in Jakab brick factory camp of, 31–33
internalization of sense of inferiority about being, 19, 20
Jakab brick factory camp for, 31–33
life in Hungary for, before World War II, 19–20
migration from Hungary by, 20
Nazi rules in Hungary for, 21, 22, 27
yellow star wearing by, 21
Jews for Jesus, 137
Jung, Carl, 162
Jungian analysis, 162, 169, 238
Kassa, Hungary (later Košice, Czechoslovakia), 19–20
Keleti, Ágnes, 149–50
Kenyérmező internment camp, Hungary, 32–33, 86
Kolmer, Dr. Harold, 4
Korda, Imre, 80, 81, 97, 101, 105–6, 121
Korda, Klara Elefánt (sister)
Béla’s arrest by Communists and Edith’s escape arrangements with, 116, 120–21
calling on memories of, during concentration camp experiences, 39, 66
Edith and Béla’s immigration plans for Israel and, 123, 124
Edith’s childhood memories of, 14–16, 26, 29, 30, 95
Edith’s first child and, 107–8
Edith’s marriage and, 99, 101, 103, 144
family’s use of identifying phrase for, 188
initial meeting with future husband, 90
later years and death of, 268
marriage to Csicsi, 105, 268–69
move to Australia by, 105–6, 121, 138
music studies in Budapest of, 24, 25, 26–27
parents’ goodbye letter to, 33, 86–87
postwar musical performances by, 83, 88, 90, 93
postwar return to family home in Košice by, 88, 89–90
refuge stay in Vienna and, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125
sisters’ postwar thoughts about finding, 77, 78, 80, 83
sisters’ recovery and, 88, 89, 91, 93, 96
sisters’ reunion with, 85–86
survival in Hungary during war by, 87–88
Korda, Lester “Csicsi”
Béla’s arrest by Communists and escape arrangements with, 120–21
Béla’s tuberculosis history and, 131
Edith’s wedding and, 101
initial meeting with future wife, 90
move to Australia by, 105–6, 121, 137
postwar return to Košice by, 80, 81
refuge stay in Vienna and, 121, 124, 125
Latynina, Larisa, 150
Lavis, Gloria and John, 168
learned helplessness, 170
Lili (friend), 166
Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl), 155–56, 159, 161, 169, 249
Marianna (Béla’s cousin), 95, 98, 100, 108
Mariska (housekeeper), 103, 104, 112, 115, 138
marriage
anger at partner’s infidelity in, 196–200
taking responsibility for oneself in, 204
Mauthausen concentration camp, Austria, 60–64
anticipating death in, 61–62
arrival at, 60
Death March to Gunskirchen from, 63–64, 80, 135
drawing on inner world for survival in, 135
loss of faith in, 62–63
Stairs of Death and quarrying stone at, 60–61
Mengele, Dr. Josef, 44–45, 140, 156
Béla on Edith’s approach to, 204–5
“Blue Danube” performance for, 39–41, 161
choosing how to respond to, 205
Edith’s desire to track down and confront, 175–76, 177
first glimpse of, 35
Nazis. See also Auschwitz concentration camp; forced march through Germany; Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp; Mauthausen concentration camp
Béla’s escape from, 99
Béla’s family deaths in Prešov and, 98, 99
Jewish life in Hungary and, 20–21, 22, 47
Nuremberg Trials, 175
Olympics
Edith’s gymnastics training for, 23–25, 82
Edith’s reaction to Keleti’s performance in, 149–50
Operation Barbarossa, 21
panic attacks in, 6, 205, 260–62
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 7, 135, 203
Prešov, Slovakia
Béla’s family background in, 98, 145
Edith’s married life in, 103–5
Pressburger, Emeric, 138
Producers, The (movie), 210
rage
Edith’s desire to release her own experience of, 178
forgiveness and, 258
need for survivors to express and let out, 177–78
partner’s infidelity in marriage and, 196–200
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, 170–72
Ravensbrück concentration camp, 226
Red Cross, 67
Red Shoes, The (movie), 138–40, 162
reparations cases, 212
revenge
anger at partner’s infidelity in marriage and expressing, 197, 199–200
survivors and fantasies of, 54, 78–79, 209
uselessness of, 212
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 59
Rothschild Hospital, Vienna, 121–25, 129, 222
Russia
Béla’s fighting with troops from, 99
World War II and, 21, 22, 49, 87
Saybrook University, 170
secret, family’s hiding of child’s condition as, 182
secrets. trauma from keeping, 5–6
self-acceptance, 172–73
Selye, Dr. Hans, 223
Shapiro, Molly, 152
Shillman, Magda. See Gilbert, Magda
survival
drawing on inner strength for, 43–45, 135
Edith’s address to veterans on, 271–72
Edith’s loss of part of life to, 160
Spitzer, Matilda (aunt), 20, 82, 89, 106, 107, 111, 129, 133, 143
survivors
acceptance of past by, 8
blame and, 8
Edith’s interviews of, for dissertation, 173–74, 176
forgiveness and, 174
Frankl’s book on experiences of, 155–56
love for children and next generation held by, 176
memories and, 17
permission to feel anger and rage by, 177–79
power to determine life after trauma and, 175
TB hospital, Tatra Mountains, 92–93, 95–96, 100
therapy
Agnes and breast cancer diagnosis in, 191–96
Beatrice’s loss of childhood and panic attacks in, 255–62
Capt. Jason Fuller’s anger and catatonic state in, 3–5, 195–201, 238–39
Carlos’s anxiety at college and, 251–55
colonel’s family problems and, 213–18
decision for hospitalization in, 4–5, 188
Elise’s despair in relationship with Todd, 246–49
Emma and eating disorder treatment in, 182–90
establishment of private practice in, 181
family constitution of rules used in, 189
first patient in private practice in, 181
guiding others to position of empowerment during, 8
hunger as common diagnosis in, 7
immediate mental evaluation of patient’s boundaries in first few minutes of, 184–85
important phrases used by Rogers in, 172
Jun and Ling’s marriage problems in, 239–45
Jung’s vision of, 162
older woman’s experience of grief over mother, 218–20
need to establish new relationship with own trauma for success in, 181–82
overweight patient’s learning to love herself through, 223–24
parents after a child’s suicide and, 263–67
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in, 7, 135, 203
reframing of experience in, 219–20
steps for healing through, 237–38
therapy sessions
inside-out exercise in, 193–94
learning from patients in, 195
question on first visit in, 4, 243–45
sensitivities to patient’s boundaries in, 184–85
technique of asking patient for assistance in, 195–96
usefulness of therapist in, 245
writing exercise in, 193
ways of starting, 3
Thompson, Audrey. See Eger, Audrey
trauma
flashback responses to, 135–36
Holocaust survivors and, 174
keeping secrets and, 5–6
power to determine life after, 175
Truman, Harry S., 59
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, 80
United States
arrival in New York City, 129–31
Béla’s decision to immigrate to, 130
Béla’s tuberculosis history and visa for, 124, 130–31
Edith’s decision to immigrate to, 125, 130
Edith’s struggles in adjusting to life in, 136, 137–38
immigrant jobs available in, 137
immigration papers granted by, 112–13, 116, 122–23, 124
Klara’s support for immigration to, 124
wait for visas to, 129
University of Texas
Edith’s studies at, 152, 154, 159–60, 163, 170, 179
son John’s graduation from, 179
Vadasz, Bandi, 103, 108, 111, 122, 123, 125, 130, 175
Vadasz, Marta, 103, 104, 108, 111, 122, 123, 125, 130, 175–76
veterans
Capt. Jason Fuller’s catatonic state and, 3–5, 195–201, 238–39
Edith’s address to, on surviving, 271–72
grieving by, 224–25
reactions to disabilities by, 177–78, 216
victimhood
choosing to hold on to, 7-8
definition of, 204
internally developing a victim’s mind in, 7–8
perpetual mourning and, 266
taking responsibility for ending, 8, 204, 241–42, 249, 255
victimization differentiated from, 7
victims
making choices to avoid becoming, 164, 253
perspective needed for transformation from, 177
survivors and later feelings of being, 175
Vienna, refuge stay in, 121–25, 129
Vietnam veterans, 177–78, 216, 224–25
“Viktor Frankl and Me” (Eger), 161
vulnerability
in therapy sessions, 3, 4, 179, 227, 257
wife’s experience of, 242, 244
William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas, 4, 179, 201
California licensure requirements and hours at, 179
clinical internship at, 176
Edith’s reputation at, 177
Vietnam veterans in treatment at, 177–78, 216, 224–25
Wels, Austria, recovery in, 73–79