Trauma has been the central concept in the psychology of the present day. The increased violence all over the world has led to the growth of professional research in this field. Trauma is a rigorous emotional shock caused by an extremely distressing experience. The aftermath of traumatic events has a huge impact on the psyche. Psychic trauma deals with extreme suffering and memory becomes a source of trauma for trauma begins when the disaster is already over. So, the ability to remember and reflect contributes more to the individual’s distress. The paper traces the history of trauma in the field of   psychology since Freud and relates it with Cathy Caruth to uncover the role of memory in trauma studies with reference to the narratives of Edwidge Danticat, a twentieth century Haitian-American diasporic writer. The trauma inflicted by the memories has a strong impact on the psyche of Danticat’s characters as it surfaces in the form of psychotic symptoms like restlessness, anxiety, fear of future, visual intrusions, flashbacks and nightmares. As a result, the afflicted characters suffer extreme anxiety disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD exhibited by Danticat’s female protagonists will be analyzed using dual representation theory framed by Chris R. Brewin and the two sorts of memories it gave rise to such as Situationally Accessible Memories (SAMs) and Visually Accessible Memories (VAMs).  Toward the end, their road to recovery will also be highlighted by discussing the diverse survival strategies and healing techniques adopted by the characters to reconstruct themselves and emerge successful in life. In order to emphasize the extent of truth found in Danticat’s trauma narratives, a real-life case study will also be cited, offering the possibilities of healing for trauma survivors.

Chitra. S (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in English at Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan. Her service record includes teaching, curriculum design and course development. Her areas of exploration comprise the emerging areas in humanities and the digital communication. She has completed three funded research projects, has co-edited and authored books. She has published over 50+ research articles in book chapters, journals, conference volumes and presented papers in 60+ international and national conferences.  Overseas examiner for doctoral thesis, Member in Board of Studies and in the Editorial Board of International Journals. Her active engagement in International Conferences is in the capacity of Keynote speaker and also serves as resource person for online academic workshops, Faculty development programs (FDP) and webinars.