Potential psychological consequences following a hostage situation

As a hostage, one lives under constant threat, which often leads to persistent vigilance and hyperarousal after their release. Many survivors experience increased watchfulness in daily life and a difficult transition from fear and surveillance to sudden public attention. One goes from being under constant threat and looking over their shoulder to overwhelming positive attention. It can be hard to return to a normal life, as everyday worries seem insignificant after life-threatening experiences.

What frameworks exist to support hostages?

Elklit emphasizes the need for “decompression” – a gradual processing of the experiences in safe, therapeutic settings. It can be important to offer a therapeutic space that enables support and processing in secure surroundings, minimizing some of the psychological consequences of their experiences as hostages, including feelings of guilt that may be associated with survival in cases where others did not survive.

If you wish to listen to the interview with professor Ask Elklit on the potential consequences following a hostage situation, feel free to listen it here (in Danish).
The Danish Center of Psychotraumatology has a wide range of publications that delve into the psychological consequences of war and torture. You can find them here.