Beyond the Pain:

Abstract

This study aims to investigate and understand the diverse coping mechanisms employed by individuals in their journey towards healing as a response to the traumatic experiences they had during their childhood. Particularly within the context of family relationships, this research seeks to identify the lasting impact of parents’ problems on their children’s mental health. The study will be based on American writer Kathleen Glasgow's novel Girl in Pieces (2016). The novel vividly portrays the story of the protagonist, Charlie Davis, a young girl, as she tries to cope and cure the wounds that the traumatic experiences have left on her by rebuilding herself again. This research aims to uncover the novel's use of self-harm as a coping mechanism, its characteristics, and the role of creative expression, particularly art and writing, in healing from trauma, as exemplified in the novel Girl in Pieces. The current study will employ an analytical approach and apply trauma theory. This latter explores the psychological and emotional impact of trauma on an individual’s mental health and general well-being. The study holds important significance because it raises awareness of childhood abuse, trauma, and mental health among teenagers and sheds light on various coping mechanisms to help them overcome their difficult situations