Main description:

Thriving After Trauma addresses readers who have experience trauma or loss due to a variety of experience - whether accident, abuse, or injury. Shari Botwin shows readers, through personal stories, how many who have experienced the worst kinds of trauma have managed to move on and thrive beyond their experiences.

Often, those who live through trauma come away with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, and despair. These are common, even normal, responses in the immediate aftermath. Left unaddressed, though, those feelings may develop into substance abuse problems, eating disorders, depression, or anxiety. Learning how to move on, to pick up and live life again, takes effort and guidance. Botwin guides readers through the stories of others who have gone on to live fulfilling, happy lives, and provides tips and tools for healing and moving on.

Letting go of the shame, guilt, anger and fear associated with tragic events is crucial to reclaiming a full life. Strategies such as, journaling, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral restructuring, and healthy relationships to aid in recovery are explored and explained, so readers can adopt those strategies that work best for them.

It is not the trauma itself that results in so many people developing self-destructive tendencies and life threatening illnesses. It is the lack of having a way to digest and make sense of the trauma-related feelings that can lead one to mental illness, disconnection, and in some cases, even death. Readers will learn how to live with the trauma versus how to get over the trauma, so they can move forward healthfully and mindfully.

Contents:

Foreword: Stories of Living and Healing

Dr. Jo Anne White

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 Trauma Defined

What Is Trauma?

Posttraumatic Stress Emerges

Trauma Goes Public

2 Facing the Trauma

Telling Your Story

Staying Grounded

Managing Flashbacks

Healing Strategies When Facing Your Trauma

Managing Flashbacks

3 How the Road Unravels When a Witness Is Present

Living Life without Re-creating Trauma

Learning to Trust Yourself and Others

Good-Bye Guilt

Banishing Shame

Healing Strategies to Rebuild Trust, Reduce Guilt, and Alleviate Shame

4 Confronting Anger

Hello, Anger

Conquering Anger

Healing Strategies to Greet Anger

Healing Strategies for Using Anger to Conquer Your World

5 Staying Present

Karen: Letting Go of Her Abuser

Mary: Letting Go of the Loss of Her Youngest Brother When She Was a Kid

Debbie: The Struggle to Let Go of a Lost Childhood

Brian: Letting Go of Being the Rescuer after Growing Up with Loss and Poverty

Healing Strategies to Let Go of the Past

6 Taking Time to Grieve

So Long Eating Disorder, Alcohol, or Drugs

Grieving with Others

Misconceptions about Grief and Grieving According to Helpguide.org

Healing Strategies for Coping with Loss and Grief after Trauma

Nurturing Your Hurt Self

7 Reaping the Benefits of Your Recovery

Greeting Intimacy

No More Fear

Trusting Love

Healing Strategies as You Reap the Benefits of Your Recovery

8 My Life in Recovery

Letting Go of the Wish

On Becoming a Mom

Going Public with My Story

Healing Strategies I Used during My Recovery

9 Survivor Testimonials

Jennifer Fox: Emmy- and Golden Globe-Nominated Director of the Film The Tale

Karen's Story: Suicide of Her Boyfriend

Tamie's Testimonial: Therapist, Eating Disorder Survivor, Life-Altering Back Injury

Janice's Story: Sexual Assault Survivor

Tyler

Notes

Resources

Treatment Facilities for Overcoming Eating Disorders, Addictions, and Trauma

Outpatient Trauma Programs

Resources for More Information or to Find a Therapist

Bibliography

Index

About the Author