MORE INFO ABOUT Toxic STRESS, TRAUMA and COMPLEX TRAUMA
Sometimes we just want or need more information.
It can help shorten the path, support us to better understand, move us closer to acknowledging something significant or help us develop more motivation so that we can lean into addressing something in our lives.
Wherever you are in terms of thinking about toxic stress, trauma, and complex trauma or recovery, here is some more information.
As you make use of these and other resources, remember at the end of the day, recovery is an inside job.
You are responsible for:
- being open and curious while listening to yourself.
- deciding what makes sense, taking what resonates and discarding the rest.
- doing the letting go and learning.
- taking action to create the changes you want and accepting the outcomes of choices and actions.
- reaching out to access what you need and recognizing when it is time to access a professional such as a therapist.
Book Suggestions
Well-written books help us connect dots we didn’t have connected. They enable us to make sense of something that has eluded us or that we didn’t know we needed to make sense of.
They also relate us to others through stories so we know we are not alone.
Sometimes, they simplify things so we feel like we can take it in bit by bit. Other times they deal with the complexity of something in a way that validates everything we have been struggling with in our specific circumstances.
At their best, they provide suggestions and strategies to help us get started with our desired change.
Here are some books to support a fuller understanding of toxic stress related conditions and trauma, their effects as well a sense of their recovery.
Burke Harris, N. (2018). The Deepest Well. Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity. NY: First Mariner Books.
Cori, J.L. (2008). Healing from Trauma. A Survivor’s Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life. MA: Avalon Publishing.
Jackson Nakazawa, D. (2015). Childhood Disrupted. How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal. NY: Atria Books.
Kain, K.L. & Terrel S.J. (2018). Nurturing Resilience. Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma. CA: North Atlantic Books.
Karr-Morse, R. & Wiley, M. S. (2012). Scared Sick. The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease. NY: Basic Books.
Levine, P. & Kline, M. (2019). Trauma through a Child’s Eyes. Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing- Infancy through Adolescence. CA: North Atlantic Books.
Levine, P. (1997). Waking the Tiger. Healing Trauma. CA: North Atlantic Books.
Maté, G. (2003). When the Body Says No. The Costs of Hidden Stress. Toronto: Knopf Canada.
Maté, G. (2008). In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Close Encounters with Addiction. Toronto: Knopf Canada.
Maté, G. & Maté, D. (2022). The Myth of Normal. Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture. Toronto: Knopf Canada.
Naparstek, B. (2006). Invisible Heroes. Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal. NY: Bantam Books.
Palmer, C. (2022). Brain Energy. A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health- and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD and More. TX: Benballa Books.
Perry, B. & Winfrey, O. (2021). What Happened To You? Conversation on Trauma, Resilience and Healing. NY: Flatiron Books.
Schiraldi, G.R. (2021). The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook. Heal the Hidden Wounds from Childhood Affecting Your Adult Mental and Physical Health. CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Schmelzer, G.L. (2018). Journey through Trauma. A Trail Guide to the 5-Phase Cycle of Healing Repeated Trauma. NY: Avery Books.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. NY: Penguin Books.
Blogs about Stress and Trauma
Here’s a few of the better blogs written by experts in the field.
Gretchen Schmelzer (her book is recommended above).
