Summaries of books about Trauma & Recovery:
Childhood Disrupted
How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal
Donna Jackson Nakazawa
The book explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma on physical and mental health, delving into the science of how adverse experiences can alter the body's biology. It offers insights into the pathways linking childhood adversity to adult illnesses and provides strategies for healing and breaking the cycle of trauma.
See full summary
Drunk Mom
A Memoir
Jowita Bydlowska
The memoir candidly recounts a woman's struggle with alcoholism after the birth of her child, detailing her descent into daily binge drinking and the impact on her personal life. It explores themes of motherhood, addiction, and the difficult journey towards recovery.
See full summary
The Night Shift
Real Life in the Heart of the E.R.
Brian Goldman
The book provides an intimate look into the high-pressure world of emergency medicine, sharing the author's experiences and the challenging decisions faced by ER doctors. It reveals the emotional and ethical dilemmas that emerge during life-and-death situations in a busy urban hospital.
See full summary
Guts
The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster
Kristen Johnston
The memoir candidly recounts the actress's struggles with addiction and fame, detailing her journey through self-destruction and recovery. It offers a raw and humorous look at her personal battles, including a near-fatal stomach ulcer, and her path to sobriety and self-acceptance.
See full summary
The Year THEY Tried to Kill Me
Surviving a surgical internship...even if the patients don't
Salvatore Iaquinta
The book is a memoir that provides a candid and humorous look at the grueling life of a surgical intern, detailing the intense workload, sleep deprivation, and emotional trials faced during the author's first year of surgical residency. It offers insight into the medical field's challenges and the resilience required to navigate life-and-death situations while maintaining one's sanity and sense of humor.
See full summary
SMART Recovery Handbook
SMART Recovery
The handbook provides tools and techniques for individuals seeking to overcome addictive behaviors, based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles and the science of addiction recovery. It outlines a 4-Point Program, including building and maintaining motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and living a balanced life.
See full summary
Trauma Treatment Toolbox
165 Brain-Changing Tips, Tools & Handouts to Move Therapy Forward
Jennifer Sweeton
The book provides a comprehensive collection of strategies, exercises, and handouts designed to help therapists effectively treat clients with trauma-related issues. It focuses on neuroscience-informed techniques to facilitate brain change and healing, offering practical guidance for clinicians to enhance their therapeutic interventions.
See full summary
Seven Signs of Life
Unforgettable Stories from an Intensive Care Doctor
Aoife Abbey
The book is a collection of personal essays that delve into the emotional landscape of working in intensive care, exploring the complex human experiences of grief, hope, pain, and joy through the eyes of a critical care doctor. It reflects on the seven emotions—fear, grief, joy, distraction, anger, disgust, and hope—that are a daily part of life for both patients and medical professionals in a high-stakes hospital environment.
See full summary
Healing Trauma
A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body
Peter A. Levine
The book introduces a holistic approach to trauma recovery, emphasizing the role of the body's innate healing abilities. It provides a step-by-step program that includes exercises and educational insights to help individuals release traumatic shock and restore their physical and emotional balance.
See full summary
Healing Developmental Trauma
How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship
Laurence Heller Phd|Aline Psyd Lapierre
The book presents a comprehensive approach to understanding and healing the impact of early developmental trauma on an individual's ability to self-regulate, maintain a positive self-image, and form healthy relationships. It introduces the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), a therapy method that addresses the connection between psychological issues and the body, aiming to resolve the long-term effects of trauma on both mental and physical health.
See full summary