Trauma is a monster that can haunt us for years, even decades. It takes a lot of courage to confront the demons that come with it and overcome them. Fortunately, we don't have to face these struggles alone — books are powerful tools that can guide us on our journey towards healing. In this post, we've compiled a list of the top 9 books about overcoming trauma that every survivor should read. These books offer valuable insights and practical guidance on how to navigate through the pain and come out stronger on the other side. So grab your cup of tea or coffee and settle in for some inspiring reads!
When it comes to overcoming trauma, there are a lot of different books out there that can help. Here are just a few that can contribute to the healing process:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
In this New York Times bestseller, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses his more than three decades of experience as a psychiatrist to explain how trauma affects both our minds and bodies. He also offers some hope, showing that it is possible to heal from even the most severe traumas.
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
This classic book has helped millions of women heal from child sexual abuse. It provides information on the types of effects abuse can have, as well as guidance on how to begin the healing process.
The Rape Recovery Handbook: Step-by-Step Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault by Candice Sherman with Gina Smith
This book provides step-by-step instructions for beginning the recovery process after sexual assault. It covers topics such as dealing with flashbacks, coping with anxiety and depression, and rebuilding self-esteem.
Trauma is a Fact of Life: The Age-Old Problem of Healing Wounds by Janina Fisher
Fisher offers readers a thorough and insightful exploration of the concept of trauma, its historical roots, and how it affects us today. She takes a unique approach to understanding and working with trauma, providing valuable insights for both survivors and professionals.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
In this groundbreaking work, van der Kolk draws on his vast experience as a clinician to provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of trauma. He explains how traumas affect both the body and the mind, and offers practical guidance on how we can begin to heal the damage they cause.
How To Survive the Unsurvivable: The Life and Work of Viktor E. Frankl
In order to survive the unsavable, one must first accept that death is a certainty. In Viktor E. Frankl's case, he was sentenced to death in a Nazi concentration camp. He knew that he would die, but he didn't know when or how. This is what gave him the strength to endure the unbearable conditions and torture of the camps.
He also realized that his life was not just about surviving; it was about living. He needed to find meaning in his suffering, in order to make it bearable. And he did just that. He used his experience to help others who were facing similar situations. He wrote books and gave lectures, sharing his wisdom on how to find meaning in the midst of hardship.
Frankl's work has inspired many people to overcome their own traumas. His book "Man's Search for Meaning" is required reading for many psychology students. It is a moving and inspirational account of one man's journey through the darkest depths of human suffering.
In An Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter A. Levine
In An Unspoken Voice, Peter A. Levine draws on his four decades of experience as a clinician, researcher, and teacher to provide a revolutionary framework for understanding and resolving trauma. This book is essential reading for anyone who has experienced trauma or who works with survivors.
Levine's groundbreaking work shows that trauma is not a destiny but rather an event that disrupts the body's natural ability to heal. He offers readers a new way of thinking about traumas—as violations of the human body's inherent tendency toward health and balance.
The book provides exercises and practices that can help survivors reclaim their lives and heal from their experiences. In An Unspoken Voice is an essential resource for survivors of trauma and those who support them on their journey to recovery.
Widowed with Children: A Survivor’s Guide Through Grief and Beyond by Dawn Bradley Berry
Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. If you are widowed with children, you not only have to deal with your own grief, but also help your children through theirs. It can be an overwhelming and isolating experience.
Dawn Bradley Berry's book Widowed with Children: A Survivor's Guide Through Grief and Beyond is a practical and compassionate guide for widows dealing with the challenges of raising children on their own. The book covers topics such as talking to your children about death, managing finances after the death of a spouse, dealing with well-meaning but nosy friends and family, and much more.
If you are widowed with children, this book is a must-read. It will help you navigate the challenges of grieving and raising children on your own.
Breaking Free from Anxiety by Aimee Lessard
Breaking Free from Anxiety by Aimee Lessard is one of the top books about overcoming trauma every survivor should read. This book offers a clear and concise explanation of what anxiety is, how it can develop, and how to overcome it. The book also provides readers with practical tools and exercises to help them manage their anxiety and live a more fulfilling life.
The book begins by exploring the concept of trauma, how it can manifest itself in our lives, and why it is so difficult to confront. After addressing the basics of anxiety and trauma, the author delves deeper, discussing how our behaviors, thoughts, emotions all play into how we feel overwhelmed or suffocated by our own anxieties.
Aimee Lessard then dives into different types of anxiety and offers practical tips on how to confront and manage them; she also provides readers with multiple anecdotes as examples of real-life experiences. She also goes into detail about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which is a form of psychotherapy used to reduce anxiety.
The author discusses self-care practices such as journaling, grounding exercises, meditation and yoga that can help you cope with symptoms while offering encouragement along the way. Finally, she equips readers with strategies for communicating more effectively with themselves and others—an essential skill when dealing with fears or anxieties that can hold us back from living our fullest lives.
Breaking Free from Anxiety not only provides insight into understanding and managing feelings of fear but also helps readers create healthier relationships with themselves as they take control of their own healing journey.