Moving beyond trauma is a self-help book which focuses on helping people heal after traumatic experiences. The book is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the nature of trauma and its effect on the body and mind. The second section provides strategies for dealing with trauma and the third section talks about building resilience and going on with your life after traumatic events.
The book is a great tool in healing after traumatic events.
Some practical strategies that the book provides for healing from trauma include:
1. Mindfulness. The book suggests ways to cultivate mindfulness such as breathing exercises.
2. Self-compassion. The book encourages readers to write self-compassion letters to themselves.
3. Building a support system. The book teaches readers how to build a support system for themselves which might include therapy, joining a support group or family and friends. When we are experiencing the effects of trauma we desperately need a strong hand to pull us up from that state, but often family members are not always equipped to do this for us. For me this support system has been online in the presence of strong women who were also my role-models and who had experienced something similar.
4. Regulating emotions. The book provides techniques to regulate emotions such as breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation.
5. Building resilience. The book suggests ways to build resilience such as creating boundaries and engaging in activities which bring you joy.
Somatic Techniques to Release Trauma
The book focuses on somatic techniques to help heal trauma. Somatic techniques include using the body to help to heal trauma. Some of these techniques include: breathing, movement, body scanning etc.
The book provides the readers with different types of breathing exercises which can help to calm anxiety. Body scanning is another technique which aims to make the person aware of their body sensations. Trauma is emotion stuck in your body and different people can feel this emotion in different places on their body, like in the belly, shoulders, throat etc. Sitting with your emotions when you feel triggered is a way to heal trauma.
Movement is another great way to help with getting rid of trauma stored in your body. Movement can include exercise, dancing and yoga.
Progressive muscle relaxation is another great technique which I find particularly helpful. This includes tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups to release stress.
Techniques to Heal Relationship Trauma
The book also discusses the effect that relationship trauma can have on individuals such as guilt, shame ans low self-esteem. The book suggests some strategies for dealing with relationship trauma which include:
1. Seeking therapy. A therapist can help you process your emotions and learn coping skills.
2. Setting boundaries. This may include setting boundaries in their contact with people who are not supporting of your healing or ending toxic relationships altogether.
3. Practicing self-care. The author strongly suggest engaging in activities which bring you joy and she emphasizes the importance of rest and a healthy diet during your healing process.
4. Practicing self-compassion. This include talking to oneself as you would talk to a close friend and recognizing that your experiences are worthy of healing.
Physical Violence
The book also addresses the topic of physical violence in a relationship, its long-lasting effect on someone who has experienced physical violence in a relationship and the steps that they can take to heal from that type of trauma. It also provides steps on safely leaving an abusive partner.
Overall, the book “Moving beyond trauma” recognizes the traumatic effects of physical violence in relationships and provides support to overcome it. Of course, the first step is to ensure safety. Then people who have experienced this type of trauma need to seek support and then to process the trauma. Processing the trauma of physical violence is important for healing.
The book also suggests setting clear boundaries of what is and what is not acceptable in a relationship.
Practicing self-care is another important part of healing for people who have experienced physical violence in relationships. Engage in hobbies and spend time with supportive family or friends. Some people may need to seek professional help to overcome the effects of this type of trauma.
Practices like yoga can help to release the tension from the body. This can make individual become more aware of their body and its sensations. Grounding is another great technique. The book recommends staying with both feet placed firmly on the ground and noticing the sensations on the feet.
The book also suggests moving in a way that feels good to the body without judgment or self-consciousness.
Becoming aware of the body and doing the techniques to release stress and anxiety can be very helpful to heal from trauma.
I suggest you read the book carefully, while also practicing the techniques on the book.
Can Someone Completely Heal from Trauma
According to the book, one can completely heal from trauma, but the process is different from individual to individual and it can take some time and effort. To completely heal from trauma one needs to combine somatic therapy with psychological techniques. The end result is not completely forgetting about trauma but dealing with it in a way that is empowering and allows you for growth.
One can do this by developing a new relationship with the trauma, for example, by using your experience to help other people in the same situation, or see it as a fuel from growth.
Some other books on trauma:
1. Healing trauma by Petter Levine.
2. The transformation by doctor James Gordon.
3. Getting past your past by Francine Shapiro.
4. I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou.
5. Man’s search for meaning by Viktor Frankl.
6. What happened to you by Oprah and Bruce Pery.
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