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Researchers have shown that survivors of accidents, disaster, and childhood trauma often en endure lifelong symptoms ranging from anxiety and depression to unexplained physical pain, fatigue, illness, and harmful "acting out" behaviors.
Today, professionals and clients in both the bodywork and the psychotherapeutic fields nationwide are turning to Peter A. Levine's breakthrough Somatic Experiencing methods to actively overcome these challenges. In Healing Trauma, Dr. Levine gives you the personal how-to guide for using the theory he first introduced in his highly acclaimed work Waking the Tiger. Join him to discover: how to develop body awareness to "renegotiate" and heal traumas by "revisiting" them rather than reliving them; emergency "first-aid" measures for times of distress; and nature's lessons for uncovering the physiological roots of your emotions."

Trauma is a fact of life," teaches Peter Levine, "but it doesn't have to be a life sentence." Now, with one fully integrated self-healing tool, he shares his essential methods to address unexplained symptoms of trauma at their sourcethe bodyto return us to the natural state in which we are meant to live in.

Contents

Introduction: A Tiger Shows the Way
Chapter One: What is Trauma?
Chapter Two: The Causes and Symptoms of Trauma
Chapter Three: How Trauma Affects the Body
Chapter Four: Twelve-Phase Healing Trauma Program: A Guide to the Audio Exercises
Chapter Five: Sexual Trauma: Sexual Trauma: Healing the Sacred Wound
Chapter Six: Spirituality and Trauma: Pathway to Awakening
Helpful Tips and Techniques for Preventing Trauma
Additional Resources
About the Author
About Sounds True


Excerpt

Trauma is the most avoided, ignored, denied, misunderstood,
and untreated cause of human suffering. When I use the word
trauma, I am talking here about the often debilitating symptoms that many
people suffer from in the aftermath of perceived life-threatening or overwhelming
experiences. Recently, trauma has been used as a buzzword to
replace everyday stress, as in, I had a traumatic day at work. However,
this use is completely misleading. While it is true that all traumatic events
are stressful, all stressful events are not traumatic.

Unique to Each Individual

When it comes to trauma, no two people are exactly alike. What proves
harmful over the long term to one person may be exhilarating to another.
There are many factors involved in the wide range of response to threat.
These responses depend upon genetic make-up, an individuals history of
trauma, even his or her family dynamics. It is vital that we appreciate these
differences. Simply knowing that certain kinds of early childhood experiences
can severely diminish our ability to cope and be present in the world
may elicit compassion and support rather than harsh judgment, both for
ourselves and for others.

Perhaps the most important thing I have learned about trauma is that
people, especially children, can be overwhelmed by what we usually
think of as common everyday events. Until recently, our understanding of
trauma was limited to shell-shocked soldiers who have been devastated
by war, victims of severe abuse or violence, and those who have suffered
catastrophic accidents and injuries. This narrow view could not be further
from the truth.

The fact is that, over time, a series of seemingly minor mishaps can
have a damaging effect on a person. Trauma does not have to stem from a
major catastrophe. Some common triggering events include:

Automobile accidents (even fender benders)
Routine invasive medical procedures
Loss of loved ones
Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes

Even falling off a bicycle can be overwhelming to a child under certain
circumstances. We will discuss those circumstances later. For now, I will
simply say that almost all of us have experienced some form of trauma,
either directly or indirectly.