The Unexpected Gift of Trauma El inesperado regalo del trauma (Spanish ed.): Una guía para el crecimiento postraumático

by Edith Shiro, Eric Levit Mora (Translator)

Un revolucionario libro sobre el trauma, que ofrece a los lectores un esquema de cinco etapas para alcanzar el crecimiento postraumático, similar a las cinco etapas del duelo de Kübler-Ross. El trauma siempre ha sido parte de la experiencia humana, y los eventos traumáticos —tanto físicos como emocionales— pueden trastornar todo nuestro ser y cambiarnos para siempre. Aunque sabemos más que hace diez años acerca de los efectos neurológicos y físicos a largo plazo que deja el trauma, pocos se dan cuenta de que la experiencia del trauma no tiene que condenarlos a una vida de sufrimiento y duelo. En este libro único, la renombrada psicóloga Edtih Shiro comparte un poderos esquema de cinco pasos para el crecimiento postraumático, un proceso terapéutico que ayuda no solo a recuperarse, sino a experimentar crecimiento y renovación después del trauma. Inspirada por sus abuelos, que fueron refugiados y sobrevivientes del Holocausto, la Dra. Shiro ha dedicado su vida a estudiar el trauma y sus secuelas. Desarrolladas a lo largo de más de tres décadas de investigación y práctica, las etapas que propone Shiro —conciencia, despertar, llegar a ser, ser y transformarse— explican cómo el trauma puede ser un catalizador para el cambio positivo y transformador.   Fundado en la ciencia y lleno de herramientas prácticas y enseñanzas, El inesperado regalo del trauma revela una nueva y revolucionaria forma de ver el trauma y recuperarse de sus efectos.  
A groundbreaking book on trauma that offers readers a five-stage framework for achieving posttraumatic growth, similar to Kübler-Ross’s five-stages of grief. Trauma has always been part of the human experience, and traumatic events – both physical and emotional –can shake our very foundation and leave us forever changed. While we know more about the lasting neurological and physical effects of trauma than we did a decade ago, few people realize that experiencing trauma doesn’t have to sentence you to a lifetime of suffering and grief. In this first book of its kind, renowned psychologist Dr. Edith Shiro shares a powerful, five-stage framework for posttraumatic growth, a therapeutic process that helps you not just recover, but experience growth and renewal in wake of trauma. Inspired by her grandparents, who were refugees and Holocaust survivors, Dr. Edith Shiro has dedicated her life to the study of trauma and its aftereffects. Developed over more than three decades of research and practice, Shiro’s stages – Awareness, Awakening, Becoming, Being, and Transforming – outline how trauma can be a catalyst for positive, transformative change. Grounded in science and filled with practical tools and takeaways, The Unexpected Gift of Trauma reveals a groundbreaking new way to think about and heal from trauma. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Health, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel conflicted about this book. The second half was incredible—so profound and helpful. But the first half was a mess. I couldn’t tell who the book was intended for, and it seemed so disorganized…

Dr. Edith Shiro is clearly a brilliant and compassionate person. She explores in these pages the reality of growth after trauma—what it can look like and the impact that come come from it. She has created a stunning method for working with trauma patients. As a certified coach, I can see how valuable and effective her methods are. But the first half of this book felt so out of place.

She began with defining basic terms, and so I was led to believe that this was a primer for beginners on how to identify trauma. But that was never the purpose of the book. The way in which she defended her thoughts also led me to believe that she was actually writing an article defending her methods before her peers…but then the basic-level defining of terms didn’t make sense. And certainly this book isn’t meant for people who are smack in the middle of trauma. I was so confused for the first half of the book.

She also spends so much time quoting other research that I had a hard time believing her credibility until I crossed the halfway point of the book.

In the second half of the book, Dr. Shiro comes to life in her words—it’s obvious that her method for post-traumatic growth is where her passion lies. Suddenly, I felt very connected to her thoughts and could see myself in what she was explaining. This is the book I expected to pick up.

The first 50% is kind of a disservice to her methods because I almost gave up before getting to the heart of her message. But I wholeheartedly recommend this book because of how powerful the second half is. If you have experienced trauma or want to better understand those who have experienced trauma, this is a truly helpful resource.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Dr. Edith Shiro for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best books on trauma recovery I've read so far, and the first specifically on the concept of posttraumatic growth. I really appreciated the level of detail included, and the accessible explanations. I felt the sections were nicely organised and followed in a logical progression. My one criticism would be that the book aims to be LGBTQ+ inclusive, yet the creator of one example of the media it celebrates is undeniably transphobic, so there's some editorial oversight/authorial ignorance that, from the perspective of a queer and trans-umbrella reader, I didn't appreciate. Being a book on trauma, obviously there are numerous content warnings of which to be aware, due to the subject matter.

[Andy Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first FIVE star review. Maybe I’m a bit biased bc trauma is my passion. But this book was incredibly written with so much information that’s presented in digestible methods even with an audience not knowledgeable about the field. I can’t recommend this book enough. Positives can come from trauma. And resilience can be a bad thing.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been searching for a book like this my entire life! My mom died suddenly when I was 9 years old, and I thought I would never recover. People (especially adults) looked at me with pity like my life was over. Finally, Dr. Shiro has named and illustrated through research and anecdotes what I have come to realize in my own life and seen in others, too. It is not only possible to recover from life-altering trauma, but to be transformed BECAUSE of it. I now know this is called Post Traumatic growth and under certain conditions and with the right support, anyone can experience it following trauma. We are not doomed to suffer indefinitely.

In this book, Dr. Shiro clearly outlines the path to Postraumatic growth, for anyone who seeks to achieve it. She names the 5 stages that survivors experience on the way to growth: Awareness, Awakening, Becoming, Being, and Transforming. This book is so inspiring, not only because of the hope it gives those who have been traumatized, but also in the clear path it names for healing and thriving afterwards. The stories within are fascinating, starting with Dr. Shiro's two grandparents, both survivors of the Holocaust, who inspired her life's work of studying Post traumatic growth. One grandparent stayed very stuck in trauma, while the other seemed to transform because of it. Dr. Shiro spent her lifetime researching to understand why. She was obsessed with finding out: Why do some people derail into a life of chaos and often addiction after trauma, while others transform? She gives us the gift of that research and the hope it instills in all of us in this beautifully researched and gorgeously written book.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I loved the idea of it. I read so many books about the impacts of trauma and the ways it affects our psychology, neurology, and physiology, alters how our children's bodies read their genetic code, and makes our lives harder; it was attractive to think about the ways in which it can make our lives better.

However, the lack of organization in the first part of the book and the extremely inconsistent citation made it difficult to believe the author's claims. The more the author got into the meat of her post-traumatic growth model - those last two steps from forging your identity after trauma to the stage of wisdom and growth - the sparser the citations became, which is not a great sign if you're trying to convince the reader that the research is with you. In fact, the chapters containing those two steps contain only website links to organizations or in one case, a blog. On one occasion, the source was cited only after being referenced multiple times in the previous chapter.

My most generous assumption is that the author didn't want to scare away less academically inclined readers, but without grounding arguments in primary sources or even properly citing references, I had a tough time believing what she was telling me was backed up in the research. I hope that if she plans to have the book go through any revisions, this is corrected to more effectively communicate her work.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heel volledig, eerlijk en hoopvol. Mooi naslagwerk voor hulpverleners, naasten en mensen die zelf verlangen naar posttraumatische groei na een traumatische ervaring of periode.

[Jessie Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I could have highlighted almost every phrase. This book embodied PTG to the core. Dr. Edith Shiro has found the key to communicating how to heal from trauma. Everyone should read this book.

[Andrea McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and readable summary of a subject near to my heart, and I appreciated the author's passion, commitment to social justice and recognition of the implications of social inequity on how this works, and compassion for traumatized people.

Unfortunately, while the book presents itself as useful for all people working through trauma, C-PTSD or childhood trauma is not only really not addressed, but the book could be actively triggering. The author's efforts to encourage standard trauma sufferers backfire against those with developmental trauma. She, for instance, spends some time discussing protective factors against trauma, such as positive relationships with family and community, or a good attachment model, which clearly don't apply to those with abusive families. Even the concept of post-traumatic growth is hard to parse or understand from the perspective of childhood trauma -- what am I measuring my growth from? When I was a fetus?

It's an interesting model and a concept I take seriously and work towards, but I am coming to think that PTSD and C-PTSD are so different in terms of populations and recovery principles that there is difficulty, and the potential for damage in some cases, when PTSD resources are applied to those with childhood trauma.

Read with care.

[Marielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really redundant but also maybe I don’t wanna process any trauma so it wasn’t applicable?? Idk but I didn’t get anything out of it.
___
Update: This book would be better as a podcast & if someone ripped the first half out of it. The first half is like trauma 101 but it is stuff anyone with trauma already knows. I'm not sure who the intended audience is? The second half is much more practical & somewhat helpful but I still skipped sections that were flowery and impractical. Also the stages the author described were also redundant and basic knowledge. I did not need 10 pages EVERY chapter describing how to ask a friend for help.

Despite having diagnosed PTSD I think I am simply the wrong audience for this book. Which makes me question- If not me, who is this book for?

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unexpected Gift of Trauma: The Path to Posttraumatic Growth by renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Edith Shiro is a powerful, groundbreaking book that offers a five-stage framework for posttraumatic resilience, healing, and growth. Inspired by her grandparents, who were refugees and Holocaust survivors, Dr. Shiro discusses intergenerational trauma and multicultural experiences. She also describes her roadmap for navigating trauma, the transformative power of community support, and the importance of collective healing.

Dr. Shiro starts her book by giving readers her personal history of trauma and explains how she got past it. She says, "My fascination with these questions began in my childhood and is deeply personal. Every generation on both sides of my family has suffered greatly from trauma. I am the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who were the only members of their families to get out of the Nazi death camps alive. I am also the granddaughter of Syrian refugees who fled their home country, traveling on foot with their six young children from Aleppo into Israel. My grandmother, heavy with child, gave birth in the Bloudan Mountains and had no choice but to keep going. I am the daughter of Jewish immigrants who escaped from political, religious, and social persecution and made their way to South America. I've been a minority Jewish woman in Venezuela and, later, a minority Latina immigrant studying and working in the United States. I have experienced the impact of migration and multicultural conditions firsthand. I know what it's like to be exposed to discrimination in my own neighborhood and city. This, too, is trauma." In The Unexpected Gift of Trauma, Dr. Shiro outlines how trauma can be a catalyst for transformative growth and offers groundbreaking tips for getting from breakdown to breakthrough.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Consecințele neașteptate ale traumei” de Edith Shiro se prezintă ca un ghid esențial pentru cei care doresc să înțeleagă și să depășească experiențele traumatice. Autoarea, cu o experiență vastă în psihoterapie, ne invită într-o călătorie introspectivă, oferindu-ne instrumente și perspective pentru a transforma suferința în reziliență.
Structura cărții este bine organizată, fiecare capitol abordând un aspect diferit al traumei, de la efectele sale fizice și emoționale până la procesul de vindecare. Shiro reușește să îmbine cu succes elementele teoretice cu experiențele practice, ilustrând conceptele complexe cu exemple concrete. Limbajul folosit este accesibil, evitând jargonul specific psihologiei, ceea ce face cartea ușor de înțeles pentru un public larg.
Stilul narativ al autoarei este cald și empatic, creând o atmosferă de încredere și încurajare. Shiro nu se limitează la a descrie efectele negative ale traumei, ci subliniază și potențialul de creștere personală care poate rezulta din această experiență. Autoarea ne invită să privim trauma nu doar ca pe o problemă, ci ca pe o oportunitate de a ne cunoaște mai bine și de a ne conecta la resursele noastre interioare.
Unul dintre punctele forte ale cărții este abordarea holistică a traumei. Shiro subliniază importanța de a lua în considerare nu doar aspectele psihologice, ci și cele fizice, sociale și spirituale ale vindecării. Autoarea ne îndeamnă să ne îngrijim de corpul nostru, să cultivăm relații sănătoase și să găsim sens în viață.
Cu toate acestea, cartea nu este lipsită de anumite limitări. Unele dintre exercițiile propuse pot părea prea simplificate pentru persoane care s-au confruntat cu traume severe. De asemenea, accentul pus pe vindecarea individuală poate trece cu vederea importanța factorilor sociali și culturali în procesul de recuperare.

[Courtnee Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Edith Shiro details her five-stage model for post-traumatic growth in her book, The Unexpected Gift of Trauma. Written in two parts, Dr. Shiro begins by explaining the terms surrounding trauma and provides an in-depth look at post-traumatic growth, keeping culture, generation, and neurochemistry in mind. The second part details her five-stage model and mentions tools and practices to help with healing and growth, obstacles, and ways you may continue to move forward with a healthy mindset. Dr. Shiro includes a post-traumatic growth inventory and hopes her readers will become stronger, making meaningful connections while growing from the trauma instead of despite it.


Her grandparents' experiences during wars shaped and hurt them physically and mentally, so Dr. Edith Shiro has witnessed post-traumatic stress in survivors of traumatic incidents for most of her life. While reminding readers that trauma is our response to certain events, she presents stories that will motivate individuals to try her process. Dr. Shiro combats myths about trauma and post-traumatic growth, preparing readers if someone focuses negatively on their process. The author explains trauma in a relatable way and includes conditional factors so everyone will feel positive about taking the first step in her model. After the first year of the pandemic, many news sources cited returning to a "new normal." After reading Dr. Shiro's work, I feel as though anyone who has completed the steps would evolve into a "new normal" as their post-traumatic growth brought new perceptions and a better sense of self-worth. Anyone who has been in a situation that resulted in trauma - either personal or generational - would benefit from reading The Unexpected Gift of Trauma.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to rate. The first half of the book was a 5; the second half of the book was a 1 (or a zero). Rounded to a 3, because the author does good (enough) LGBTQ inclusion and offers an interesting, multicultural perspective.

I had high hopes for this book. The author does a good literature review and quotes a lot of talented writers and clinicians, many of whom I recognized from reading their work or other works on trauma. One thing she got right was queer hypervigilance, which is an interesting phenomenon that needs more explanation.

That said, her own perspective is much too woo-woo/spiritually-based for me. More disturbingly, her opinion that trauma survivors are primarily intended for lives of post-growth SERVITUDE are so abhorrent and so morally offensive and bankrupt that I cannot even fully describe how fucked up it is. FUCK THAT SHIT.

Trauma survivors deserve better than the vision she has for them.

I don't think the author is a terrible person, BUT I have real trouble squaring that with her book essentially condemning traumatized people to being rehabilitated ONLY so they can be used by others and happy whilst being hardly better off than the enslaved.

I'm not really taking much away from this book, other than the need to re-read "The Body Keeps the Score" (van der Kolk), which remains the best work on trauma available. I was really fed up with the book by the end, so admittedly, I didn't take the quizzes.

Overall, skip it, or maybe just read the first part. This book should probably not have been published as it is.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at the right time. Another book that I picked up at the library. I've gone through a lot since 2024, with a couple traumatic experiences and big life changes. The book is a bit repetitive, but I feel like the latter half makes up for it. The author cites some studies and books to support some claims. She has her own framework with different stages of the path to post-traumatic growth. There are quite a few platitudes in the book along (a la, just be your authentic self...) with some maybe too basic explanations (there is a page just of emotion vocabulary words) and I felt like a lot of the explanations were redundant. Still, I was in the right mindset to read this book. That is, on anti-depressants. I basically used this book as a replacement for positive affirmations, because it's basically just that XD

"The wound is the place where the light enters you."
- Rumi

[Ännä · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a counselor working with children I am deeply invested in the study of trauma and its effects. I was introduced to the concept of post traumatic growth about 10 years ago, and I am always looking to learn more about how one can move beyond healing and concepts I can apply to the children I work with. I think the 2nd half of the book was stronger than the first, and contained great information. I do wish that the book had been edited a bit differently to make it more even reading across the text. Thanks to the author, Dr. Edith Shairo, Netgalley, and the publisher William Morrow for making this book available for my unbiased review.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***

In this book, Dr. Edith Shiro provides a readable and accessible explanation and exploration of posttraumatic growth. The book is organized so as to introduce readers to the basics of trauma and its effects on people before delving into the author's defined stages for moving towards posttraumatic growth. She utilizes personal and client experiences to illustrate the points and provides a hopeful outlook on peoples' ability to reach the growth stage.

[Selene Rayas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro que después de leerlo no serás la misma persona, pone en palabras lo que es difícil de expresar pero intenso de sentir y todo vibra más sentido, si estás pasando por una etapa de duelo, cambió o recuperación psicológica tras un trauma o dolor es una gran lectura para leer despacito. Te da un paso a paso por etapas basado en investigación científica para no solo sanar sino crecer y recibir el inesperado regalo del trauma. Mi frase favorita: el trauma también deja a su paso belleza colateral

[Nate Jordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we heal our own traumas, we help others heal theirs. When others are healed, the world can begin to heal.

"The bigger secret is that a great love was just waiting to be excavated the whole time. It is the love passed forward from those who came before you, a love, that insists that you live your life fully without repeating the fears and misfortune of the past. It is a deep love. It is a quiet love, a timeless love that connects you to everything and everyone. It is potent medicine."

[Eliane de Graaf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can’t help but feel a strange kind of resistance around the whole concept of PTG and this made it extremely difficult for me to finish this. That’s on me though because the second half of the book is well written

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite self-help book. There are others out there I'd recommend more. If you are starting out on the journey though, this could be a good place to start. If you are experienced with this... perhaps something with more to it might serve you better.

[Kerri Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful information, while on the healing journey

[Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit wishy-washy for my liking

[Anastasia Alén · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book on trauma… Nothing new explored. Only good if it’s your first book on trauma ever but still it’s like it’s been written by ChatGPT. Academia is one thing and writing a book is another.

[Tamiasgrowth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So informative! I definitely recommend this book if you're looking to kickstart your healing process

[Charlotte]

Moeilijk te beoordelen, dit leent zich voor een latere re-read. Onderwerp is erg interessant, al vond ik de uitwerking een beetje tegenvallen.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It was helpful to revolve issues. I am hearing her speak soon so I am glad I read it ahead of time.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason why I kept reborrowing this book from the library - in fact, so much so that most of those times I had to physically go in to renew it as I reached the max capacity of online renewals - was not because I did not have time to read it. It was because I did not bear the heart or courage to part from it.

And as if by chance, one day while at work, both my 650mL containers of coffee and tea spilled simultaneously and seemed to target the book. Now I will purchase a new copy to give back to the library, and treasure this one as my own.

It is filled with all the necessities of understanding yourself, of knowing empathy, and leads you towards knowing others and granting them empathy too.

I have taken twenty-four pages of notes. I rarely take notes external to the lines within a book. I suppose that alone grants you reason enough to cherish this book as I do.

Thank you, Dr Shiro.