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You Can't Just Snap Out Of It: The Real Path to Recovery From Psychological Trauma
Psychological trauma can put a stranglehold on your life. Childhood abuse, car accidents, the sudden death of a loved one, the list goes on and on. You try and put things in the past and forget about them, but it can be hard to move on. Your friends and family tell you to “get over it,” “move on,” and “just snap out of it.” You try, but it’s not that easy. The more they tell you things like that, the worse you feel, because now you are a failure, in addition to everything else. But there is a better way. YOU CAN'T JUST SNAP OUT OF IT will teach you how to take charge of your recovery from psychological trauma. It gives you tools to put you on the road to recovery, like stress reduction techniques, meditation, mindfulness training, and anxiety reduction strategies, as well as changes in lifestyle that can improve your mood and how you feel about yourself. We also offer tips to partners and families to help them understand what you are going through, because loved ones may hold the key to your recovery. The book introduces the START-NOW Program, which we have developed. It incorporates an easy-to-remember acronym that spells out an eight-point plan to recovery, teaching principles like seeking safety, talking about trauma, learning altruism, and many others. This book lets YOU be in charge of your recovery, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Taking charge of your own recovery from psychological trauma is a powerful tool. So what are you waiting for? START-NOW!
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2014
9 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
J. Douglas Bremner
10 books11 followersProfessor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Writer, physician, and filmmaker. See more titles at www.goodreads.com/dougbremner
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 2, 2014
You can't just snap out of it...by Bremner is a self-administered therapy book for those of us who have been traumatised - for me from the age of 7 when my father died. There have been quite a few traumas over the years and it was a trifle difficult to pick three for the START-NOW action. I found it easy to do as the book is programmed to allow entries. The most helpful charts were those for the different medications and my tremors were explained as well as another drug which causes a lack of libido. Throughout the book Bremner advises counselling as well as medication. A good reference for PTSD and military families.
October 28, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Book:
You Can’t Just Snap Out of It-The Real Path To Recovery From Psychological Trauma
By J. Douglas Bremner with Lai Reed
Kindle Edition-1,288 pages, Pub September 15, 2014
The Genre:
Self-help, Psychology
The Rating:
**** (4 stars)
The Blurb:
Psychological trauma can put a stranglehold on your life. Childhood abuse, car accidents, the sudden death of a loved one, the list goes on and on. You try and put things in the past and forget about them, but it can be hard to move on. Your friends and family tell you to “get over it,” “move on,” and “just snap out of it.” You try, but it’s not that easy. The more they tell you things like that, the worse you feel, because now you are a failure, in addition to everything else. But there is a better way. YOU CAN’T JUST SNAP OUT OF IT will teach you how to take charge of your recovery from psychological trauma. It gives you tools to put you on the road to recovery, like stress reduction techniques, meditation, mindfulness training, and anxiety reduction strategies, as well as changes in lifestyle that can improve your mood and how you feel about yourself. We also offer tips to partners and families to help them understand what you are going through, because loved ones may hold the key to your recovery. The book introduces the START-NOW Program, which we have developed. It incorporates an easy-to-remember acronym that spells out an eight-point plan to recovery, teaching principles like seeking safety, talking about trauma, learning altruism, and many others. This book lets YOU be in charge of your recovery, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Taking charge of your own recovery from psychological trauma is a powerful tool. So what are you waiting for? START-NOW!
The Review:
This review will be a little bit different for me, as this is not a regular novel, but more like a self-help book. It’s not necessarily the type of book I would normally read either, but I do try to write reviews on all types of books. I was also fascinated with the topic, as I studied Psychology in college and know many people who have suffered from depression and PTSD.
This book outlines a program, referred to from here on as Start-Now, that is meant to enable you to begin to heal from psychological trauma. The premise of this book supports the idea that depression, PTSD, and other forms of psychological trauma is not something that is easy to get over. “You can’t just snap out of it” like it was a minor occurrence. Trauma that is suffered in early life often comes back to haunt us as adult, many times in ways we can never imagine, as is evident in the author’s personal stories.
What I found rather unique in this book was that it discussed the issues that many of our military men and women, as well as their family, experience before, during, and after deployment. Many of us have heard stories of soldiers returning from war, and from deployment, traumatized by losing friends or because of severe injury. It is important that we do everything in our power to support our military members, but also just as important to remember that it affects the family as a whole. A particularly intriguing passage from the book deals with a program that was developed to help soldiers reintegrate into their families as well as the community. This program involves the soldier spending time with their families in a relaxed setting, while learning valuable skills to help with diet, health, relationships, and stress.
What I appreciated about this book was that the author and contributor shared their own experiences in order to help others, and to show that trauma affects us all in different ways. It’s easy to say to someone that you hope they get better, or that it’s no big deal because we all have bad stuff to deal with in life; however, it is more believable to listen to and understand this problem from someone who has experienced it for themselves. This might be from their own personal trauma, or living that trauma with others. I have several people in my family that have gone through major trauma, and even when it did not pertain to me personally, it still affected me in many ways. That is important for people to remember.
I like how the book outlines the program by breaking down each task into easy to understand terms. While there is scientific jargon, as this is a book based in psychology, the authors provide pictures to help the reader understand what they are describing. I also thought it was a great idea to include a journal with the actual physical book so that readers can keep notes while they read. This book also discusses many different types of trauma, and how those specific traumas can affect us. It also describes different types of therapy, as well as a medication guide that helps the reader understand the benefits and side effects associated with each kind.
~There were a few things that kept me from giving this book a five-star rating. In some parts, the wording was very repetitive. The title phrase “You Can’t Just Snap Out Of It” was used over and over; however, this might have been the author’s attempt to reiterate that fact so people understand it’s importance. The other main concern I have is that the book talks about how sex is the glue that holds a relationship together. While I believe that sexual intimacy plays an important role in a relationship, I do not feel that it is the most crucial aspect. I believe that emotional intimacy is more important. Being able to trust one another, lean on each other for support, and to feel connected in more than just a physical sense is invaluable. Sexual attraction and shared physical intimacy may fade over time, but if you are connected emotionally, that should stabilize the relationship when you are struggling during trying times; although it’s not a cure-all.
~Overall, I thought the book was really good, and I would recommend it. Whether it is for yourself, or for someone you know, it can be a useful tool to help get you started. After all, it is never too late to begin the healing process.
About the author
Doug Bremner is a Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. He is a physician, researcher, professor, and author of nonfiction works including, “A Fresh Look at Greed”, “Fastest Growing Religion on Earth: How Genealogy Captured America,” “The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg” and “Before You Take that Pill” as well as fictional novels and screenplays. He is writer and director of the independent romantic comedy ‘Catania!’ He lives in Atlanta, GA, with his wife and two children.
Check out these sites to keep up with the latest news! You can find him on Goodreads, Twitter, and his own website.
See more titles at www.goodreads.com/dougbremner
Follow his blog at http://www.dougbremner.com
Twitter username dougbremner
The Book:
You Can’t Just Snap Out of It-The Real Path To Recovery From Psychological Trauma
By J. Douglas Bremner with Lai Reed
Kindle Edition-1,288 pages, Pub September 15, 2014
The Genre:
Self-help, Psychology
The Rating:
**** (4 stars)
The Blurb:
Psychological trauma can put a stranglehold on your life. Childhood abuse, car accidents, the sudden death of a loved one, the list goes on and on. You try and put things in the past and forget about them, but it can be hard to move on. Your friends and family tell you to “get over it,” “move on,” and “just snap out of it.” You try, but it’s not that easy. The more they tell you things like that, the worse you feel, because now you are a failure, in addition to everything else. But there is a better way. YOU CAN’T JUST SNAP OUT OF IT will teach you how to take charge of your recovery from psychological trauma. It gives you tools to put you on the road to recovery, like stress reduction techniques, meditation, mindfulness training, and anxiety reduction strategies, as well as changes in lifestyle that can improve your mood and how you feel about yourself. We also offer tips to partners and families to help them understand what you are going through, because loved ones may hold the key to your recovery. The book introduces the START-NOW Program, which we have developed. It incorporates an easy-to-remember acronym that spells out an eight-point plan to recovery, teaching principles like seeking safety, talking about trauma, learning altruism, and many others. This book lets YOU be in charge of your recovery, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Taking charge of your own recovery from psychological trauma is a powerful tool. So what are you waiting for? START-NOW!
The Review:
This review will be a little bit different for me, as this is not a regular novel, but more like a self-help book. It’s not necessarily the type of book I would normally read either, but I do try to write reviews on all types of books. I was also fascinated with the topic, as I studied Psychology in college and know many people who have suffered from depression and PTSD.
This book outlines a program, referred to from here on as Start-Now, that is meant to enable you to begin to heal from psychological trauma. The premise of this book supports the idea that depression, PTSD, and other forms of psychological trauma is not something that is easy to get over. “You can’t just snap out of it” like it was a minor occurrence. Trauma that is suffered in early life often comes back to haunt us as adult, many times in ways we can never imagine, as is evident in the author’s personal stories.
What I found rather unique in this book was that it discussed the issues that many of our military men and women, as well as their family, experience before, during, and after deployment. Many of us have heard stories of soldiers returning from war, and from deployment, traumatized by losing friends or because of severe injury. It is important that we do everything in our power to support our military members, but also just as important to remember that it affects the family as a whole. A particularly intriguing passage from the book deals with a program that was developed to help soldiers reintegrate into their families as well as the community. This program involves the soldier spending time with their families in a relaxed setting, while learning valuable skills to help with diet, health, relationships, and stress.
What I appreciated about this book was that the author and contributor shared their own experiences in order to help others, and to show that trauma affects us all in different ways. It’s easy to say to someone that you hope they get better, or that it’s no big deal because we all have bad stuff to deal with in life; however, it is more believable to listen to and understand this problem from someone who has experienced it for themselves. This might be from their own personal trauma, or living that trauma with others. I have several people in my family that have gone through major trauma, and even when it did not pertain to me personally, it still affected me in many ways. That is important for people to remember.
I like how the book outlines the program by breaking down each task into easy to understand terms. While there is scientific jargon, as this is a book based in psychology, the authors provide pictures to help the reader understand what they are describing. I also thought it was a great idea to include a journal with the actual physical book so that readers can keep notes while they read. This book also discusses many different types of trauma, and how those specific traumas can affect us. It also describes different types of therapy, as well as a medication guide that helps the reader understand the benefits and side effects associated with each kind.
~There were a few things that kept me from giving this book a five-star rating. In some parts, the wording was very repetitive. The title phrase “You Can’t Just Snap Out Of It” was used over and over; however, this might have been the author’s attempt to reiterate that fact so people understand it’s importance. The other main concern I have is that the book talks about how sex is the glue that holds a relationship together. While I believe that sexual intimacy plays an important role in a relationship, I do not feel that it is the most crucial aspect. I believe that emotional intimacy is more important. Being able to trust one another, lean on each other for support, and to feel connected in more than just a physical sense is invaluable. Sexual attraction and shared physical intimacy may fade over time, but if you are connected emotionally, that should stabilize the relationship when you are struggling during trying times; although it’s not a cure-all.
~Overall, I thought the book was really good, and I would recommend it. Whether it is for yourself, or for someone you know, it can be a useful tool to help get you started. After all, it is never too late to begin the healing process.
About the author
Doug Bremner is a Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. He is a physician, researcher, professor, and author of nonfiction works including, “A Fresh Look at Greed”, “Fastest Growing Religion on Earth: How Genealogy Captured America,” “The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg” and “Before You Take that Pill” as well as fictional novels and screenplays. He is writer and director of the independent romantic comedy ‘Catania!’ He lives in Atlanta, GA, with his wife and two children.
Check out these sites to keep up with the latest news! You can find him on Goodreads, Twitter, and his own website.
See more titles at www.goodreads.com/dougbremner
Follow his blog at http://www.dougbremner.com
Twitter username dougbremner
October 28, 2014
This is a great ebook. Actually I would call it a large piece of gold - maybe it is worth more than even that! I have read a lot of self-help ebooks but this is the only that takes you from a brief intro into PTSD, depression and other psychological issues, to discussing the drugs you can use to get relief, to psychotherapy treatments (this is what I personally recommend over drugs. it has a lot of helpful exercises that anyone can use to get rid of stress, depression, insomnia, and lots more) - many of which you can do on your own.
Then of course there is the famous START-now program which would probably help you more than any therapist would. I loved the fact that the author also included anecdotes from his own life in the ebook. It goes on to show the man is a genuine guy with nothing to hide, one who has been through some of what a typical PTSD patient goes through and as such, understands the issue a lot better than the therapists who ask you to 'get over it' and get judgmental about you without offering you any kind of empathy (yes I have been the victim of such shrinks and I am glad to get rid of them before it was too late) do. As a depression sufferer, this ebook offered me more than what I had expected. Best of all, the man is easily accessible - I asked him a lot of questions to which he replied very promptly. I think I trust him more than anyone else; if I face a problem he would probably be the one I would seek advice from at first before I seek help from anyone else.
Then of course there is the famous START-now program which would probably help you more than any therapist would. I loved the fact that the author also included anecdotes from his own life in the ebook. It goes on to show the man is a genuine guy with nothing to hide, one who has been through some of what a typical PTSD patient goes through and as such, understands the issue a lot better than the therapists who ask you to 'get over it' and get judgmental about you without offering you any kind of empathy (yes I have been the victim of such shrinks and I am glad to get rid of them before it was too late) do. As a depression sufferer, this ebook offered me more than what I had expected. Best of all, the man is easily accessible - I asked him a lot of questions to which he replied very promptly. I think I trust him more than anyone else; if I face a problem he would probably be the one I would seek advice from at first before I seek help from anyone else.
January 3, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. As someone who is dealing with a lot of the matters that are brought up within it such as childhood trauma and mental illness' it was nice to get an understanding of why I was holding on to some things and why I acted certain ways and how I could eventually stop being so scared.
As this book is more of an informative book than a fictional book I did lose interest in it at some points but nevertheless I persevered and I really like the end product.
I did win this book in one of the giveaways so thank you J. Douglas Bremner for allowing me to read this and I can't wait to read some of your other work as I really enjoyed this one.
As this book is more of an informative book than a fictional book I did lose interest in it at some points but nevertheless I persevered and I really like the end product.
I did win this book in one of the giveaways so thank you J. Douglas Bremner for allowing me to read this and I can't wait to read some of your other work as I really enjoyed this one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews