Reenactments: Break the Behavior Patterns That Keep You Stuck in Trauma, Stress, and Everyday Life

by Tony Iezzi, Melanie P. Duckworth Ph.D.

Do you feel stuck facing the same challenges repeatedly?
Maybe it’s a job that drains your energy, a relationship that never seems to work, or habits you just can’t seem to break. If so, you’re not alone—and there’s a reason for it.

Patterns formed in childhood shape the choices we make as adults. These patterns often become automatic responses to trauma, stress, and everyday life. We call these reenactments—deeply ingrained habits in your brain, body, and mind that lead to recurring adverse outcomes.

In this groundbreaking book, psychologists Tony Iezzi and Melanie Duckworth introduce a compelling new framework for breaking reenactments. You’ll learn how to recognize these patterns and replace them with healthier, more empowering choices. Using the Reenactment Decision Matrix and a unique 5-step analytic tool, this guidebook will help Identify your reenactmentsUnderstand their origins and make conscious choices that improve you in the presentDeepen your empathy for others and contribute to a more compassionate world.
If you’re ready to transform your life, then Reenactments is your next step.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Melanie P. Duckworth and I have co-authored a self-help guidebook entitled "Reenactments: Break the Behavior Patterns That Keep You Stuck in Trauma, Stress, and Everyday Life." The book represents 35 years of working in the psychological trenches of our lives and the lives of others. As hard-nosed but compassionate psychologists, we have distilled a unique approach to lessons learned along the way. Come and see for yourselves. Do different, be different.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's your story? We all have one. Our 'story' is what shaped us, what we experienced, and what we learned during our childhood. The attachment styles that we developed in childhood, if you will. Because it is in childhood where we form the patterns that become automatic reactions to stressors, triggers, relationships, and trauma in our lives. In Reenactments: Break the Behavior Patterns That Keep You Stuck in Trauma, Stress, and Everyday Life the authors who are psychologists, provide a five step guide they call the Reenactment Decision Matrix, to help people to recognize and understand their behaviors/reactions and to make positive and effective changes.

I appreciated how this book is written in layman's terms so that anyone reading can understand the material presented in this book. This is a great book who feel as if they are getting nowhere. Perhaps they are repeating the same patterns repeatedly in relationships, at work, or in their everyday lives. It helps readers to identify their patterns and habits in a very easy to read guide.

Whether you are a professional in the field of mental health or just someone who wants to make positive changes in your life, this is a worthwhile and educations book. As I mentioned, I enjoyed how the book was written. It does provide scientific information but in a very straightforward information. The examples given may resonate with some readers and help them to better understand their own behavioral patterns and automatic reactions.

Thank you to the authors and TheWriteReadswho who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reenactments: Break the Behavior Patterns That Keep You Stuck in Trauma, Stress, and Everyday Life by Tony Iezzi and Dr. Melanie P. Duckworth, Ph.D., is both practical and empowering. As a social worker, I value books that go beyond theory to offer tools people can actually use, and this one delivers. The writing is compassionate and accessible, making it easy for both professionals and general readers to follow.

What stands out are the relatable examples and the “steps to getting unstuck” at the end of each chapter that aid the application of the material. These make the book not just informative but actionable. I’ve already used some of these steps in client sessions, and they’ve sparked meaningful conversations about breaking cycles and finding new ways forward. Even personally, I found myself pausing to reflect on my own patterns, which speaks to how universally relevant this book is.

I highly recommend Reenactments for anyone—whether you’re a professional supporting others or someone seeking change in your own life. It doesn’t just explain why we stay stuck; it shows us how to move toward lasting growth and freedom.

[Books Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Reenactments: Break the Behavior Patterns That Keep You Stuck in Trauma, Stress, and Everyday Life** by Dr. Tony Iezzi and Dr. Melanie P. Duckworth is a transformative guide that brings clarity to the hidden behavioral loops we unknowingly repeat. Grounded in psychology and neuroscience, this powerful book unpacks how unresolved childhood patterns manifest in our adult lives—through jobs, relationships, and habits that feel impossible to change.

The authors introduce a fresh framework called the Reenactment Decision Matrix, along with a practical 5-step tool to recognize, analyze, and reshape these patterns. This isn’t just another self-help manual—it’s a deep, evidence-based approach to healing and empowerment. Readers are guided through personal reflection while also learning how to foster empathy and resilience.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain problems keep recurring despite your efforts, *Reenactments* offers the insight and tools to finally break free. A must-read for anyone seeking lasting growth and emotional freedom.

[GirlLovesto Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much different to my normal reads, but since the tours with TWR usually have good books I thought I would pick it up.

I would describe 'Reenactments' by Tony Lezzi, Ph.D. and Melanie P. Duckworth, Ph.D. as an insightful and potentially useful read for most people, not just those with recognised issues. You can tell the authors are seasoned clinical psychologists with a lot of first hand experience. The book gives a fresh perspective on how past traumas and everyday stresses shape our behaviours through what the authors call ‘reenactments’. These are basically recurring patterns that can hinder personal growth. I think the book is well written and very clear in the way it breaks down complex psychological concepts and turns them into actionable strategies.

While it took me a while to get through it I think it could be beneficial to many who suffer from mental health issues, OCD or similar, and just poplin general particularly if you feel consistently stressed.

[Al Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reenactments is the kind of book that makes you stop and think about why you keep running into the same problems in life. The authors, both psychologists, explain how we repeat the same emotional patterns from our past without even realizing it. They call these patterns “reenactments,” and the way they describe them feels eye-opening and oddly personal.

The writing feels honest and steady, like two therapists walking you through your own mind. It’s not a quick or fluffy read. It’s more like sitting down with someone who actually understands how people work and showing you where your habits come from. The case stories make the science easy to follow and the exercises at the end of each chapter help you apply what you learn in real life.

It’s a serious book, but it’s full of warmth and insight. If you’ve ever wondered why you react the same way to stress, relationships, or fear, this one will help you see the pattern and finally start breaking it.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what I would think of this when I picked it up for its promo tour. I do often suffer with anxiety so I thought there might be some beneficial lessons or information in it, especially considering the authors' apparent expertise.

What I founds an intriguing book that highlights how from the formative years of our childhood we establish patterns and behaviours that over time become our instant reaction to triggers, that we encounter throughout our life. These triggers can be anything, but most often stress inducing things that cause us to revert to type. I feel I have actually noticed this in my own life and behaviours. The authors go on to give us tools to break or at least reshape these ‘Reenactments’ .

It’s written in a very simple style and I think, if nothing else, it has alerted me to these behaviours in myself.

[Cora Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very thoughtfully written book with easy to follow guidance and support. The concept of breaking patterns or “reenactments” and how that practice of recognition when a trigger starts is a truly valuable lesson or skill. This book makes the hard work of healing from trauma seem achievable and the theories are delivered in a way that makes sense.

This is a really important and groundbreaking book. I have been putting the guided suggestions into practice and feeling more able to manage in time of high stress.

I definitely recommend this book to those who want better for their life.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a powerful and easy to read self-help book which actually helped me identify a few things to improve in my own behaviour. The authors explore the unconscious patterns (reenactments) that trap us in cycles of trauma, stress, and just everyday struggles. it took me several sittings to get through it as its not the sort of thing that you are just going to surge through, it is more of a read a little and return to it type of thing, but would recommend it to people, especially those with OCD, who want to break out of negative mental health cycles.