The PTSD Solution: The Truth About Your Symptoms and How to Heal

by Alan D. Wolfelt

A new approach to understanding PTSD as a form of grief rather than a medical disorder
 
Have you ever felt that something essential was missing from your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment options? If you suffer from PTSD, you know the problem is complex, but what you probably don’t know—and what the medical establishment isn’t telling you—is that post-traumatic stress is not fundamentally a medical disorder but rather a form of grief. Your body, mind, and soul experienced tremendous loss, and to fully integrate the many losses into your ongoing life, you must explore and express your necessary grief. In other words, you must mourn. This groundbreaking book reveals a new approach to understanding PTSD and its debilitating symptoms. With compassion and insight, it affirms the nature and severity of your experience while providing you with a step-by-step plan to transcend it. A full review of traditional medical treatments for PTSD are presented and included as part of the healing plan. Whether your PTSD is severe or more subtle, whether your traumatic experience was recent or in the distant past, this book unlocks the secret that will finally allow you to once again live and love fully.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Suzan Lemont · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get into it but once I hit chapter 2 and 3 I was totally immersed. As both an experiencer of trauma and (past) PTSD, and a therapist who works with trauma I found the explanation of PTSD (and the call to name it something else) relevant and accurate. The only reason for one less star is that it was 1) a bit repetitious and a bit simple for someone who knows a lot about therapy (but to be fair it is written for those who think they might be suffering from PTSD but aren't therapists) and 2) the focus is plainly on talk therapy and I'm an expressive arts therapist and found it a pity that he ignored or downplayed the plethora of literature that places ExA practices in the evidence-based category. I was also a bit confused about his ambivalent discussion of EMDR; it wasn't totally clear when it's useful and when it isn't. Still, a really helpful and important book in this field. I think I'll be able to put a lot of what I read here into practice right away.

[Vicki McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time sufferer of PTSD I appreciated this book. I don’t ever think I have ever read a book that brought me so close to literally wailing. It was as if someone finally understood all the things I have felt alone in for so long. Dr. Wolfelt gives practical and gentle advice for how to go about the work of mourning and self care. This is a good book for anyone who is grieving, not just people with PTSD. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because Alan D. Wolfelt is a grief expert, not a PTDS expert and there were a few times I had to take what he said with a grain of salt.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed perspective on trauma and healing in the aftermath. For me, the book's organization seemed scattered. I was also disappointed that the author did not touch on how children process traumatic events much differently than adults.

[Don Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and informative book that had a great deal of personal meaning for me along with wonderful insights. I like how the author refers to PTSD as an injury rather than a disorder and provides many examples and exercises that help. I've suffered from PTSD for a long time but never had a name for it. Now, this books validates my experiences and has provided me with more food for thought and some strategies to help my healing and recovery.