The Trauma Heart: We Are Not Bad People Trying to Be Good, We Are Wounded People Trying to Heal--Stories of Survival, Hope, and Healing

by Judy Crane

The majority of people addicted to substances or process addictions such as relationship disorders, eating disorders, self-harming behaviors, gambling or pornography are trauma survivors . Many people caught in the web of addiction don't identify as trauma survivors until their personal, familial, intergenerational, and in-uterine history is exposed. Unfortunately, relapse is inevitable without trauma resolution that can only take place once their history is exposed. It is only when that happens that the behavior disorders will finally make sense.

For almost 30 years Judy Crane has worked with clients and families who are in great pain due to destructive and dangerous behaviors. Families often believe that their loved one must be bad or defective, and the one struggling with the addiction not only believes it, too, but feels it to their core. The truth is, the whole family is embroiled in their own individual survival coping mechanisms—the addicted member is often the red flag indicating that the whole family needs healing.

In The Trauma Heart , Crane explores the many ways that life's events impact each member of the family. She reveals the essence of trauma and addictions treatment through the stories, art, and assignments of former clients and the staff who worked with them, offering a snapshot of their pain and healing.

Genres: Psychology

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2017

Reviews

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of torn on this book. On one hand, I love that she's writing about trauma, addiction and healing in this way because I feel like we - as a society - really need lots of voices speaking up about this. On the other hand, the book used a lot of outdated and dehumanizing language (alcoholic, addict) and I found it swung wildly to this effervescent overly cheery representation of recovery into stories of very graphic trauma memories with no warning. It was totally jarring to me. I also stopped because it was offering a lot of info I'm familiar with mixed with tons of stories, and that wasn't what I was looking for.

[Rena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very graphic book. Tells stories that turned my stomach. There was information I had not heard before. Linking addictions to in-utero trauma's. I learned about processing addictions and about the difference between them. I learned a lot about the care I need to take when hearing other's trauma and much more about processing it. The thing about this book that makes so much sense is something she says. Understand the trauma and the behavior makes sense. I only do not give it a higher rating because of the graphic nature of some of the stories.

[Dan Hostetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformative. Very clear and with usable advice.

[Robert Narucki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for trauma and addictions!

Very practical and informative read on trauma and recovery with the role of addictions have on trying to cope through the trauma symptoms one suffers. Healing and having one's strong voice is important.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must confess I bought this book solely because my daughter took the pictures for this book. However, this is an excellent story of a residential trauma treatment facility. It is filled with success stories about the people that have gone there for treatment. The author also weaves in her own trauma recovery story throughout the book. There is a strong message throughout on the importance of health care professionals to seek and undergo their own healing journey. This is important message that I believe many health professionals do not honor for themselves. I'm sure I will reference back to this book as I engage with those that come across my path with their trauma stories and healing journey.

[Dan Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting & informative. my only criticism would be that at times I felt like I was reading an advertisement for the author's' treatment centers.