Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma

by Ken Falke, Josh Goldberg

Your struggle may come in different forms, and be given one of many different names, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and/or PTSD. No matter how much you or a loved one is struggling, or what it is called, one thing is almost certainly clear: you aren’t living the life you desire or deserve. Still, there is hope. By embracing the struggle, rather than fighting it, you can stop surviving and start thriving. Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg train combat veterans battling PTSD to understand and achieve Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). PTG helps you discover opportunities from times of struggle, and this book provides actionable strategies for making peace with past experiences, living in the present, and planning for a great future. Through Ken and Josh’s work, thousands have transformed struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. Now it is your turn. It’s time to learn to Struggle Well.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction

227 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jessica Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves and supports a few ppl with ptsd I really appreciated this book and the insights it offers on growing through struggle.

[Karen Sofarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read for a self help book. I love the philosophy and intelligence of these 2 authors. I love that I can refer combat veterans t this program and also use this book with veterans in treatment with me. So clear and such an inspiration.

[Stephanie Pinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

[Frank Theising · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one started out really promising and does contain some good info…but I rapidly lost interest as this book is padded with an excessive number of personal stories and anecdotes that really stretch it out. It feels like they are trying to explain their approach to you as if you were a small child who won’t get it unless they dumb it down for you. I honestly lost interest about half way through and really wanted to move onto something else. But because I have this annoying aversion to quitting a book once I start, I pushed through and finished it.

The intent of the authors here is certainly noble. They created their program (and wrote this book) because they encountered so many ineffective programs that were stood up to help treat veterans returning from war zones. They wanted to consolidate what was working and replicate it at scale. This sounded intriguing, but I’m not sure they delivered (at least with this book…maybe their Boulder Crest Retreat is an amazing treatment center if you are there in person).

As you dive into the book, you really get all the pertinent information on how to handle (or help others handle) trauma pretty early in the book and you could really skim the last two thirds without missing much. As for the information, I was exposed to some new ideas like post traumatic growth: the trend whereby trauma victims (like POWs) are often likely to go on to lead productive, fulfilling lives as a result of learning from their experiences and finding new meaning in helping others. But by and large there really aren’t any major revelations or epiphanies when it comes to the advice here. Their recommendations boil down to four main points:

1. Reflect on your past experiences so you can understand how they are impacting your current attitudes and behaviors.
2. Cultivate wellness practices across the major areas of your life (Mental, physical, spiritual, financial).
3. Build meaningful relationships and stay connected to a network of other healthy people
4. Finding meaning in servicing others (often by sharing your own struggles and growth).

This may be cynical on my part, but this is all pretty standard life advice. Most of the people I know who are not happy or missing any long term fulfilment are that way because they ignored making smart decisions and following traditional wisdom that should have been passed down from your parents and grandparents (point 2 above), they don’t have meaningful friendships in our perpetually online world (point 3 above), or they are self-absorbed and don’t ever meaningfully serve others (point 4 above).

As stated above, this is all good advice and my rating here is not intended to disparage this advice or their noble efforts of the authors to help veterans (or others) recover from past trauma. I just did not find the book well written or particularly compelling. 2 stars.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Struggle Well is a eye opening book that everyone should be reading if they are around individuals who struggle with PTSD.
I know others will make this quote in the book because it identifies the large issues with PTSD and Military men and women coming home and how do they come back to normal when their normal hasn't been "Normal"

"We’ve learned in working with veterans that their problems have a lot more to do what they are coming home to, rather than what they are coming back from. The military teaches men and women how to be Soldiers, but no one teaches them how to live a meaningful and productive life out of uniform. In truth, no one teaches civilians how to do that either—until now."

This story isn't anything new but the way it is written will help everyone better understand the mind set as well as those who struggle with PTSD and that their is help for those who are struggling to adjust back to "normal life."
PTSD effects not just the individual but those who surround them. Children, Wives, Family and friends.
This is a must read.
I will be recommeding this to everyone I know.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Lioncrest Publishing

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there is likely an audience for this book- one that is looking for something basic about self help (hence the 2 stars)- as a licensed therapist who has been working with Veterans for almost 20 years, this book is not one I would recommend to my clients.

There is some bad advice here that could contribute to more pain and hurt for the reader. Placing the responsibility on the individual to have a realization in the “My Old Story” exercise (“it’s your turn to stop it”) implies that overcoming trauma is something that is easily within one’s control.

The book fails to understand complex PTSD, retraumatization, and the severity of symptoms that can make it almost impossible to function.

If trauma is new to you and your experience is mild, this book may work as a source of inspiration. It’s an extension of the in person workshops the authors have offered where it seems people have an ah-ha moment and are able to have the veil of trauma lifted.

I recommend that those with significant trauma focus on books written by licensed clinicians such as Bessel van der Kolk, Bruce Perry, Judith Herman, or go directly to Tedeschi’s work on PTG- Transformed by Trauma.

[Robert Bogue]

Just because you’re in a prison doesn’t mean you’re a prisoner. It’s the first highlight of a book that seeks to teach the difference between the conditions that you were – or are – in and the way that you process it, label it, and let it change you. Everyone will face trauma in their lives. There is no choice in this regard. However, the question is whether you’ll use this trauma to grow or whether you’ll allow the trauma to crush you. Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma comes from the Boulder Crest Foundation based in Virginia, and it’s based in some of the best we know about trauma and growth.

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[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing I haven't learned from all the head shrinkers over the years tbh. Does anyone really "thrive" after you experience war? Nope. You learn to cope. The tough guys will make you believe killing is nothing,it's ez. Our culture teaches the same. When you're fighting for your life,it is. When it's over,not so much......at least if you have a conscience. You learn all you want from books. Living it is another matter all together......

You do have to move on with your life,the best you can. "Thriving"? Me thinks not. War sucks. No matter how many pills you pop,or therapy you're in.

[JONATHAN CLAPHAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone working with Combat Veterans

This explains a unique and potentially life changing model for "post traumatic growth", an essential for mental health practitioners and military charities. And U love the metaphors..they bring the model to life and make it easy to understand. Congratulations Ken and Josh on a stunning read

[Amanda G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a refreshing approach to PTSD and trauma recovery. I’ve read and studied a great deal in PTSD, and I loved the perspective, optimism and realistic view of the struggle associated with trauma. The focus on Post Traumatic Growth, and the positive ways one can move through and past trauma was great.

[Beth M James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for those struggling with PTSD, anxiety, addiction, or trauma. I also recommend this book for those who know someone struggling with the above life events/emotions. I learned so much from this book on how to help someone struggling and how to be supportive. I also learned tips to improve my well-being.

[BurkeyReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book was good, and I do think it could help a lot of people. But it’s not for me. The methods in this book could help a lot of people but the main surrounding principle that drive the methods is something I don’t see being achievable for me. But try it, give it a read and see if it’s a better fit for you than it is for me.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, a lot of the topics and principles shared in the pages I had already known. This book reaffirmed most of my values. Learned a few new things here and there. Overall a decent book. It’s also inspirational about the work these authors are doing in the lives of veterans.

[Daniel Brigman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good and is filled with information. I'm not sure if it's because I took the class, but it did feel like the book was padded with extra information and stories that felt a little unnecessary.

[Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Began this as a beach read and then put it down because vacation was over. The concept of Post Traumatic Growth was explained well through out the book and the writing style kept me engaged. Interesting read and helpful map for turning struggles into strengths.

[Brandon]

Perfect for public service veterans. Non-pedantic, simple language. Ideal for anyone that is not familiar with brain science.

[Melissa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the emphasis on Post Traumatic GROWTH! Very hopeful and practical.

[Emily Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend to any veteran or family to veterans. This is applicable to both civilians and military, but was an eye opener as a daughter of a veteran.

[Cheree Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you feel like you’re once again s

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is packed full of great information to help educate folks about post traumatic stress or better yet post traumatic winning or what the authors call struggling well. Trauma has an impact on us and it comes at us from many directions with different affects. How we learn to adapt and struggle through what our eyes have seen can make is stronger. This book I felt was a fantastic look into an often overlooked and stigmatized topic of trauma and the stress it can and does cause. Learn to struggle well by reading this book.

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book for Overcoming Trauma

Loved this book! Ken and Josh did an amazing job of sharing the practices that will help anyone with any type of trauma overcome it and live a life that's fulfilled and joyful. I highly recommend this book for ALL humans.