• Evelyn Hugo to Auction Off Gowns Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Evelyn Hugo to Auction Off Gowns: Film legend and iconic 1960s fashionista, Evelyn Hugo, is preparing to auction twelve of her most celebrated gowns through Christie’s, with the proceeds directed toward breast cancer research. At the age of 79, Hugo’s lasting impact on Hollywood and the fashion world remains undeniable, having captivated audiences with both her magnetic performances and her sophisticated, sensual style. Over the years, her wardrobe has become synonymous with timeless elegance, and…
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      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book is the fruit of thirty years of trying to understand how people deal with, survive, and heal from traumatic experiences. Thirty years of clinical work with traumatized men, women and children; innumerable discussions with colleagues and students, and participation in the evolving science about how mind, brain, and body deal with, and recover from, overwhelming experiences. Let me start with the people who helped me organize, and eventually publish, this book. Toni Burbank, my…
    • EPILOGUE: CHOICES TO BE MADE Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin EPILOGUE: CHOICES TO BE MADE We are on the verge of becoming a trauma-conscious society. Almost every day one of my colleagues publishes another report on how trauma disrupts the workings of mind, brain, and body. The ACE study showed how early abuse devastates health and social functioning, while James Heckman won a Nobel Prize for demonstrating the vast savings produced by early intervention in the lives of children from poor and troubled families: more high school graduations, less criminality,…
    • Chapter 20: Finding Your Voice: Communal Rhythms and Theater Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 20: In the world of acting, it's often said that the true essence of a character isn't something you simply put on but rather discover within yourself. The actor doesn't fabricate a persona but instead taps into an expanded version of their own identity, bringing out qualities they might not have fully realized were there. This process of self-discovery is crucial in both professional and therapeutic theater, where acting becomes more than just a performance; it becomes a method of healing and…
    • Chapter 19: Rewiring the Brain: Neurofeedback Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 19: Rewiring the Brain: Neurofeedback. The summer following my first year of medical school, I found myself working as a part-time research assistant in a sleep lab at Boston State Hospital. My responsibilities involved preparing and monitoring study participants while analyzing their EEG, or electroencephalogram, readings. Subjects would come in, I’d attach electrodes to their scalps and around their eyes, and set up machines to record brain activity throughout the night, all while analyzing the…
    • Chapter 18: Filling in the Holes: Creating Structures Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 18: Filling in the Holes: Creating Structures. Addressing trauma is more than just remembering the past—it involves confronting the deep voids left by feelings of neglect, fear, and abandonment. Growing up without affection, in a world where your pain went unseen, often leaves a person struggling to feel loved or wanted. The emotional scars from such experiences can distort one's sense of self-worth and agency, creating a lifelong challenge in forming a healthy identity. Research by Judy Herman…
    • Chapter 17: Putting the Pieces Together: Self-Leadership Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 17: Putting the Pieces Together: Self-Leadership. In life, we all experience moments where parts of ourselves seem to take over. For example, when confronted with trauma, we develop coping mechanisms that help us survive but may also fragment our sense of self. One of the key aspects of self-leadership is understanding and managing these internal parts, each with its own needs and responses. This process of integration is central to healing, especially for those who have faced significant trauma or…
    • Chapter 16: Learning to Inhabit your Body: Yoga Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 16: Learning to Inhabit Your Body: Yoga. Yoga offers more than physical benefits—it facilitates a deeper connection with our bodies and emotions, fostering a sense of inner peace and self-acceptance. When we begin to focus on the body, we activate a natural inclination toward self-care that emerges from within. This shift in attention, away from societal pressures and external standards, allows us to experience a new level of authenticity in how we care for ourselves. By practicing mindfulness…
    • Chapter 15: Letting Go of the Past: EMDR Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 15: Letting Go of the Past: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals process and release trauma that continues to impact their present lives. It works by using bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements, to access traumatic memories, and encourage the brain to reframe them. The process helps to integrate these memories in a way that allows individuals to view their trauma as something that happened in the past, rather than…
    • Chapter 14: Language: Miracle and Tyranny Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 14: Language: Miracle and Tyranny. This chapter focuses on the complexity of trauma and the role of language in its processing. The difficulty of articulating the effects of traumatic events highlights the limitations of traditional therapies like psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Many individuals, especially those recovering from trauma such as the September 11 attacks, have found more effective relief from non-verbal therapies like acupuncture, massage, yoga, and EMDR (Eye…
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