Welcome before we begin our morning, I wanted to share a new self -help book Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience by Randall Bell, PH.D which I received a copy of in exchange for this review.
Most of us have heard of PTSD but may not know how it affects stress and grief but through Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience I found myself dealing with the death of my daughter Suzzane in a more positive way. I used the 3 steps when Charlie and I would get overwhelmed in Homeschool and we’ve been able to become closer and to get more work done in a timely manner.
Not only is Charlie and David getting along better but so are Charlie and I. Charlie and I read this book in our Homeschool Reading Class. Then Charlie and I discussed Dr. Bell breaking down the neuroscience which is always helpful when things are explained in plain English. Dr. Bell also shared a lot of simple techniques that help when dealing with stress that allow you to take control of anxiety and make you feel calm.
Dr. Bell shares his own personal story of trauma and recovery. Dr. Bell also takes the reader on a journey through the healing process using examples of real people, some of whom you will recognize. Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience is something everyone will relate to and best of all, a pathway with specific steps for the reader to build on and ultimately embrace themselves and their uniqueness .Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience book is a blueprint for thriving in your life
About:
Today we see crime, abuse, alcoholism, drugs, anger, and anxiety everywhere. Jails and prisons are crammed on an industrial scale. Recovery centers are packed with patients. Extreme political and religious groups regularly trap more members. Too many schools are simply factories for dropouts. All of this is the result of unresolved trauma. Ultimately, the quality of our lives depends on our ability to successfully process our heartbreaks and catastrophes
By college age, 66% to 85% of all people have been impacted by at least one traumatic experience. COVID has arguably traumatized everyone. In Post-Traumatic Thriving, we follow the journey from the depths of the initial shock to the pinnacle of ultimate healing and growth. This book interweaves advanced Science with the stories of people who have not just survived, but used their trauma as the fuel to thrive:
• A devoted wife and mother, Debbie discovers that her husband―who died of suicide―led a double life • Leo lost an eye and his hearing in two separate accidents • When only 17, JC was convicted of murder and sent to San Quentin prison for life • Ron, a gifted athlete whose dreams of Olympic glory were dashed • Susan, whose luxury home was demolished by a landslide • John was living an idyllic island life when his daughter was killed by nuclear fallout • Erica was a young Hungarian girl whose life was brutalized by the Nazis • Tonya’s sister―her sweet, caring, innocent sister―was horrifically murdered • Born with cerebral palsy, Geri fought bullies and rampant discrimination • Joe longed for a relationship with his father, but the Mafia got to his father first • And finally, a little boy who learned that only open-heart surgery would save him – He is, the author of this book
These people not only faced their trauma but thrived in remarkable ways. Post-Traumatic Thriving bridges the iconic work of Dr. Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief and the pioneering work of Dr. Richard G. Tedeschi and Dr. Lawrence G. Calhoun involving trauma and growth. This is the ideal companion book for therapists and patients alike. When trauma hits, your most significant decision will be to dive, survive, or thrive. If you chose to thrive, this book is for you. The principles have the power to change the world. If that doesn’t happen, at least they will change your world.
About the Author
Randall Bell, PhD, is a sociologist and economist who specializes in disaster recovery projects.
No stranger to how harsh the world is, Dr. Bell has consulted in more tragedies around the world than anyone. He was retained for the World Trade Center, Flight 93, Sandy Hook, BP Oil Spill, Hurricane Katrina, the Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test sites, the BP Oil spill, the Northridge earthquake, OJ Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Heaven’s Gate, and hundreds of other cases. He has been retained by the Federal Governments of the United States, Canada, and Australia to help resolve numerous crises, and his work has generated billions of dollars to rebuild damaged communities.
Dr. Bell’s investigations have taken him to 50 states, and seven continents. Having met with countless victims, he earned the nickname of Master of Disaster. In every case, Dr. Bell observed the emotional consequences and how some fared better than others. He was inspired to put his unique research skills to work and study the cycle of trauma.
A frequent guest of the media, Dr. Bell is the featured expert in Topic’s “Distressed Real Estate” documentary series directed by Jason Stefaniak. His career has been profiled by NBC’s Today Show, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, ABC’s 20/20, Hallmark’s Home & Family, and many others.
Dr. Bell is the author of MeWeDoBe and the founder of Core IQ, a non-profit educational foundation that provides free online training on life skills. He is certified through the Insight Prison Project to facilitate group discussions with victims and offenders at San Quentin Prison. He has been active in jail ministries and a volunteer in homeless shelters.
In Post-Traumatic Thriving, Dr. Bell lays out the academic research and speaks freely about his trauma of being born with a congenital heart defect. Diagnosed with PTSD, he utilized these principles to heal from his childhood trauma and summit Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro at 60.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
