Map Your Healing Journey

PTSD and Complex PTSD are complicated conditions with a lot of moving parts. Living with Complex PTSD from childhood, I intimately understand how difficult it can be to try and explain this condition to another person. This is on top of trying to grasp how much this disorder affects me on a daily basis.

Often when individuals and couples work with me, they don’t know about how trauma affects our brains and bodies. Why would we? We are not taught in our culture how to acknowledge and deal with trauma and grief.

Over the last year, I have recommended the following books over and over again. The first set is for trauma survivors and PTSDers, and the second set is for the partners of trauma survivors and PTSDers.

Regardless, *ALL* of these books are valuable for both trauma survivors and partners, family members, and support people to read or listen to on your favorite audio book platform.

PTSD Books for Trauma Survivors

Not all trauma survivors have PTSD, but all PTSDers are survivors of trauma. Here are what I consider the absolute BEST books about trauma and PTSD. I have used them all, and provide one caveat: this stuff can be triggering, so take good care when reading and utilizing these resources.

First, there is The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – This book is amazing. Everyone needs to read it. Here is the summary:

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

More for the PTSDers

Next is Complex PTSD by Pete Walker – This is basically the PTSD Bible. This book is *comprehensive.* Plus, there’s the acknowledgement of the Complex form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder right there in the title. Here is the summary:

“Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving” is a comprehensive, user-friendly, self-help guide to recovering from all the the lingering effects of childhood trauma. It is an overview of the tasks of recovering, and an illumination of the silver linings that can come out of effective recovery work. It is also a map of the recovery process, and contains a great many practical tools and techniques for recovering from CPTSD. It is also richly illustrated with examples of his own and others’ journeys of recovering.

And finally, we have The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms by Mary Beth Williams

– OR –
The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole by Arielle Schwartz PhD

Either one of these workbooks is great. I will say that Arielle Schwartz is known for developing self-compassion, so that workbook has this context.

PTSD Books for Partners and Loved Ones

Next there are books for partners, loved ones, and friends of those who have PTSD. These books are about learning about your loved one and PTSD and empowering support people.

I love both of these books, and I recommend using them together, as they provide a good foundation of information as well as helpful exercises.

First, there is When Someone You Love Suffers From Posttraumatic Stress by Claudia Zayfert, which is a great, comprehensive look at trauma and PTSD from an outside perspective. This book has a lot of solid information that is easy to find and resource. Here’s the summary:

For trauma survivors struggling with intense memories and emotions, it often feels like life won’t ever be “normal” again. Effective treatments are out there, but the needs of family members are often overlooked. Will the person you love ever get better? What can you do to promote healing? Where can you turn when you just can’t cope? From experienced trauma specialists Drs. Claudia Zayfert and Jason C. DeViva, this compassionate guide is packed with information, support, vivid stories, and specific advice. Learn to navigate the rough spots day by day and help your loved one find a brighter tomorrow.

The Companion Book

To use in partnership with the first book is Loving Someone With PTSD by Aphrodite Matsakis. This book has less comprehensive information but has exercises that help supportive people to take stock of themselves and their relationship as well as instructs them with moving forward while dealing with PTSD. Here is the summary:

With this informative and practical book, you will increase your understanding of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, improve your communication skills with your loved one, set realistic expectations, and work to create a healthy environment for the both of you. In addition, you will learn to manage your own grief, helplessness, and fear regarding your partner’s condition.

These PTSD books are some of my all-time favorite resources from this last year. Like I said in the beginning, take good care when accessing these books, as triggers abound. Don’t forget to give yourself a break!

_{FYI, I have an affiliate Amazon link and I receive a tiny amount of compensation for using it}_{. It helps me pay my office rent.}