Whether we realize it or not, all of us have some sort of trauma in our lives. Even the happiest of us… Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sad, I have a great family and a good career, a home, pretty much everything I’ve asked for.

But trauma is not about being unlucky. When I was a kid, we were quite poor, so there's a trauma. I put great value on money, and I work hard, harder than others, only because I don't want to be in the same situation again.

That's a trauma, and while some may agree that it's a good trauma because it made me a more responsible person, it's still a trauma. I still spend too much time working, rather than going in the other direction, my family.

Now, before reading a few trauma healing books, I didn’t even know I had trauma. On the same note, lots of people aren't aware of the traumas they've been exposed to. Sure, there are times when a trauma can't be missed, such as a divorce or perhaps a parent's death at a young age.

Things like that are pretty obvious. But even when things look alright, there’s still a hidden trauma out there that will prevent you from getting a perfect lifestyle.

With these ideas in mind, no matter how happy and fulfilled you are, here are a few trauma healing books that will most likely change your life, whether you’ll learn about your inner traumas or perhaps some holistic therapy techniques to overcome them. Let’s go!

What Are The Top Trauma Healing Books?

Re-Write, by Duygu Balan and Yener Balan (2023)

This book is my favorite and has a self-explanatory title. It will help you rewrite your mind and beliefs to overcome trauma in a highly effective manner. And the best part about it is it’s based on scientific, psychological and evidence-based methodologies to make it happen.

Until a decade or two ago, pretty much everything in this field was handled with medication and behavioral therapy. Today’s society needs something deeper and more effective. The holistic approach mentioned in this book is focused on somatic psychology and EDMR.

Throw in the recent pandemic and restrictions we had to go through too, and you'll realize there's more trauma in the world than ever, much of it developed over the past years. The extra stress in our lives has increased our sensitivity, meaning trauma responses can have quite an impact.

This book will take you in more directions, depending on what you truly need. You’ll discover a series of exercises that can make trauma history, but you’ll also go through particular prompts to encourage the healing process.

Furthermore, I specifically loved the coping mechanisms to implement into our lifestyles and the highly customizable soothing techniques. This book is a must-read!

Tiny Traumas, by Dr. Meg Arroll (2023)

I find myself in this book, from the first word to the last one. This book is perfect for those who feel like something might be wrong, but they can’t tell what it is. You know, tiny traumas that are not that easy to identify, but they’re there, ready to ruin your life. That’s what the author aims to fix…

Little things cause invisible traumas, and then, little things can change that by having major impacts. If you feel like you’re not getting anywhere or you need answers to various challenges or emotions, this book will give you the tools required to make a well deserved change.

Take a moment to answer this question… How do you feel? If you can’t give a specific answer, this book is for you. I know you don’t think you need it, but trust me, give it a try. You can’t always put a finger on a specific cause for how you feel, but you can still make changes.

No one cares about tiny traumas because we’ve been tricked into thinking they don’t matter. Wrong! It’s like anything else in life, many small things will cause something big. Life doesn’t have to be so suffocating, so learn to accept small issues and take action in order to change your life.

The Art of Feeling Better, by Matilda Heindow (2023)

You don’t need any sophisticated holistic therapy techniques or ultra complicated trauma healing books to change your life. Instead, it’s often about the attitude, but many times, we have no clue what to do next or what changes to make.

Sometimes, going through a challenge can be difficult. Then, even when life is full, and there's nothing to complain about, you still can't enjoy it to a maximum. In this book, the author will take you through her therapy. It’s a personal book written from a point of view, but it also tells you what she’s learned.

From the first day in therapy to the ultimate goal, the author reveals all sorts of tools and techniques that helped her. And the same things could help you too. There are 50 original illustrations and straightforward advice to turn your inner negative voice into a positive one or recognize bad habits.

You’ll also determine how to identify difficult feelings, what to do about them and how you can get better feelings in. I don’t know, but this book feels a bit like a good friend holding your hand through your life, simple as that.

A Toolkit for Your Emotions, by Dr. Emma Hepburn (2023)

There are quite a few reasons wherefore I chose to read a book by Dr. Emma Hepburn. She’s one of my favorite writers these days. If you’re not familiar with her, you should know she’s won plenty of awards for mental health awareness and her contributions.

She’s also a famous psychology illustrator on Instagram, so she looks like she knows what she's talking about. I gave her writing a chance, and I'm not regretting it. Before digging deeper, let me mention her stunning illustrations as well. Each lesson and idea is more memorable this way, but also meaningful.

So, what are you going to learn from this book? Dr. Emma Hepburn digs deeper into how we actually feel. She describes all sorts of feelings and emotions that we all experience at some point or another. But then, that’s not everything…

You’ll also be given solutions on how to intercept challenges and redirect unpleasant emotions in a different way. Stress, anxiety, drama, shame, anger, joy, you name it… Each feeling is described and comes with a few effective ways to handle it, just perfect.

Rest to Reset, by Suzy Reading (2023)

If you think traumas are all about childhood dramas or shocking happenings from recent years, you’re wrong. Take a moment to think about how you feel… Exhausted? Check. Difficult to turn off? Check. Struggling to find balance in life? Check.

I had all these, and I'm pretty sure there's plenty of people in this situation. This is one of those trauma healing books that will heal you and protect you against modern issues, such as the work and life balance. We all know we need to rest, but we never find the time to.

Suzy Reading is a renowned self-care professional. Her trauma healing or resting kit is straightforward and aims to bring balance into your life with nothing but a minute or two on a daily basis. It’s one of the most practical guides you’ll find out there, with easy to follow and direct instructions.

Like I said, this isn’t the type of emotional trauma you’ll overcome, but a more modern problem based on stress and anxiety. This is the perfect start to resetting your lifestyle and giving yourself a new and more balanced approach.

You’re Going to Be Okay, by Madeline Popelka (2022)

Madeline Popelka shares a few insights that she’s managed to discover throughout her healing journey. The book is written from a personal point of view. I know what you’re thinking, what worked for her may not always work for you, but let me tell you what this approach is about…

You’ll get, indeed, some insights about what worked for her, but you’ll also get the tools and ideas to customize these approaches in order to make them suitable to your lifestyle and unique issues. You’ll find out how to get comfort, reduce shame and feel better.

At times, I felt like this is a book of encouragement, and it does have a few things that will motivate you here and there. It’s about survivors of trauma, whether it’s something from your childhood or a more recent unfortunate event. Each chapter is a unique insight into such things, a very well detailed concept.

I learned how to release my shame, not to mention the constant problem of blaming myself for everything. Some ideas are easy to adapt, but others may seem a bit crazy… Trust me, it works. You’ll learn that a bad happening can be overcome, but you’ll also learn that it can become an experience.

No trauma is too small or too big, and people are affected in different ways. This book is for everyone. If you find it impossible to help yourself, this is the perfect guide to show you the path to light. You'll no longer feel alone. Instead, you'll find out that others have been in the same situation, and they've made it.

Emotional Inheritance, by Galit Atlas (2022)

This is the type of book that will teach you how to move beyond the legacy of trauma. In fact, it says so on the cover, and to be honest with you, it worked pretty well with me… And not just me, since I’ve recommended it to some of my friends as well.

It’s a friendly approach from someone who feels like being right next to you. Galit Atlas explains the idea of past family trauma, which inevitably keeps people connected to the past, without them even realizing it. I know, how can you not see it? But that’s true, there are things we do unconsciously.

Such trauma reshapes our lives by connecting to our relationships and decisions and again, we don’t even realize it. It prevents us from reaching our full potential. Getting rid of it will simply change your life to 180 degrees, or at least for me.

This is the type of book that will transform your life with its holistic therapy techniques. It comes from a reputable psychoanalyst, someone who knows what she’s talking about. She brings in a mix of personal stories, as well as stories from her patients, lessons and solutions to each situation.

What Happened to You?, by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry (2021)

Oprah? One of the most successful names out there. Dr. Bruce Perry? A renowned trauma expert. This book is a mix of conversations regarding their expertise and personal experiences. The two explore the possibility of childhood traumas influencing who we are today.

And it’s not all about traumas, but also about the good things that happened to us and their effects on us. Why do we see things in one way or another? What happened to us? Why are we behaving a certain way? Changing our perspective could change our lives, or at least that’s what they claim.

Both our physical and emotional health will be affected by our childhood. And as we start to understand how these things work, we become more aware of them. We turn more sensitive to the traumas we have experienced. A trauma is a risk, but also a predictor of how we’ll develop.

Apart from technical, yet easy to understand explanations, the two authors also share personal experiences from their childhood and how these things have reshaped their personalities.

Final Thoughts on Trauma Healing Books

Bottom line, these are probably my favorite trauma healing books out there. Whether you know you have a trauma, or you're actually trying to determine what might have gone wrong years ago, these books will open your eyes and help you rediscover yourself.

The best part about them? Many of the holistic therapy techniques you’ll discover can be applied straight away, without any experience at all.

Read also about some PTSD books to further understand the nature of traumas.

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