I was at a spiritual/alternative healing shop the other day and picked up a book about trauma symptoms to read while my husband was getting a psychic reading. I read for about an hour- I couldn't put it down! I have a background in psych and also worked as a rape crisis councilor on a hotline for a few years (which obviously required training)- but this stuff was all new to me. The book approached it from another angle. It was called "Waking the tiger: Healing trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences". It was about the animal world- how animals are frequently attacked but still they show no signs of trauma. And then it looked at the human brain and experience and explained why we DO show signs of PTSD after being attacked (or any other range of difficult events). The book is not specifically about sexual trauma or abuse (in fact, it references a wide range of possible experiences that induce these kinds of reactions in people)- but if you are interested in psychology, spirituality, or just maybe understanding the science of why we react this way- you may want to check it out. I am in no way insinuating that extensive therapy, drugs, etc may not be necessary in many cases to even step into the pain that some people with ptsd are feeling. However, if you are the kind of person who is curious about all the different perspectives on trauma, who feels close with nature or finds healing there, or who just likes to try to help yourself (while simultaneously getting help from professionals)- check it out for sure. I, for one, found a lot of healing in just *understanding* my overwhelming reactions.

Gotcha-I requested it from the library.

After escaping a near-death experience, an animal will shake itself rigorously in an effort to distance itself from the episode.

I don't think humans have that, certainly not children or adolescents, and especially those from dysfunctional homes where the language of healing, boundaries, and help and safety are not practiced.

Thanks for the tip.

"animals are frequently attacked but still they show no signs of trauma"

That line alone should make you run as fast as possible away from this book and idea.
What would an outward sign of the "trauma" of being attacked be in an animal?
As for not showing any signs of the "trauma". Conceding for the point that this concept might be valid not showing signs isn't proof of anything as the concept assumes. I was made to forget with drugs and electicity and still had all the internal symptoms of my abuse for over 40 years w/o ever knowing about the abuse that caused it. I'd bet any unread lay person I knew over that time would say I showed no "signs" of abuse. Yet I was abused and was suffering greatly from it.

Just because abused domestic animals show signs of that abuse ion fear based biting or timidity doesn't extrapolate to an animal not having any outward sign of trauma wasn't or isn't suffering. Remember in the wild the animal must "look" healthy and fit. That appearance is more important than the fact of health or fitness to survival. I worked my whole life in agonizing pain yet never once told anyone how bad it really was. Because to avoid daily attacks in my personal death camp the Shelter if I showed any sign of the injuries I had I was immediatley attacked just like any wild animal would be.

Hi, my brothers,

My brother, kidneythis, what you say about looking weak, sure hits home with me.

Like you it took me 55 years,to learn what caused it.

You said it well, for a whole bunch of us. Thanks.

"I will take that lost boys hand, and i will lead him from the depths of darkness, into the sunshine, forever into eternity,"

Heal well, my brothers, heal well.

Pete..Irishmoose.