Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience
Books | Psychology / Psychopathology / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Laurence Gonzales
You have survived the crisis—trauma, disease, accident, or war—now how do you get your life back? A traumatic or near-death experience can change every aspect of the survivor’s being. It can erase the body’s learned adaptations, and in some cases, those who live through such a shock suffer more in the aftermath than they did during the actual crisis. In all cases, they must work hard to reinvent themselves. Combining harrowing tales of survival with lucid explanations of the science behind the body’s reactions to trauma, Surviving Survival offers a valuable and “intriguing argument about the adaptability of the human spirit” (National Geographic Traveler).
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Author
Laurence Gonzales
Pages
272
Publisher
W. W. Norton & Company
Published Date
2012-09-10
ISBN
0393089908 9780393089905
Community ReviewsSee all
"As someone who has gone through cancer and trauma, and the aftermath of adjusting to a new life and self, this book resonated so much with me. It helped crystallize some of the things I’ve learned about making my new world, identifying with my new self identity, and how to survive when my view has forever changed.<br/><br/>It was great until the last chapter or so..where in crept the toxic culture of suck it up, just be grateful that you’re alive still, and don’t be a victim. It’s fine that this attitude works for some people, but those who are struggling to “survive survival” typically something different than these common responses, and in many ways harms us and delays our healing. <br/><br/>It’s still worth reading, but I’d skip the last 2 chapters and avoid the best practices and the cliche responses that bring up more shame than healing."
Erika Goodmanson