Dial It Down (ePub)

Trauma is perhaps the defining feature of our time. Millions of Americans have recently experienced trauma through their work as military servicemembers, first responders, and frontline medical workers. Millions more have faced unprecedented levels of loss and traumatic stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But very little has been written that directly speaks to these trauma survivors, offering proven daily strategies and hope for reclaiming a sense of safety, connectedness, and self. Dial It Down offers innovative yet simple ways for readers to understand and recover from post-traumatic stress. Dr. Judith Kimball draws on the latest scientific research and on her years of experience working with trauma survivors to reveal that while trauma is often seen purely as a mental health issue, it also leads to physical changes in how the brain reacts to stimuli from the environment, creating a bias toward a fight-or-flight response. This fight-or-flight hyperarousal is important for staying alive during trauma, but it can persist when the trauma is over, severely limiting the ability to participate fully in life, including in relationships with family and friends. The book includes client histories to demonstrate the often-subtle effects of trauma, including problems with physical intimacy and wariness even in familiar settings. Along with each of these stories, Dr. Kimball offers inspiring examples and strategies for personal transformation. Dial It Down will reshape how readers understand their responses to life after trauma, and will provide the tools needed to heal. The book offers proven methods for assessing fight-or-flight hyperarousal, and for designing simple self-treatment programs. As people suffering from traumatic stress regain a sense of control over their own daily responses, they will also regain a sense of connectedness to others. Dial It Down shows that post-traumatic healing and growth are possible, for individuals, families, and communities.