Acknowledge and Heal: A Women-Focused Guide To Understanding PTSD

Ladies, what you're experiencing is a normal reaction to trauma. What happened was not your fault, and you deserve to heal. There is a lot of information out there about PTSD, but most of what's out there is not user friendly, because it is written by clinicians for clinicians using psychobabble that reads like Swedish furniture building instructions. While well-intentioned, it isn't easily digestible for the rest of us. If you aren't able to access the information you need, in a format that makes sense, the only thing you are left with is hearsay. Rumors and untruths will mess with your head and keep you from getting the treatment you deserve. Statistically, women are twice as likely to develop PTSD, experience a longer duration of posttraumatic symptoms, and display more sensitivity to anything that reminds them of the trauma. Often, women's experiences are dismissed, belittled, and invalidated – and even more so for women of color or women who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. That is not okay. In this book, we're going to dispel rumors, talk about various types of trauma, and speak to you like the caring friend you need. We want you to be able to recognize and acknowledge how the trauma has impacted you, without judgement or shame, so that you can confidently advocate for the right treatment and begin the healing process. Along the way, we'll also share real stories from survivors who have lived through the traumas we're covering. It is important that you know you are not alone, you have options, and you can reclaim your life. The bottom line: We want you to heal from your trauma.