Review: It’s not you, It’s what happened to You. Complex trauma and Treatment by Christine Courtois
As a keen reader I have a vast library of books, many from my previous studies, books and articles I had to read, and others, more personal to my interests. My book shelf is an eclectic collection of spiritual awakening books, mental health and mindful self help books and the bigger bulkier clinical/biological/pharmacological giants that could easily serve as door stops, or a health hazard if you accidentally drop one onto an unsuspecting metatarsal (that word would definitely have fallen out of one of them on the way down).
One of my skills, learned from the 10 years spent at university over the course of my career, is fast reading. This is very useful to viewers like yourselves here on a blog about book reviews. If it took me 20 years to read a chapter, it would take the rest of time to write the review. So, I am delighted to bring the review of my recent purchase, from Amazon:
Already half way through and I have learned facts about complex trauma, that have changed the way I view my own personal journey and the experiences that I have with C-PTSD. So easy to absorb, she writes with a fluency that connects you straight to the subject, avoiding over use of medical terminology.
She talks of the history of trauma and although she bases her knowledge and expertise in the US, the information is universal. She takes you right back to the Vietnam war, where, in the late 1960s trauma based responses were first starting to be recognised as more than hysteria or mental weakness. Other famous activist groups like the Women’s liberation, Adult Children of Alcoholics were starting to look at trauma as a condition in its own right.
She provides succinct definitions of trauma, and sub types, all captured in short paragraphs, easy to absorb and definitely relatable. Sometimes I thought she must be writing directly to me. She talks about different behaviours which stem from trauma, particular focus on childhood trauma, where my interest lies. She describes the links with trauma, and the manifestation in adult behaviour.
This is a must read, one I will return to frequently, and one which, even though only half way through, am confident will continue to inform and enlighten. A great first book on trauma if you are new to the subject, but just as good to those with more knowledge, if wanting to add different perspectives on the subject.
