23 Books For Healing
- Jana Hodgins
- Sep 26, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2022
This collection of books was a guide to recognizing and understanding my trauma. These books are the reason I learned to identify my symptoms of PTSD and depression, practice awareness and open pieces of my heart and mind to heal through to where I am today.
Books are listed (nearly) in the order in which they were read. This is a historical list and I recognize many of these authors are the same as my own identity - white women. I am open to any additional recommendations from authors of color on topics of trauma as I strive toward a more inclusive education.
The single greatest book for any survivor to understand how trauma manifests physiologically. Validation on how mental illness and trauma is NOT all in your head. Practical guide for how to feel safe in your body again.
A necessary reminder and a cool twist about epigenetics, aka how trauma can chemically impact a person’s genes, and be passed down to future generations. Many writing exercises and a workbook, so consider the paper copy. Highly revered by a friend who grew up with addicts, alcoholics and neglect.
This was one of the first books I read on my healing journey after finally admitting I had been sexually assaulted and raped. It helped me to see the larger, systemic forces at work in the oppression and violence against women. It was also really enlightening about how rapists think, ie nearly half of men would force a woman to have sex if the word 'rape' was omitted.
Recommended to me by a Stage 4 cancer survivor, a story about a dying neurosurgeon answering the question “What makes life meaningful enough to go on living?” Especially helpful during a period of suicidal ideation. Added benefit of many medical and technical explanations.
I was gifted this book by my sister before I left for the Peace Corps. It's what sparked my healing through adventure, better on the other side outlook. It's also part of the reason I started writing my story. All around good book, a total classic of our time, written by a woman who currently lives in my hometown of Portland, Oregon.
Traumatic tale of loss, grief and healing through yoga. Yoga has become a tool I can use in my life to find peace, and booked helped me get there. This is not a technical book about asanas or salutations, but an honest story of healing.
If you can't get out of bed today, what's the one thing you can take care of? If you can't clean the whole apartment, what's the one thing to make an impact? Clearly we can't do everything, and this book helped me to start looking at my life one step at a time. It also really indicated how sometimes the one thing I can do to make moves on a project, at work, with friends/family is rest. Mind blown.
The book on how to dig yourself out of a hole. Most the people in my family have read this book. Very insightful about how little changes have a big impact. One of my biggest takeaways - put things in your line of sight. I use this all. the. time. When I want to take something to the car, I put it on the door handle. When I need some extra motivation, I leave my yoga mat out at the altar.
Life changing for a perfectionist like me. I listened to this book three times in a row! It was short and sweet. For some reason this book does not have a lot of good reviews on Amazon, but as one reviewer Termitesforhire said, "it really does help you to focus more on big picture concepts of your life, what you're here to do, who matters most, and gets you thinking about your top life goals." I was inspired to a new way of living.
I'm sure I don't need to impart the importance of this book on you. For me, Glennon Doyle has a way of speaking where it just clicks. I reflected on my life as a little girl and how I started to become something I wasn't to impress others, and how I could get the spark and joy and authenticity of my inner child back. I listen to this regularly, in between other books, and still hear valuable information. Huge plus for a woman coming out in her adulthood!
Instantly connected with the title, as I was a blackout girl! I heard the author speaking on a podcast and immediately purchased the book. I was not disappointed. Trigger warning for sure, but super authentic, raw and real. Helped me face my own demons about my drinking and sexual assault.
Essential insight on any personal development journey. How to be authentic, stand in your beliefs, foster empowering relationships, etc. This was a crucial guide while I was finding my footing estranged from my family.
After reading this book, I was able to identify how much of my internal dialogue and decision making was linked to shame, how shame was the real impact of my sexual trauma, and how shame can be identified and overcome. So many brave women come forward to talk about shame in this collection. This is the original Brené Brown.
Very powerful, very validating. Special props to the science and research of childhood trauma and how survivors tend to suffer a higher number of autoimmune and inflammation diseases. Totally didn't see it at the time, but there's a lot of information about the correlation between trauma and addiction.
Pretty simple concept, easy narration. All the evidence and examples about how counting backwards from 5 can trick your brain into taking the leap!
Not to be confused with the other recommended book about air by a neurosurgeon. I found the science of the brain to be especially helpful in understanding how PTSD changes the brain, similar to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Very honest, highly technical. Not to be read before brain surgery.
An obvious affirmation in starting to feel like a whole, valuable individual. Really funny, raw and real. I will admit, there are some biases. As I was already bought in to some of the power of positivity and believing when I read this book, it had a great impact on me.
I have literally never felt so seen by a book. This woman is around my age (thirty, flirty and thriving), and seems to share in a lot of the same worries and woes of my bisexual self. Excellent read for confidence in coming out.
Top notch, latest in trauma therapy, the author of the Internal Family System writes on how to connect with and accept all the parts of ourselves. I riff on this in Conversations With My Self to detail some of my parts in conflict. This book helped me to acknowledge all my parts and how they have helped me become who I am today.
Groundbreaking. This is a survivors manifesto. I have read and reread this, highlighting different parts and reflecting on their impact. Chanel Miller is an intensely powerful author. Formerly known as Emily Doe in the Stanford Rape trial.
Such an incredible book. So many nuggets of wisdom. I keep this on my yoga altar to be picked up whenever I'm feeling the inspiration and it never disappoints. Acceptance does not make someone thing right or ok, but an opportunity to be as you are, feel your feelings and give space to where you are right now in this moment.
Empowering memoir meets masterclass. This book inspires writing as a form of healing and signifies the importance of sharing your story as a way to change the world. Write your reality into existence. These stories, your story, needs to be shared.
Identify your behaviors and patters, become aware. We often repeat the same cycles over and over again, particularly as it relates to PTSD. Buddhist teachings on the natural qualities we possess which can heal us. Many exercises to expand your brain.
Please note: I am an Amazon affiliate and may receive compensation if you purchase any of the books on the links provided.
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