Randall Bell, Ph.D. shares their wealth of experience in not only surviving but thriving in Post-Traumatic Thriving – The Art, Science & Stories of Resilience. The reader is taken on an emotion journey as Randall helps explore what happens after a traumatic experience through the use of science and stories. I was sent a copy for review.
The Format of Post-Traumatic Thriving – The Art, Science & Stories of Resilience
Randall Bell explains how everyone has trauma, and with things like Covid-19 we may all be dealing with it more recently. That some traumas are big and obvious, but others can be lots of little things that mount up. Ideally we need to deal with them as they happen. With a process of how we respond to trauma. This he refers to as the “Dive Stage.”
The Dive Stage forms section one of the book which is then broken down into a further 5 chapters on what happens after trauma. Randall tells us not to skip through the book, but that actually we need to build a strong foundation to work from. There is also a warning that you must be in the right place (mentally) to read this, and a feeling of being safe and secure.
Survive Stage is section two, this again is split into a further five chapters. Before finally section three the Thrive Stage – and yet again a further five sub chapters.
Each is made up of commentary based on a wealth of experience, quotes, art, science and stories. It is all well explained and written in bite-sized chunks – which is good as not to over-whelm the reader. There are also techniques offered to help heal along the way too (backed by the science). The stories have an impact on the reader because they are about real people, with some familiar names which really helps to make them even more relatable.
Helping with Traumatic Experiences
Unresolved trauma is the most significant problem facing humankind. Randall says that there are two types of disaster and two great lies we tell ourselves. The two types of disaster are those that are caused by internal factors and those external factors. The lies are that it cannot happen to me and that there is no hope.
Some of the Early Examples in the Book of how Randall Bell shows ways to help with trauma:
Signs of Shock
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Fainting
- Heartbeat irregularities or palpitations
- Outbursts and screaming
- Pale, cold, clammy skin
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shallow, rapid breathing
- Thirst or a dry mouth
- Unconsciousness
If you’re not unconscious! Ask for help. Sit down and take slow, deep breaths. This can help ground you.
Sitting in the Fire
Having difficult conversations about what is real, without sugar-coating or glossing over anything, helps to relieve the pressure. The process is called “Sitting in the fire” because the raw words often burn with emotion. During these moments, we can be tempted to mask the hurt with humour, sarcasm, or some other distraction, but we must just sit in the fire.
There are different ways to do this:
- With a therapist
- A trusted family member of friend
- Journaling – writing things down can organize our thoughts and emotions. This can also be achieved with art.
Grounding
Randall explains an exercise called Grounding. Bell explains how it can help improve your memory, lower blood pressure, control anxiety and reduce stress. You can spend 60 seconds on it or 60 minutes.
My Thoughts on in Post-Traumatic Thriving – The Art, Science & Stories of Resilience
If I am honest I am still working my way through this book as I have quite a lot of trauma to unpack myself! As previously mentioned the book needs to be read from start to finish so that the reader can build their own foundation. By giving away too much more of what Randall Bell has to offer in in Post-Traumatic Thriving – The Art, Science & Stories of Resilience would just mean that a solid base would not be built.
Each individual’s trauma journey is going to look differently – and this is why I feel that everyone needs to read this book. Personally I have found that it is just right for me as it things are backed up with science, and interspersed with stories making it less of a heavy read.
There have been many things that have resonated with me and I have discovered why things work for me, as well as questioning some of my trauma-based beliefs.
About the Author
As a socio-economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history. Dr. Bell is widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” he is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. Dr. Bell’s research has been profiled on the Today Show, Good Morning America, every major television station, BBC Radio, Success Magazine, Forbes, Inc. Magazine and the international media.
For more information, visit https://www.coreiq.com/books, or follow the author on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/coreiqskills/); TikTok (@posttraumaticthrivingpod), Twitter (coreiq) or Instagram (coreiq).
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Publisher: Core IQ Press
Release Date: January 10, 2023
ISBN-13: 979-8218022648 (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-0996793193 (paperback)
Available from Amazon.com and all bookstores
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