Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma Paperback – December 13, 2013

Stop scrolling and listen up. Do not even purchase another CPTSD book until you have read this one. Trust me, I have spent THOUSANDS, yes, thousands, of dollars on trauma healing resources related to CPTSD and its hellish symptoms but this one is *BY FAR* the best. It's the kind of book where you highlight almost every single sentence on every single page. Here's why:1.) Emergency Preparedness. Unfortunately, the way in which I learned about my CPTSD diagnosis was through a massive emotional flashback. In 2021 I decided to leave a marriage full of the same religious, psychological, emotional, and physical abuse that I was raised in. During this process, old trauma was triggered in a way I had never experienced before. For months I had been living in constant hyperarousal. I felt like a panicky and frantic child. The slightest sounds and movements would throw me into full blown panic attacks. I was insecure, anxious, impulsive, and afraid. I couldn't sleep or eat. I am only 5' and normally weigh 115 lbs and lost 20 lbs in 2 months. I was irritable, couldn't concentrate on my job, and felt constantly on guard. None of this was good considering I own my own six figure business and am a mom to three little kids. I kept digging and researching and everything I found was kind of similar but didn't really describe whatever it was I was experiencing. I had even bought another famous book on CPTSD looking for answers and it held none.But, 6 months later, I found this book. Pete Walker begins the book by saying something along the lines of, "if you are experiencing such-and-such symptoms, skip to page _____," so I did. My mind was blown, tears were falling down my face because I finally had a name to what it was I had been experiencing for 6 entire months now! It was an emotional flashback. Emotional flashback's are interesting because they do not have the visual element that is present in PTSD flashbacks and they can last for a long time. Mine ended up lasting 6 months and the only reason it stopped was because of this book.Sadly, until I read Pete's book, I had no idea what was happening. I just kept telling my friends who were helping me, "this isn't me. This isn't me. Something is wrong." I knew I wasn't myself, I just didn't know why. Now I'm here 8 months later trying to play catch up on all the areas of my life that suffered while I was in my emotional flashback. I wish I had found this book sooner. There is so much power in being able to name what you are experiencing and this book helped me do that.2.) Path to healing. When you first find out you have CPTSD its overwhelming to know where to begin your healing journey. The first book about CPTSD that I bought was a workbook, it was okay, but it was NOTHING compared to this book. Had I found this book sooner, I wouldn't have even bought the other one. Other famous CPTSD authors lay out the the different options for CPTSD healing (CBT, DBT, EMDR, Somatic, Internal Family Systems, Inner Child work, etc.), but Pete takes it a step further and tells you exactly where to start. Which is a massive relief because the last thing you want to do when your CPTSD has been activated is spend hours attempting to research opinions from people who don't even know what it is you're going through. The best part is, if you're distrustful or curious like me, Pete even explains why he puts certain steps before others. .3.) Lists. No one has time to read an entire chapter when their (or someone they love's) nervous system has been thrown into hypo- or hyper-arousal and they need to figure out what triggered them and why. Which is why Pete's easy to remember and easy to find checklists are literal lifesavers.4.) Pete Walker knows his stuff because he is a survivor himself. As a child I was told that I was a punishment from God on my mother. This statement was only the beginning of a deep seeded core belief I had that I was innately, permanently broken. Pete's book and the memories and experiences he describes didn't feel triggering to me but healing. It felt like for the first time in my life I could acknowledge that I was normal. I wasn't broken. Nothing was wrong with me. This book is validating and enlightening. A true salve for the traumatized soul.There are a million other reasons as to why this book is the best of the best, but, I digress. Just trust me and the other 6,000 people leaving reviews here and BUY THIS BOOK NOW!

I am a reader that has been diagnosed with C-PTSD. What attracted me to this book is not only the authors professional knowledge on the subject but also the fact that they themselves are a survivor. They describe the situations, triggers and torment that those with C-PTSD have had to endure throughout their lives using a carefully worded yet accurate description of difficult challenges that are most common for those suffering, what those challenges could look like during childhood and how it transforms and shapes the survivors in adulthood. The author maintains a sincerity throughout the book and does not try to promise that one will heal tomorrow or next week using their techniques. They use an honest and open tone and let the reader know what they can expect moving forward, and set a realistic expectation for the reader letting them know this is a long term journey where patience and self compassion is highly encouraged.This is my personal experience: this book definitely made me break down crying several times. I felt for the first time in my life that I was heard and understood. There’s a a lot of areas where they explain different healing practices and stops and it’s a ton of information that I feel is covered. While battling my own CPTSD and trying to continue down my journey to recovery, this was the one book out of many that actually stuck and helped me to make the first step after months of being stagnant and alienating myself. It was recommended to me by someone who also suffers from C-PTSD who urged me into reading it and now that I have, I absolutely recommend it to anyone facing this challenge in their life as well, who may not know where to start or where they can find more information and resources regarding their diagnosis. This was an amazingly helpful source on the subject overall.

I am a clinician, and also someone who grew up with early relational trauma. I discovered Pete Walker in 2016, and almost 10 years later I return to this book again and again to absorb the empathy, understanding and words for my experience, and that of my clients, that he so lovingly communicates. Even through words on a page, Pete Walker has the ability to make the healing walk less lonely. He gives language to the soul-crushing experiences of early abuse and neglect, while offering cornerstones to healing, most particularly the development of self-compassion and self-protection.I do have some reservations about his framework, e.g. I view the "inner critic" as a protective ego state to be understood rather than reviled. But on the whole, this book really launched the discussion of CPTSD in our culture. Further, he coined the very important concept of the "fawn" response...an enormous contribution to understanding and de-pathologizing another central response to trauma.I've read far and wide on the topic of CPTSD since discovering Walker"s work. While other authors clearly make a contribution to understanding CPTSD, IMHO Walker was the first to really name it, and the best among them.

I've read my fair share of self-help books, but this one takes the cake. Pete Walker breaks down complex psychological concepts into bite-sized pieces that even my overworked brain can digest. It's like therapy in a book, minus the awkward silences and hefty price tag. If you're looking to understand and heal from childhood trauma, this is your go-to guide. Plus, it's a great conversation starter on your bookshelf—nothing says 'I'm working on myself' like a book with 'Surviving to Thriving' in the title!