The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook: Heal the Hidden Wounds from Childhood Affecting Your Adult Mental and Physical Health

by Glenn R. Schiraldi PhD

Overview

Practical skills for healing the hidden wounds of childhood trauma

We’re all a product of our childhood, and if you’re like most people, you have experienced some form of childhood trauma. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at the root of nearly all mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Memories associated with ACEs imprint on a child’s brain, and can manifest themselves mentally and physically throughout adulthood—even decades after the traumatic incident. So, how can you begin healing the deep wounds of ACEs and build strength and resilience?

In this innovative workbook, trauma specialist Glenn Schiraldi presents practical, evidence-based skills to help you heal from ACEs. In addition to dealing with the symptoms, you’ll learn to address the root cause of your suffering, change the way your brain responds to stress and the outside world, and soothe troubling memories.

Using the trauma-informed and resilience-building practices in this book, you will:

• Understand how toxic childhood stress is affecting your health
• Rewire disturbing imprints in your brain using cutting-edge skills
• Learn how to regulate stress and emotional arousal
• Discover why traditional psychological approaches might not be helping
• Know when and how to find the right kind of therapy 

 

Childhood trauma doesn’t have to define you for the rest of your life. With this book as your guide, you will be able to make fundamental changes and replace needless suffering with self-care, security, and contentment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684036646
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	01/02/2021
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	307,944
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	5 Years

About the Author

Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, has served on the stress management faculties at The Pentagon; the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation; and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award in addition to other teaching and service awards. His books on stress-related topics have been translated into sixteen languages, and include: The Resilience Workbook; The Self-Esteem Workbook; Ten Simple Solutions for Building Self-Esteem; The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook; and The Anger Management Sourcebook. Glenn’s writing has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including The Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter.

He has trained laypersons and clinicians around the world on various aspects of stress, trauma, and resilience, with the goal of optimizing mental health and performance while preventing and promoting recovery from stress-related conditions. His skills-based mind-body courses at the University of Maryland have been found to improve self-esteem, resilience, happiness, optimism, and curiosity, while reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. He has served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, the board of directors of the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association, and the ABC News post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) working group. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point; he holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland. He is founder of Resilience Training International, which serves people facing great stress, their families, and their helpers. Learn more at www.resiliencefirst.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I About Adverse Childhood Experiences

Chapter 1 Toxic Stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences 6

Chapter 2 How ACEs Harm the Body: The Mechanisms 18

Chapter 3 How ACEs Shape Psychology 25

Part II Solutions

About Healing

Chapter 4 The Promise of Healing 44

Self-Care

Chapter 5 Regulate Stress Arousal 54

Chapter 6 Regulate Strong Emotions 60

Chapter 7 Take Care of Your Brain 67

Strengthening and Stabilizing the Nervous System with Imagery

Chapter 8 Attachment Imagery 78

Chapter 9 Self-Nurturing Imagery 84

Chapter 10 Exploring Imagery 88

Chapter 11 Attachment Imagery for Your Teen Years 92

Chapter 12 Comforting Imagery for Difficult Times 95

Getting to the Bottom of Things: Floatback Strategies

Chapter 13 Floating Back for Disturbing Events 98

Chapter 14 Floating Back to Core Beliefs 105

Reworking Shame

Chapter 15 Shame and Self-Esteem 116

Chapter 16 Rework Shame from Parents 121

Chapter 17 Rework Later Shame Programming 125

Chapter 18 Soften Body Shame 129

Chapter 19 Loving the Body 133

Chapter 20 Healing Inner Dialogue 136

Chapter 21 Disconnect from Memory's Quicksand 140

Chapter 22 How Would the World Be Different? 146

Chapter 23 Prepare for the Return of Shame 150

Moving Forward

Chapter 24 Cultivate Self-Respect 154

Chapter 25 Forgive Old Wounds 166

Chapter 26 Feed the Soul 173

Chapter 27 Weave Joy into Your Life 180

Chapter 28 Create a New Future 186

Chapter 29 Conclusion 192

Appendix A Skills Record 195

Appendix B Shame Symptoms Inventory 198

Acknowledgments 206

Recommended Resources 207

References 215

Interviews

Schiraldi resides in Ashburn, VA.

Editorial Reviews

Glenn Schiraldi is offering real solutions and strategies for relief and healing that can truly help those of us who are most in need. He has taken important research and time-tested methods, and created user-friendly tools so that we can help ourselves recover from the effects of childhood trauma and negative experiences. This is more than a book: this is a source of guidance for how to experience the truth of the preciousness of your life—guidance we have been waiting for.”
—Cindy Browning, LCSW, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner

Cindy Browning

Childhood trauma can lead to a plethora of physical and mental health symptoms, which, if left unaddressed, can disrupt our ability to live satisfying lives or create loving relationships. However, there is hope, and Glenn Schiraldi’s workbook is an indispensable tool for trauma recovery. He has an exceptional ability to translate complex topics into accessible and tangible tools for healing. If you are looking for an exquisite blend of science and compassion, you have come to the right place. I highly recommend this book.”
—Arielle Schwartz, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author of The Complex PTSD Workbook and The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook

Arielle Schwartz

Glenn Schiraldi’s The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook shines a light on the realities of toxic childhood stress and the many roads to recovery and joy. The book is a masterful piece. It is about managing and emerging from the traumatic challenges of childhood, and the true genius of Schiraldi becomes quite apparent. Gems of guidance in a step-by-step program of recovery for survivors.”
—Charles R. Figley, PhD, director of the Tulane Traumatology Institute, Dr. Paul Henry Kurzweg chair and distinguished professor of disaster mental health at Tulane University, and founding editor of the Journal of Traumatic Stress

Charles R. Figley

Glenn Schiraldi has provided a much-needed guide for those who have experienced childhood maltreatment in one form or another. He painstakingly discusses in easy-to-understand terms the psychological and medical consequences of early-life trauma, and outlines a series of interventions ranging from trauma-focused therapy to nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness/meditation. This will be helpful to patients, families, and students, as well as the broad spectrum of mental health professionals who deal with adult victims of childhood maltreatment daily.”
—Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD, Matthew P. Nemeroff Endowed Chair in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences, and director of the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School

Charles B. Nemeroff

A gifted teacher and author of numerous workbooks and sourcebooks on mental health and personal growth, Glenn Schiraldi has penned a culminating work of deep healing. TheAdverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook seamlessly combines insights and exercises from three burgeoning fields: adverse childhood experiences, trauma therapy, and attachment. Both accessible and comprehensive, it is a resource for clinicians and a gift for all who live with emotional wounds.”
—Hugh K. Marr, PhD, clinical psychologist, author of A Clinician’s Guide to Foundational Story Psychotherapy, and coauthor of What Story Are You Living?

Hugh K. Marr

Bravo, Schiraldi! The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook carefully guides survivors through the process of understanding and healing from childhood wounds. It is carefully organized to maximize skills learning and practice, and to minimize potential overwhelm when confronting painful feelings and memories. After working through behavior generated from past experiences, the workbook also helps users apply these learnings to disturbing recent or current events. Designed for independent ‘self-help,’ some survivors may choose to use this comprehensive adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) recovery workbook in the context of a therapeutic relationship.”
—Esther Giller, president of the Sidran Institute

Esther Giller

Glenn Schiraldi is one of the world’s most trusted experts on stress and resilience. His The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook is the most complete, accessible, and evidence-based healing resource available. The ripples of childhood trauma spread throughout our society affecting every facet of life. Thanks to Schiraldi’s stellar work, there is a now a trusted map to recovery available for lay people and helping professionals alike. This workbook is a game changer with the power to heal lives. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Joan Borysenko, PhD, distinguished pioneer in integrative medicine; and New York Times bestselling author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind

Joan Borysenko

As one who has treated trauma for many years, I have always thought that what happens in our childhood directly impacts our mental and physical health in the now. I recommend Glenn Schiraldi’s workbook to educate you about the impact of ACEs on your present well-being, and the many effective paths to heal those hidden wounds from earlier times that still affect you.”
—Laney Rosenzweig, MS, LMFT, developer of accelerated resolution therapy (ART)

Laney Rosenzweig

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook offers a much-needed treasure trove of meaningful trauma-healing strategies that are certain to further many along the road to resilience. Bravo!”
—Donna Jackson Nakazawa, award-winning science journalist, and author of Childhood Disrupted

Donna Jackson Nakazawa

An integrative approach to healing from traumatic stress that targets mind, brain, body, and soul, this workbook will be an important resource for many who struggle with the lasting imprints of adverse early experiences.”
—Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry, Harris-Woodman Chair in Mind-Body Medicine, and director of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research unit at the University of Western Ontario

Ruth A. Lanius