When people hear the word flashback, they often imagine vivid memories or scenes replaying in someone’s mind. But not all flashbacks involve images. Sometimes, a survivor suddenly feels overwhelmed by fear, shame, panic, or helplessness without understanding why. There may be no clear memory attached to it, only an intense emotional reaction that seems to […]
Emotional Flashbacks: When the Past Shows Up Without Warning Read More »
Some books change how we understand trauma. Others change how entire fields respond to it. Trauma and Recovery by psychiatrist Judith Herman is one of those rare works. First published in 1992, it remains one of the most influential texts in trauma psychology, shaping decades of research, clinical practice, and survivor advocacy. With remarkable clarity,
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In recent years, “trauma-informed” has become a widely used term across workplaces, schools, nonprofits, and institutions. It appears in mission statements, training materials, and policy language. It signals care. Awareness. Progress. But naming something is not the same as practicing it. At The Soaring Center, we often see organizations adopt trauma-informed language without fully understanding
Trauma-Informed Isn’t a Buzzword: What Most Organizations Get Wrong Read More »
Some trauma stories are told in fragments. Others are told through silence. In What My Bones Know, journalist Stephanie Foo offers something different: a deeply personal, rigorously researched exploration of complex PTSD that bridges memoir, science, and the ongoing search for healing. This is a story not only about what happened, but about what it
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There is a moment in healing that no one really prepares you for. It is not the beginning, where everything feels raw and uncertain.It is not the breakthrough, where things finally start to make sense. It is the quiet, in-between moment when you start to realize:the way you relate to people is changing. You might
When Healing Changes Your Relationships: Navigating Shifts in Connection Read More »
Safety is not simply a feeling. It is a physiological state. In Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, clinician and author Deb Dana translates complex neuroscience into an accessible, compassionate framework for understanding how the nervous system shapes our experience of the world. At its core, this book offers a powerful reframe: our responses are not character
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Not all trauma responses are loud. Some look like constant agreement. Like saying yes when you want to say no. Like prioritizing other people’s needs so consistently that your own begin to disappear. This is often called the fawn response, and for many survivors, it is one of the most misunderstood survival strategies. At The
The Fawn Response: When People-Pleasing Becomes a Survival Strategy Read More »
Trauma is often spoken of as something that happened in the past. But for many survivors, it does not feel past. It lives in the body in flashes of fear, in chronic tension, in patterns of shutdown or hypervigilance that seem to arise without warning. In The Body Keeps the Score, psychiatrist and trauma researcher
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Many of us carry invisible wounds from childhood, patterns of self-criticism, chronic anxiety, emotional reactivity, and a deep, wordless sense that something was off. The Body Never Lies makes clear why these experiences are not just in the mind, but embodied truths rooted in early relational pain. In this deeply insightful work, Alice Miller bridges
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When we talk about trauma responses, most people think of fight or flight. But there is another response that is just as common and often misunderstood: freeze. Freezing is not weakness. It is not avoidance. It is a deeply wired, biological survival strategy that helps protect us when neither fighting nor running feels possible. At
Why We Freeze: Understanding Shutdown Responses in Trauma Survivors Read More »
In a culture that prizes productivity, achievement, and “pushing through,” burnout has become a national epidemic, particularly among women, caregivers, and trauma survivors. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle offers an essential guide for understanding why stress becomes chronic and how it can be resolved in meaningful ways. Written by sisters Emily Nagoski
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For many trauma survivors, boundaries can feel confusing. Some of us were never taught how to set them. Others learned that boundaries would be punished, ignored, or used against us. And when we finally do begin to set them, we might wonder: Am I being too much? Too distant? Too harsh? At The Soaring Center,
Boundaries Are Not Walls: How to Set Limits Without Cutting People Off Read More »
Trauma does not only live in individual histories. Sometimes, it lives in bodies, cultures, and collective memory. My Grandmother’s Hands offers an unparalleled exploration of how racialized trauma, particularly in Black bodies, is held in the nervous system and passed through generations. Through a somatic lens, the book reframes trauma not as a psychological problem
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Healing from trauma is not a straight line. Some days bring clarity, and others feel like starting over. Amid this uncertainty, one of the most supportive tools we can offer ourselves, or those we care for, is a steady, simple routine. At The Soaring Center, we often say that healing does not require perfection. It
The Healing Power of Routine: Creating Safety Through Structure After Trauma Read More »
In schools, offices, and community spaces, we often hear the same terms repeated: “non-compliant,” “disruptive,” “resistant,” or simply, “difficult.” These labels are meant to describe behavior. But too often, they shut down deeper understanding and miss the full story. At The Soaring Center, we believe it’s time to pause and ask: What if what we
From Compliance to Compassion: Rethinking ‘Difficult’ Behavior in Schools and Workplaces Read More »
Domestic violence is often framed as a private suffering, but No Visible Bruises makes clear that it is a public crisis unfolding in plain sight. Journalistic in its precision, empathetic in its delivery, this book offers an unflinching exploration of intimate partner violence in America and challenges readers to re‑examine how society both overlooks and
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Burnout is not just about being tired. It is a full-body, full-heart signal that something has gone beyond sustainable. For trauma survivors, burnout can feel especially intense, often echoing old wounds of powerlessness, disconnection, or pushing beyond limits to survive. Recovery requires more than rest. It requires repair, compassion, and strong boundaries. At The Soaring
Rebuilding After Burnout: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Recovery and Boundaries Read More »
Survival is only the beginning. In The Choice, Dr. Edith Eva Eger, a Holocaust survivor, clinical psychologist, and trauma expert, offers a profound meditation on the nature of freedom, healing, and the power to choose how we live in the aftermath of suffering. Blending memoir with therapeutic insight, this book invites readers into a lifelong
When someone we care about shares that they have experienced trauma, whether it’s abuse, assault, or another form of violence, our instinct is often to help. We may want to fix it, give advice, or offer words of comfort. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, our responses can cause more harm than healing. At
When Support Hurts: Navigating Well-Intentioned but Harmful Responses to Survivors Read More »
Healing from trauma is often framed as a cognitive or emotional process, but what if our bodies held the most vital clues? In Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, Peter A. Levine challenges conventional trauma recovery models by presenting a compelling somatic framework for healing. Through an integration of biology, psychology, and storytelling, he introduces readers
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Being a strong leader does not mean being hard on yourself. In fact, some of the most effective leaders are those who treat themselves with kindness, especially during times of stress or failure. This practice, known as self-compassion, can help leaders become more resilient, clear-minded, and emotionally grounded. What Is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion means offering yourself
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Reconciliation work requires more than good intentions. It demands a structured approach grounded in both practical wisdom and spiritual insight. In A Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0, Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil offers exactly that: a comprehensive framework for individuals and communities seeking authentic healing across racial, cultural, and social divides. The Evolution of a Reconciliation Framework
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Justice systems are beginning to shift in meaningful ways. One of the most important changes is the growing recognition that survivors of violence should be heard, supported, and involved in shaping how justice is defined and delivered. Moving away from models that focus only on punishment, more systems are starting to center survivor healing and
Transforming Justice Systems: Centering Survivor Voices in Legal Reforms Read More »
When we struggle with persistent fears, anxieties, or behavioral patterns that seem to have no clear origin in our personal experiences, we might be experiencing something deeper than individual psychology. In his groundbreaking work, It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle, Mark Wolynn
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What Is a Trauma Bond? A trauma bond is a strong emotional attachment that develops in relationships where there is a repeated cycle of abuse followed by reconciliation. These bonds are not built on love or trust, but on fear, control, and intermittent reinforcement. Survivors may feel emotionally stuck in harmful relationships, even when they
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Confronting Modern Slavery in the Land of the Free Human trafficking and modern slavery continue to exist in the shadows of our society, often hidden in plain sight. The Slave Next Door serves as a powerful wake-up call, revealing the uncomfortable truth that slavery persists within contemporary America, not as a historical relic, but as
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In recent years, a growing awareness of mental health and its impact on workplace productivity has sparked a revolution in corporate culture. At the forefront of this movement is the implementation of trauma-informed policies, designed to create a more supportive, understanding, and ultimately healthier work environment. This approach recognizes that many employees carry the weight
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In The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris presents a groundbreaking exploration of the profound impact that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have on lifelong health and well-being. This compelling work combines scientific research, personal anecdotes, and practical insights to shed light on the critical connection between early-life stress
Trauma can shatter lives, leaving individuals feeling broken and lost. Yet, from the depths of despair, some people find a way to not only survive but to thrive. This phenomenon, known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), represents a profound transformation that can occur in the wake of adversity. This comprehensive exploration delves into the journey from
From Surviving to Thriving: A Blueprint for Post-Traumatic Growth Read More »
Educated is a powerful and thought-provoking account of Tara Westover’s journey from a sheltered, isolated upbringing in rural Idaho to becoming a Cambridge-educated historian. This remarkable story of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of education has captivated readers worldwide since its publication in 2018. The Unconventional Beginnings Born to survivalist Mormon parents in the
