356: 1001 Nights: Nifty Fifty

Trauma can stem from abuse to a severe car accident to wartime combat—and cause a lifetime of flashbacks, nightmares, isolation, insomnia, hypervigilance, and rage. In The Body Keeps the Score, the author explores how diagnosing and treating trauma has evolved as new technologies, research, and fields of science emerged.

Trauma’s impact is not only mental, emotional, and neurological, but also physiological: Trauma rewires the brain to put people in a constant state of stress or numbness, leading to a host of physical problems.

In this summary, you’ll learn:

• Why trauma survivors feel like their trauma is never-ending
• How flashbacks make parts of the brain shut down and others to go into overdrive
• Why some trauma survivors can’t recognize themselves in the mirror
• How activities like choral singing, yoga, and theater can be therapeutic

Complex PTSD is a guide to recognizing Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and beginning to recover from it. Pete Walker—a psychotherapist with decades of experience, and a childhood trauma survivor—provides detailed explanations of the disorder’s causes and symptoms, as well as numerous tips and tools to help people recover from their past traumas.

Our guide will begin by explaining what Complex PTSD is—why and how it happens, as well as some of the most common symptoms. Next, we’ll go into detail about the various aspects of recovering from complex PTSD: physical, psychological, emotional, and social healing. Finally, we’ll discuss one crucial tip that Walker gives to help people on their recovery journey.

Our commentary will provide additional information about psychology and trauma, as well as actionable advice for people who want to start their recovery journey or help a loved one with theirs. We’ll also compare and contrast Walker’s ideas with those from other psychology self-help books such as Why Does He Do That?.

Do you constantly get swept away by your emotions? Would you like to learn how to control your emotional reactions at home or at work? Or maybe you’re uncomfortable with emotions, and don’t understand why you or anyone else feels them? Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman is a comprehensive look at what emotions are and why we have them, how we can get better at managing them, and why the well-being of humanity might depend on us doing so.

All the alarming statistics about child abuse and neglect—millions of cases reported each year, killing nearly five children each day—don’t begin to illustrate how victims experience abuse. In A Child Called 'It', author Dave Pelzer provides a rare and grisly glimpse into his experience of severe physical and psychological abuse at his mother’s hands.

In one of the worst child abuse cases reported in California’s history at the time, Pelzer was starved, burned on the stove, regularly locked in the bathroom with a noxious mixture of ammonia and Clorox, and forbidden from speaking to or looking at any of his family members. Through it all, Pelzer maintained an indomitable will to survive that’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit even under the bleakest circumstances.

Dive into the tangled web of American folklore with the "Last Podcast On The Left" as hosts Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ed Larson unpack the notorious Hatfield and McCoy feud with a balance of humor and historical insight. In an episode rich with quirky impersonations and cultural anecdotes, they debunk myths and explore the roots of this legendary conflict. Through a unique blend of storytelling and analysis, they elucidate the broader implications and personalities at the heart of the family war that persisted post-Civil War, shattering the simplistic narrative of a dispute over a single pig.

The episode takes you on a journey through the rugged landscape of Tug Valley, where resolute characters like "Devil Anse" Hatfield and Randall McCoy embody the fighting spirit of their kin. Beyond the feud's skirmishes and romances, the podcast delves into the broader socioeconomic impacts of industrial exploitation and how these historical conflicts mirror modern entertainment in reality TV. Join the hosts as they shed light on the volatile yet captivating dynamics of Appalachian heritage, ensuring that the tale of Hatfield and McCoy resonates with both historical depth and cultural relevance.

On the Shawn Ryan Show, join former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan as he sits down with Victor Marx, known as the world's fastest gun disarmer, to uncover the gripping story behind his remarkable skill and his dedication to healing. In a candid conversation, they delve into Marx's tumultuous past marked by severe childhood abuse and the incredible journey that led him to become a symbol of protection and an advocate for at-risk children through his organization, All Things Possible Ministries.

Discover how Victor Marx's resilience and mastery of composure allowed him to rise above his early life trauma, transforming pain into purpose. His tale weaves through the dark alleys of substance abuse and mental health struggles, leading to a path of recovery grounded in therapeutic intervention, nutrition, and unwavering faith. This episode is not merely a chronicle of personal redemption but a powerful testimony to the strength of forgiveness and the profound impact of extending grace, even to those who have caused deep-seated scars.