Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It

I’m reading this hoping to gift it to someone who might benefit from it. Clearly and logically written. I do prefer listening to Paul Conti on the Huberman Lab podcast.

Dr Paul Conti is such an impressive person, with fascinating insights into the components of our personalities and his ideas on the two main ingredients for in our capacity for happiness. (These are gratitude and the 'generative drive', which is about being curious about the world around us and wanting to generate a contribution to it). This book is more about the negative side of life, trauma. Some of the ideas are very interesting — the societal trauma we are creating as we trash our democracies and insult one another in public; and the physical causes we each suffer through trauma (including depleted immune systems, and the multiple consuquences of stress-related inflammation). But I think his real gifts like on the more positive side. See his interviews on YouTube with Andrew Huberman, for instance.

I heard Conti interviewed by Huberman. Conti’s compassion and empathy rang true in the interview and in this short book. Wonderful man. Trouble is, the book didn’t feel substantive enough, and as another reviewer commented it feels as if the book is an assembly of loosely connected vignettes which never felt on par to the depth say of Stephen Grosz’ “examined life.” I felt Conti’s book was too simplistic; there needed to be more substantive analysis. As it stands this book serves as an accessible introduction and that in itself is important but in essence most of the material felt repetitive and could have been distilled into a leaflet. There is clearly value and certainly kernels of insight but it felt somewhat surface level. Hence the 3/5 rating.

Once I started the book, couldn’t put it down. Brings a range of topics into the debate and research. Would recommend.

According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), “a wide range of biological, psychological and social factors have a significant impact on the course of depression and the response to treatment”. The same applies to most mental disorders. In fact, quite often, a mental disorder develops through the complex interaction of biological (i.e. genes and chemical imbalances), psychological (i.e. personality and coping skills) and social factors (i.e. employment, relationship or financial problems).Trauma, especially when occurring early in life, can have a direct effect on the brain and significantly affect one’s personality, leading to long-lasting psychological distress, mental illness and psychosocial difficulties. In my clinical experience, unresolved trauma is a risk factor for multiple mental health problems and may significantly reduce the effectiveness of other treatments, as well as the victim’s quality of life. Unfortunately, addressing and working through trauma is neither an easy and straightforward nor a pain-free process (it certainly hurts more than taking a plaster off a wound), and this often puts people off.In this book, American psychiatrist Dr Conti discusses the devastating effect that trauma can have on an individual’s life, as well as on the society as a whole. He explains how trauma can alter both the brain (by essentially highjacking the limbic system) and the body (ie. there is a strong connection between trauma, stress, and autoimmune diseases). He also discusses the psychological impact of trauma (with a focus on its close relationship with shame and self-blame) and explains the links between trauma and maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, which often lead to psychological distress and mental illness. He then explores the wider consequences of trauma on a societal level. He also discusses the treatment challenges and organisational barriers that trauma victims often face, for healthcare systems are sadly not fit for purpose (neither in the US nor in the UK).Although the author provides some practical advice, this is certainly not a self-help book (at the end of the day, I don’t think there could ever be such a thing as a self-help book for trauma). Having both personal and professional experience of trauma, Dr Conti knows well that there is not “a quick fix” or a shortcut. In fact, his goal is “to sound the alarm about trauma” and to “foster actual dialogue”.As a psychiatrist, I totally agree with what Dr Conti writes. I find it hard to imagine how this book could’ve been written any better and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to get a better understanding of trauma and its multiple and devastating effects. Having said that, I am not sure whether the author’s goal - a goal certainly worthwhile - will be attained. The message is correct, but who will find the bottle? Sadly, we live in a world where celebrities speak louder than scientists and academics, a world where the public, as well as politicians, policy-makers and key stakeholders, are more likely to listen to the former. So, perhaps this is where the celebrities who have endorsed the book can prove useful. Let’s hope that Kim Kardashian, Tommy Hilfiger or Lady Gaga, who wrote the foreword to the book, start a high-profile dialogue and sound the alarm about this invisible epidemic.

This book was excellent. Dr Conti writes clearly about the effects of trauma and offers antidotes that the reader can easily follow and apply to their day to day life. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone going through a tough time. It’s a beacon of hope and empowerment.

livro simpático e didático sobre um tema sensível. Muito exemplificativo e acolhedor. Gostei muito de ler e me despertou para vários aspectos dos traumas e dos impactos destes na sociedade.

Explicaciones muy simples y claras

Conti identified trauma as the N.1 enemy of society and people, he shares his life and professional experiences, the prose is not as fluid as it could be.

You don't need a PHD to read this book. You do need to desire to learn about trauma. This book explains in excellent imagery and examples of how trauma can twist thoughts and the sense of self to create confusing and stressful lives. The good news is the cure can be cheap, but it costs you your time & energy in pouring love back into you. Find ways to block hate and let love in.