[TrailRunner14]

I ordered this book yesterday, hoping it has some information that I'm looking for. It was referenced several times in some of the sites I looked at.

Peter Levine also has another book, "In An Unspoken Voice" that seems interesting. It was referenced once, but not as much as the other book.

Today I'm wishing I had ordered it too.

Has anyone read it, and would recommend it?

[ruh roh]

I tried to read it, but found it to be very triggering. I could not get through the first few pages. The therapist I saw at the time said she had a concern about that happening (we started it together) and agreed to stop. The therapist I see now said something similar about it's potential to be a triggering book, and then she said something about how surprised she was because he is not like that in person, that he has a gentler approach than his book. Anyway, that was my experience.

[TrailRunner14]

Thank you for telling me that!! I think I'll hold off in that one for a bit.

Is Waking The Tiger as triggering ? I got the impression that it was more explanatory.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by TrailRunner14

Thank you for telling me that!! I think I'll hold off in that one for a bit.

Is Waking The Tiger as triggering ? I got the impression that it was more explanatory.

I read it years ago during a college psych course. for some yes it can be triggering for others not. it all depends upon your own triggers. it has some great stories to illustrate things like flight or fight reaction, and other physical body reaction to triggers and trauma. though it does define psychological terms and does have psychological information in it, it is more based on the physical aspects of how the human brain works when traumatized...

be aware that this book is almost two decades old (1997) and that here in america things in the mental health field changed drastically in 2013. some of the information may apply but much of the information in the book is now outdated and not what treatment providers may now go by...

to give you an example the book defines trauma as a stressful occurrence that is outside the range of usual human experience and that would be markedly distressing to almost anyone. and everything in the book is in relation to this definition of trauma

where as today in my location trauma is defined more individualized as anything in that persons own life that has caused them great, clinical distress.

the difference the first one takes into consideration only elements that the whole human race on average would be triggered by, where as the updated definition takes into consideration that one person maybe traumatized by one thing and another person maybe traumatized by something else.

in the book they dont consider something in a persons daily life that causes one to have a nightmare trauma, the story says the diagnosing psychiatrist said it wasnt trauma it was just a nightmare.

my point its a good read, can be triggering for some but much of the content is out of date and no longer what is used/ believed in the mental health field due to the book is almost two decades old and times and definitions have changed recently.

[ruh roh]

Originally Posted by TrailRunner14

Thank you for telling me that!! I think I'll hold off in that one for a bit.

Is Waking The Tiger as triggering ? I got the impression that it was more explanatory.

I don't respond well to reading about bodies and trauma. I can't really say more since I didn't get far into it. My therapists agreed (and my current one is still not very big on suggesting books that can be triggering). Just take care of yourself if you find yourself reacting to whatever you read and set it aside, would be my suggestion.

[TrailRunner14]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

I read it years ago during a college psych course. for some yes it can be triggering for others not. it all depends upon your own triggers. it has some great stories to illustrate things like flight or fight reaction, and other physical body reaction to triggers and trauma. though it does define psychological terms and does have psychological information in it, it is more based on the physical aspects of how the human brain works when traumatized...


be aware that this book is almost two decades old (1997) and that here in america things in the mental health field changed drastically in 2013. some of the information may apply but much of the information in the book is now outdated and not what treatment providers may now go by...


to give you an example the book defines trauma as a stressful occurrence that is outside the range of usual human experience and that would be markedly distressing to almost anyone. and everything in the book is in relation to this definition of trauma


where as today in my location trauma is defined more individualized as anything in that persons own life that has caused them great, clinical distress.


the difference the first one takes into consideration only elements that the whole human race on average would be triggered by, where as the updated definition takes into consideration that one person maybe traumatized by one thing and another person maybe traumatized by something else.


in the book they dont consider something in a persons daily life that causes one to have a nightmare trauma, the story says the diagnosing psychiatrist said it wasnt trauma it was just a nightmare.


my point its a good read, can be triggering for some but much of the content is out of date and no longer what is used/ believed in the mental health field due to the book is almost two decades old and times and definitions have changed recently.

Thank you! I didn't think to look at the publication date of the book. I wish I had thought about that. So much has been realized understood in the past 20 years dealing with this.

I will keep that in mind as I read it.

My counselor and I were talking last week about the severity of trauma, compared to other people's experiences.

[TrailRunner14]

Well. My new book, "Waking The Tiger" came in Saturday, and I've been afraid to pick it up. So many things going on right now, from what I've understood, it may be too much for me right now.

My curiosity is driving me to open it up, but another part of me is afraid to dive into it.

It's on the table by my reading chair. Taunting me. Inviting me. Scaring me.

[kecanoe]

That book was highly recommended by the Trauma specialists I saw. It may be old, but there are a whole lot of ts out there who do not get that trauma is stored in the body. As least for me it has been true, and I have found SE to be helpful (which is what Waking the Tiger is about).

It begins with suggesting at least one exercise that can help you get back in your body. There might have been more than that, but I specifically remember the one.

I did have to quit reading it, though. He describes an animal hunt in a very triggering way for me. What I did was buy two copies, one for me and one for t1. T1 would read ahead and give me the green light to read certain sections or pages. And then we would discuss them. Since he had no experience with DID it was helpful to him as well.

Can you ground yourself if triggered? If not, hold off on the book and find other info about SE would be my suggestion.

[TrailRunner14]

Thank you!

My counselor has been so great to "walk through" this with me and go with where I'm being lead. Like you, I bought him the first book I was brave enough to read "The Stranger in the Mirror" and we, I think, kind of read it together. The second book "The Body Keeps the Score" was a suggestion from him. I devoured it and it has become the book of "what happened to me". I had experienced a somatic release before and I truly believe what the theories are.

This past experience with the picture sent me in search of more information and truth.

I know he is very busy and has many obligations. I don't feel like I could ask him to entertain another book for me. I'm going to take it with me tomorrow and share it with him. Maybe he will be intrigued and curious.

A part of me knows there is truth there and knowledge that would benefit me. It just may be where I am right now.

I'm not very good at grounding myself, before the happening. It happens so fluidly, I don't really know what has happened many times until after the fact. I really think that is the root of my fear in dealing with this. My feet get clipped out from under me and I don't realize what has happened until a bit or while later.

[TrailRunner14]

Waking the Tiger is an amazing insight to me. I've read it with caution and I've skipped a few parts.

It really explains the things that happen with me unconsciously. It validates it and I don't feel so .... don't know the word for that.

I think the most truth I've found in the book, it's how we were created to deal with things that we are not capable to deal with at the time it happened. That's still a wide open spectrum, but the validation of it gives me much truth.