An autobiography of trauma : a healing journey / Levine, Peter A.

"An intimate memoir from Peter Levine, renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing and bestselling author of Waking the Tiger. Shares the author's personal journey to heal his severe childhood trauma as well as his breakthroughs on the path to create Somatic Experiencing. Explores how he came to view Einstein as his personal spirit guide and mentor, only to discover a profound real-life connection to him through his mother. Explains how the SE method is derived from the author's studies of animals in their natural environments, neurobiology, and 50 years of clinical observations"--

The captive imagination : addiction, reality, and our search for meaning / Dakwar, Elias

A profound, humane, and revolutionary new framework for understanding and addressing addiction. Addiction has been called a moral failing, a social problem, a spiritual crisis, a behavioral disorder, and a brain disease. It has also been called a class issue, a supply problem, a problem of learning, a memory disorder, and a result of trauma. And some propose that addiction is neither a disease nor a problem, but a transgressive expression of freedom, a maligned sub-culture, a therapeutic relationship. Even the term 'addiction' is open to question. There are few human phenomena so elusive and intractable; after decades of neuroscientific research, we aren't much closer to understanding addiction, nor to addressing it effectively. This profusion of interpretations, meanings, and models reflects a hidden truth about addiction: that it is profusely generative of meaning itself. In this bold reimagining, pioneering psychiatrist Elias Dakwar examines addiction as a sustained creative act -- and specifically as a process of personal world-building, complete with its own rituals, systems of value, modes of suffering, and sources of support. In this regard, addiction is something we all do. But there is a crucial difference. In the case of those of us suffering from addiction explicitly, this meaningful world keeps us in clear captivity, worsening the suffering and confusion we hoped it would console. And we remain stuck because we have trouble imagining it differently. Drawing on vivid stories of his own patients, path-breaking research with meditation, psychotherapy, and psychedelics/hallucinogens, and decades of clinical experience, Dakwar explores this captivity at the heart of our addictions, and shows how we might move beyond its bounds to reclaim our freedom. He also relates addiction to our collective self-inflicted crises, from environmental destruction to militarism to social injustice, rendering this often-stigmatized condition relevant to all of us.

The pain project : a couple's story of confronting chronic pain / Stanley, Kara

Ten years after her husband's catastrophic injury, author Kara Stanley embarks with him on a journey to understand his chronic pain and find pathways into joy and relief. Kara and her husband, Simon, are at a desperate crossroads. In 2008, Simon fell off a scaffold, causing severe injuries to his brain and spinal cord. He made a remarkable recovery, eventually adjusting to life in a wheelchair and returning to his career as a musician, but he continues to suffer from debilitating pain that is beginning to strip away his selfhood. On the ten year anniversary of the accident, Kara and Simon decide to confront Simon's pain head on. They commit to spending one year researching, interviewing experts, reading self-help books, and trying new and alternative methodologies to deepen their knowledge and bring ease back into their lives. As they navigate a difficult year, both as caregiver and as patient, Kara's tenacity and Simon's wit shine through in their honest conversations, insightful journal entries, and affectionate banter. Throughout, they ask profound questions about the nature of suffering and pain: Is it helpful to conceptualize pain as a disease, or not? What does it mean to understand that pain is always a creation of the brain? How does pain manifest, from the micro level of our individual genetics, to the macro level of climate change, pandemics, and inequality? As difficult as pain is, it can also provide us with an opportunity to question our current course. What can we learn when we confront our pain head on? Honest, deeply researched, insightful, and ultimately hopeful, The Pain Project is a must-read for anyone looking for a greater understanding of pain as a phenomenon and in their own lives.

Primitive camping & bushcraft : a step-by-step guide to surviving and thriving in the great outdoors / Speir, Chris
Primitive camping and bushcraft
In Primitive Camping and Bushcraft, author and outdoor survival expert Chris Speir provides readers with all of the information they need to participate in the most exciting, adventurous type of camping, safely and with confidence. In primitive camping, campers do without the standard resources one can find at a more traditional campsite, making do with whatever they bring in. Chris Speir, an expert at primitive camping technique, is the founder of Speir Outdoors, an online education resource that teaches viewers how to camp, the basics of bushcraft and survival technique, ensuring that every trip into the wild is one taken with confidence in one?s ability to overcome whatever challenge they may come across. In this book, Speir covers a wide range of topics, enhanced throughout with full-color photography the details exactly how to perform each and every technique. Each section is enhanced with bushcraft and survival hacks to help provide extra insights and knowledge for handling camping and survival situations that call for ingenuity in the field.

Your postpartum body : the complete guide to healing after pregnancy / Macy, Ruth E.

"What should you expect when you're done expecting? Too many of us think that there's no way to fix everyday concerns after a pregnancy, such as pelvic floor issues, exhaustion and burnout, and getting back into a fitness routine. But it's simply not true. With this revolutionary resource in hand, you'll learn what happens to the body during pregnancy and childbirth, common changes in function and feeling, and solutions for healing. The Postpartum Human was written with expertise by a pelvic floor physical therapist who wants you to know that you can feel like yourself again -- physically and mentally. You've probably heard plenty of anecdotes about what might help or hurt (to Kegel or not to Kegel?), but they're not necessarily backed up with medical expertise and practical advice. The Postpartum Human fills that gap as a complete reference guide for every eventuality, from making sure you're getting enough fluids to troubleshooting breastfeeding to pelvic floor recovery, with helpful illustrations and photos throughout. While your body is undoubtedly different (after all, you just grew a human!), you do not have to live with pain, incontinence, weakness, or nursing/feeding stress. You now hold the tools and techniques you need to heal and nourish your body and mind"--

Unprocessed : what your diet is doing to your brain / Wilson, Kimberley (Psychologist)

"We all know that as a nation our mental health is in crisis. But what most don't know is that a critical ingredient in this debate, and a crucial part of the solution -- what we eat -- is being ignored. Nutrition has more influence on what we feel, who we become and how we behave than we could ever have imagined. It affects everything from our decision-making to aggression and violence. Yet mental health disorders are overwhelmingly treated as 'mind' problems as if the physical brain -- and how we feed it -- is irrelevant. Someone suffering from depression is more likely to be asked about their relationship with their mother than their relationship with food. In this eye-opening and impassioned book, psychologist Kimberley Wilson draws on startling new research -- as well as her own work in prisons, schools and hospitals around the country -- to reveal the role of food and nutrients in brain development and mental health -- from how the food a woman eats during pregnancy influences the size of her baby's brain, and hunger makes you mean; to how nutrient deficiencies change your personality. We must also recognise poor nutrition as a social injustice, with the poorest and most vulnerable being systematically ignored. We need to talk about what our food is doing to our brains. And we need decisive action, not over rehearsed soundbites and empty promises, from those in power -- because if we don't, things can only get worse."--

Butt seriously : the definitive guide to anal health, pleasure, and everything in-between / Goldstein, Evan

"A cheeky yet authoritative guide to anal health and anal sex, written by the leading anal health expert in the United States. More people than ever are receptive to the pleasures of anal, but compassionate, medically comprehensive information can be challenging to come by. No more! Whether you're a top or a bottom, gay or straight, experienced or just getting ready to stretch your, um, imagination-Butt Seriously gives you the medically accurate, scientifically-backed information you need to keep your peach ready to take you to the height of sexual bliss. This first-of-a-kind guide will teach you how to keep your anus healthy, maximize your pleasure, and bust the myths holding us back around anal sex."--

The price she pays : confronting the hidden mental health crisis in women's sports -- from the schoolyard to the stadium / Brown, Tiffany

"No matter the sport, the message to girls and women is the same: Be aggressive, but not too aggressive. Win at all costs, but be polite while doing it. Get strong, but not too big. Female athletes have long been conditioned to perform under these standards, gracefully and without complaints. Yet, behind the scenes, female athletes are suffering from disordered eating and substance use; depression and anxiety; emotional and sexual abuse; racism and discrimination; self-harm, and even suicide ideation. When global tennis star Naomi Osaka and gymnastics world champion Simone Biles took breaks from competing to tend to their mental health, many were compelled to ask: What is causing this mental health crisis in women's sports? In The Price She Pays, Katie Steele and Dr. Tiffany Brown illuminate where we are going wrong -- and how we can correct course. Through first-hand accounts, research, and reporting, they reveal the deep layers of trauma and mistreatment women experience in their pursuit of excellence in sport. They show parents, coaches, and athletes how to recognize the signs of mistreatment and mental health issues, and reveal how, by focusing on the wellbeing of the whole person -- not just the athlete -- we can provide women and girls with the support they need to thrive, in whatever sport they choose, at whatever level they compete"--Dust jacket flap.

Not too late : the power of pushing limits at any age / Bounds, Wendy

"An award-winning journalist tells the inspiring story of her unlikely midlife journey to master the daunting sport of obstacle course racing-a powerful, science-based account of the change possible at any age when we push limits. In her mid-forties, Gwendolyn Bounds attended a dinner party where someone asked a little girl: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It struck Bounds: In middle age, no one asks you that anymore. So, she put the question to herself. The answer set her on an unexpected path of transformation from an unathletic office executive glued to her screens into a competitive age group medalist and world championship competitor in obstacle racing -- a demanding military-style sport requiring speed, endurance, mobility and strength. What began as a simple goal to complete a single race grew into a profound five-year quest to reconcile the realities of growing older. In Not Too Late, Bounds explores how tackling something new and hard upended her expectations for middle age -- while also helping the author reconcile regrets of her youth. Her story takes us from playgrounds and gyms where Bounds relearns childhood movements (swinging from monkey bars, climbing a rope) to far-flung Spartan Race courses where she masters running in difficult terrain and conquering challenges such as scaling tall walls, crawling under barbed wire, and carrying heavy loads of rocks up mountains. Through this equally beautiful and brutal sport, Bounds discovers potent tools to combat the mental and physical risks of aging as she makes her way from newbie to the podium. Bounds' journey offers inspiration and a roadmap for anyone craving more out of life. Woven through Not Too Late are insights from scientists, longevity doctors, philosophers, elite athletes, and performance experts on how to reimagine our limits and redefine who we think we are. Through Bounds' story, as she changes her body and mindset, we learn humans' potential to tap inner reserves, face deep-rooted fears, locate intrinsic motivation, and push the boundaries of what we ask of ourselves at any life stage. Ultimately, one message prevails: When unleashing our full potential, age can be a secret weapon"--

Fight heart disease like cancer / Mcconnell, Michael V.

"This work reframes the narrative of heart disease through stories of patients and the author's own family history"--