Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences
A Self-Guided Program
Published on 29. November 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
216 pages
978-0-19-764257-3 (ISBN)
Description
Feel it, stay with it, share it, and let it go. Take your life back from stress and trauma using self-help versions of proven treatments.
Up to 90% of adults in the US will experience one or more traumatic events in their lifetimes, including interpersonal violence, traffic collisions, and sexual assault. Traumatic events and other difficult experiences (such as miscarriage, job loss, and divorce) can have a long-lasting impact on mental health and well-being. While most who suffer a trauma naturally recover over time, for others difficulties continue, and may lead to full-blown depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, anxiety disorders, and other problems that interfere with healthy daily functioning.
Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences is a self-guided mental health resource for people who have had potentially traumatic experiences and who wish to work through them independently, outside of a formal therapeutic setting. Based on psychological treatments with strong scientific support, this book introduces readers to several useful tools that will help them to emotionally process difficult experiences, with the goal of moving on from the event and building future resilience. Many years of research (much of which has been conducted by the authors of this volume) have shown that people who try to avoid memories and reminders of difficult experiences are more likely to develop PTSD, depression, and other problems. Conversely, those who work to process the memory gradually regain a general sense of wellbeing, experiencing fewer mental health issues over time. This program is unique in that it is intended to be wholly self-directed. Readers can learn about and then immediately practice the strategies described, moving through and then past difficult experiences--whether they happened last week or years ago. The program takes the reader step-by-step through four skill sets to facilitate emotional processing of difficult experiences: Memory Exposure and Processing, Behavioral Activation, Social Connection, and Self-Care. Each set begins with a short description, followed by a self-assessment. Readers use this self-evaluation to determine what is working or not working for them, enabling them to focus more on certain skills, or to complete the full program based on their needs.
Up to 90% of adults in the US will experience one or more traumatic events in their lifetimes, including interpersonal violence, traffic collisions, and sexual assault. Traumatic events and other difficult experiences (such as miscarriage, job loss, and divorce) can have a long-lasting impact on mental health and well-being. While most who suffer a trauma naturally recover over time, for others difficulties continue, and may lead to full-blown depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, anxiety disorders, and other problems that interfere with healthy daily functioning.
Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences is a self-guided mental health resource for people who have had potentially traumatic experiences and who wish to work through them independently, outside of a formal therapeutic setting. Based on psychological treatments with strong scientific support, this book introduces readers to several useful tools that will help them to emotionally process difficult experiences, with the goal of moving on from the event and building future resilience. Many years of research (much of which has been conducted by the authors of this volume) have shown that people who try to avoid memories and reminders of difficult experiences are more likely to develop PTSD, depression, and other problems. Conversely, those who work to process the memory gradually regain a general sense of wellbeing, experiencing fewer mental health issues over time. This program is unique in that it is intended to be wholly self-directed. Readers can learn about and then immediately practice the strategies described, moving through and then past difficult experiences--whether they happened last week or years ago. The program takes the reader step-by-step through four skill sets to facilitate emotional processing of difficult experiences: Memory Exposure and Processing, Behavioral Activation, Social Connection, and Self-Care. Each set begins with a short description, followed by a self-assessment. Readers use this self-evaluation to determine what is working or not working for them, enabling them to focus more on certain skills, or to complete the full program based on their needs.
Reviews / Votes
Compassionate, yet directive, Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences provides readers step-by-step guidance and helpful tips for healing from trauma and finding resilience through adversity. Bringing a combined 50 years of clinical experience and informed by science, Drs. Rauch and Rothbaum have provided readers with timely education and practical strategies for coping with the effects of trauma and difficult experiences. For self-help readers and therapists alike, I highly recommend this book! * Elizabeth M. Goetter, Associate Professor, La Salle University & Clinical Consultant, Massachusetts General Hospital * Backed by decades of research on how to effectively treat PTSD, this book provides people who have experienced traumatic events with the knowledge needed to navigate their own recovery. Through compelling case examples, worksheets, and practices, readers are guided through how to process difficult memories and reengage in life to prevent long-term suffering. This book will be a valuable resource for people who are unable or prefer not to seek professional treatment and will empower them to take the steps needed to reclaim their lives after trauma. * Melanie Harned, PhD, School of Medicine, University of Washington * This very useful self-help workbook provides a step-by-step guide to implement a proven self-help plan for managing painful memories of stressful experiences. The accumulated wisdom of Professors Rauch and Rothbaum is packed into a highly readable, highly practical, evidence-based text. I recommend the workbook to anyone who if having difficulty resolving complex and painful emotions associated with highly stressful experiences, whether these experiences occurred only recently or in the distant past. * Ronald C. Kessler, PhD, McNeil Family Professor, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School * This book helps people independently process their difficult memories and improve their health habits. It empowers readers to decide what changes they want to make and when. It is easy to read and follow, limits jargon, is highly relatable to those who have survived trauma, and includes a range of tools and resources backed by research. This book can be useful no matter where people are on their journey of posttraumatic growth. * Family Medicine * This book helps people independently process their difficult memories and improve their health habits. It empowers readers to decide what changes they want to make and when. It is easy to read and follow, limits jargon, is highly relatable to those who have survived trauma, and includes a range of tools and resources backed by research. This book can be useful no matter where people are on their journey of posttraumatic growth. * Deirdre Paulson, Family Medicine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 278 mm
Width: 218 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
490 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-764257-3 (9780197642573)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Sheila A. M. Rauch | Barbara Olasov Rothbaum
Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences
A Self-Guided Program
E-Book
07/2023
OUP eBook
€14.49
Available for download
Sheila A. M. Rauch | Barbara Olasov Rothbaum
Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences
A Self-Guided Program
E-Book
07/2023
OUP eBook
€14.49
Available for download
Persons
Sheila A.M. Rauch is Deputy Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and Director of Mental Health Research and Program Evaluation at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System. She is co-author of PTSD: What Everyone Needs to Know (R) (OUP 2020)
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum is Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program. She is a professor and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research at Emory School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program. She is co-author of PTSD: What Everyone Needs to Know (R) (OUP 2020)
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum is Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program. She is a professor and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research at Emory School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program. She is co-author of PTSD: What Everyone Needs to Know (R) (OUP 2020)
Author
Associate Professor in PsychiatryAssociate Professor in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Professor in Psychiatry and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical ResearchProfessor in Psychiatry and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Content
Ch. 1 What Difficult Experiences Does Making Meaning Target?
Ch. 2 Why Approach Difficult Experiences?
Ch. 3 Memory Exposure and Processing
Ch. 4 Behavioral Activation
Ch. 5 Social Connection
Ch. 6 Self-care
Ch. 7 Considering When to See a Professional
Ch. 2 Why Approach Difficult Experiences?
Ch. 3 Memory Exposure and Processing
Ch. 4 Behavioral Activation
Ch. 5 Social Connection
Ch. 6 Self-care
Ch. 7 Considering When to See a Professional