General What's In Your Supporter Library?

[Sweetpea76]

It seems like a lot of people ask for book recommendations, and there hasn't been a thread for them in a while, especially for supporters. So here is a list of what I've read so far. Please add your recommendations as well, because I'm always looking for new information.

PTSD

The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Relationship: How to Support Your Partner and Keep Your Relationship Healthy by Diane England.

***** This has been dubbed "The Bible" in the Supporter section, and it is the book I recommend the most. It is a great starter book for understanding the basics of PTSD and some of it's common symptoms. It also has sections on communication and conflict resolution, which is very helpful when you are learning how to cope with some of the challenges of being in a PTSD relationship.

Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One's PTSD by Cynthia Orange.

***** In my opinion, this book should always be read in conjunction with the PTSD Relationship book above. While that book deals more with your sufferer and their PTSD, this book deals more with self care and the effect that PTSD can have on supporters and families.

Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home: Hope and Healing for Families Living with PTSD and TBI by Marshele Carter Waddell

**This wasn't my cup of tea... it is very faith based, and I didn't realize that when I ordered it online. It's heavy on the "pray about it" solutions. If that's your thing, this may be the book for you. I didn't find it helpful at all, but I'm not religious. I think I was able to cherry pick a few useful things out of it though.

Combat PTSD

Once a Warrior--Always a Warrior: Navigating The Transition From Combat To Home--Including Combat Stress, Ptsd, And Mtbi by Charles Hoge

***** I cannot recommend this book any higher for anybody dealing with Combat PTSD in any capacity (sufferer or supporter). It is definitely a soldier's book. As well as dealing with PTSD and TBI, it deals with a lot of issues faced when transitioning back home after combat. It also has a section for supporters.

Misc.

These are books that I have read just in an effort to understand my sufferer's perspective a little more. They are written by PTSD sufferers talking about their experiences, so I didn't rate them for their helpfulness.

The Things They Cannot Say: Stories Soldiers Won't Tell You About What They've Seen, Done or Failed to Do in War by Kevin Sites

The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq by John Crawford

 

[Deleted member 28812]

I asked this quite a few times and people might start to get annoyed but is there a book solely about hypervigilance - especially people who don't like crowds?

I know that "Once a Warrior" has a section on it but are there others? I have not read the others mentioned here.

 

[Sweetpea76]

I haven't seen one like that yet @Lemontree.

 

[Ocean5]

@Sweetpea76

Ok books on my reading list
- Waking The Tiger
- Body Keeps Score

Book I started to listen to, insightful but too hard now..
- Fear: Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm
- Mindfulness Workbook : A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger

 

[PTSDbegone]

Great topic.

• Coping with Trauma-related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists by Suzette Boon and Kathy Steele

This book was recommended to me by my therapist just recently. So far it has been a difficult book to read, and I am going very slowly. I think it'll be a book I'll be returning to for reference down the road.

• Your Life After Trauma: Powerful Practices to Reclaim your Identity by Michele Rosenthal

Excellent book so far. I am just midway through the second chapter. I love to read about experiences others have had, and this book has restored my hope that I can overcome PTSD. Michele's first book Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future, A Memoir is the book that made me push through, and overcome barriers that were holding me back from healing. It helped me understand there wasn't going to be one therapy modality to help me through this. It was going to be a combination of different things.

Those are the 2 books I am currently reading. I have read many many many over the years when I was trying to deal with my PTSD symptoms by myself. I have realized since that I wasn't comprehending a lot of what I was reading. I still go back and will refer to certain sections at different times. After these 2 books I have decided I'd like to try and find some true life stories to read. I believe I have a good understanding of the science behind how trauma effects the brain and body. Now I need to insert some hope and faith in there to restore my belief that we can heal from this, and life a very fulfilling, and happy life.

 

[Deleted member 28812]

BTW this is a little video that explains PTSD:

It's not something for a reading list but might be helpful to explain the condition to others.