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PTSD GUIDE
MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
PTSD GUIDE
MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
LISE LEBLANC
Mental Health Recovery: PTSD Guide
Editor: Allister Thompson
Book Designer: Jamie Arts
Published in Stratford, Canada, by Blue Moon Publishers.
Printed and bound in Canada.
ISBN: 978-1-989517-29-1
Mental Health Recovery: PTSD Guide. Copyright © Lise Leblanc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, scanning, recording, or by any storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented without written permission from the publisher. Contact: Blue Moon Publishers, www.bluemoonpublishers.com. The format, design and layout used in this book are trademarks and/or trade dress of Blue Moon Publishers.
The views and opinions expressed in this book are those of the author, based on her personal experiences in life and business, and the book is intended to provide inspiration and valuable general guidance, however, readers must consider their own circumstances before accepting the opinions of the author and applying them in their own circumstances. The author makes no representation as to the suitability or validity of the content of this book to the personal circumstances of the individuals who will read the book and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, loss, damage or claims arising from the contents of this book. Where inspirational quotations have been used, the author has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the materials are not in breach of copyright and intellectual property laws.
Next Chapter books are available at special quantity discounts to corporations, professional associations, and other organizations. For details and discount information, please contact [email protected].
CONTENTS
MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF PTSD
APPENDIX A — COMMITMENT CONTRACT
APPENDIX B — SELF-CARE QUESTIONNAIRE
APPENDIX C — PTSD: PERSONAL STORIES
OTHER BOOKS IN THEMENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERIES:
PTSD COLLECTION
PTSD Guide
PTSD Guide Workbook
BOOKS IN THE WISH I KNEW SERIES:
GRIEF & LOSS COLLECTION
Conscious Grief & Loss Guide
Conscious Grief & Loss Guide Workbook
Gentle Quotes on Grief & Loss
Grief & Loss Guided Journal
CAREGIVING COLLECTION
Conscious Caregiving Guide
Conscious Caregiving Guide Workbook
Caregiving Insights
Gentle Quotes on Caregiving
Caregiving Guided Journal
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SERIES PTSD COLLECTION
The Mental Health Recovery series offers practical information and concrete strategies for people of all ages who are struggling with mental health issues. Arranged in brief sections, there are natural break points so you can take the time to process the information provided, reflect, practice, and instill these new strategies into your life before taking more in.
The PTSD Guide is a step-by-step, practical guide that will help you understand exactly what trauma is, how unprocessed trauma is affecting your nervous system and how to take action to heal yourself. You will learn effective ways to get relief from the confusing, debilitating, and very isolating symptoms of PTSD, as well as learn specific ways to retrain and soothe your traumatized nervous system.
The PTSD Guide Workbook is your essential workbook to accompany the PTSD Guide. Each chapter in the workbook corresponds to a chapter in the guide, including practical exercises, checklists, reflective questions, and more.
FOREWORD
As I read PTSD Guide — Mental Health Series, skilfully crafted by my dear friend and colleague Lise Leblanc, I felt my life being graced by her counsel to be patient, present, gentle, and loving to myself as I pursue my work as a community-based psychiatrist supporting so many individuals who have been exposed to trauma. I was deeply touched by her invitation to instil hope in the hearts and minds of individuals I support. She suggests I invite them to reinvest energies initially invested in attempts to avoid, resist, and hide from dysregulated nervous systems following exposure to single or repeated incidents of trauma.
As I read this guide, I recalled the words of Confucius:
If there is righteousness in the heart
There will be beauty in the character
If there is beauty in the character
There is harmony in the home
If there is harmony in the home
There will be order in the nation