Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It Paperback – October 5, 2021

Marked by a lack of accessibility and tremendous inequities, our system of mental healthcare is at a breaking point and unable to meet our exponentially growing need.Its medicalized methods aren't sustainable either. They can be stigmatizing and traumatizing, a dehumanizing process for both patient and practitioner in which mental and emotional states are taken as signifiers of something “wrong” that needs to be “cured,” where diagnostic language objectifies the patient and asserts practitioner authority.Treatment also routinely serves as a form of punishment, and several methods deserve critique as deliberate or unconscious strategies to press individuals to conform, for their lack of attention to developmental and relational or physiological needs. The therapist's office can also become the holding tank for patients with treatment-resistant physical suffering who have been slapped with a psychiatric diagnosis instead…From a bird’s eye view, the system of care can look like a labyrinth of chutes by which individuals can effortlessly internalize the failures, disconnects, ills and evils happening around them, and by which they can further isolate and numb or fail to get traction in their lives. With pharmaceuticals facilitating throughput and the management of heavy caseloads, the hatch on the deeper realities and festering wounds gets heavier and heavier to lift.Rather than railing against the system, Conti offers a model for stepping in as individuals to right the ship—to set a course for honoring the human condition, where both healthy boundaries and relational exchange can coexist.He has divested himself of the hierarchical language and positionality of the medical field, and his own subjectivity is woven throughout the book. Writing as both human and healer, he shines a soft and gentle light into recesses of shame and traces suffering within an expanded context of culture, community, family history, economics, national politics, historical events, and inevitably occurring life experiences. Even as the failures of the mental health care complex come into exponentially greater dimension through his lens, he holds steady, delivering the wisdom of experience and a well spring of humanity. There’s no splitting or blaming, but an invitation, a call to provide care and a demonstration of the breadth of the need.If you are in deep distress, this might not be the book to start with but it could serve as an essential corollary and supplement to your healing process. Going deep into the nature of one’s own suffering requires multiple layers of support, and what is needed for the nervous system doesn’t come solely in the cognitive and solitary space of reading a book. But for those situations when we are in a position to provide care, this is a critically important book to take to heart. It is likewise a great model if you are committed to sustainability, integration or systems change.

Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic by Dr. Paul Conti is a powerful and essential read for anyone seeking to understand the pervasive impact of trauma on individuals and society as a whole. Dr. Conti masterfully presents trauma not just as a personal affliction but as a widespread, almost viral, issue that can be passed down through generations and spread within communities.The book’s strength lies in its comprehensive approach. Dr. Conti seamlessly blends the latest research with real-life stories, providing readers with a deep and nuanced understanding of how trauma affects the body, mind, and social structures. He doesn’t just stop at diagnosis; he offers a clear and actionable path for treatment and prevention, both on an individual and societal level.One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its exploration of how trauma can disrupt mental processes like memory and emotional regulation, and how these disruptions can lead to a cascade of negative outcomes if left untreated. Dr. Conti’s examination of the failings of for-profit healthcare systems in diagnosing and treating trauma is both eye-opening and a call to action for systemic change.What sets this book apart is its forward-thinking approach. Dr. Conti doesn’t just highlight the problem; he provides practical solutions and argues for a renewed social commitment to mental health and wellness. His call for confronting and managing fears as they arise is particularly timely and resonates deeply in our current climate of social and political turmoil.Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic is more than just a book; it’s a roadmap for healing and a powerful argument for why we must take trauma seriously as a public health issue. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a survivor of trauma, or someone looking to understand the silent epidemic that affects so many lives, this book is a must-read. Dr. Conti offers hope and a path forward, proving that trauma, while devastating, is both treatable and preventable.

This book was informative and I learned a lot from it. I could have gone without some of the authors political views being tossed in. Overall I found this book highly informative about trauma, how it occurs and how we can begin to heal from it.

Profoundly addresses new areas. Will gift this book right after I re read. It's spot on.

This an extremely insightful book. Conti is an interesting character. He is extremely knowledgeable of mainstream science but utilizes an extremely esoteric approach to explaining and treating trauma. What was surprising about this was how helpful and effective it was for me. There are many trauma doctor "gurus" that publish popular theories that are then discredited by peer-reviewed studies – which are much less popular than the books, and therefore simply spread misinformation. Conti doesn't do that, he clearly applies modern understanding of trauma with a solid scientific foundation while utilizing language that opens up a humanistic component that is helpful. I can't give it five stars because I do find Conti's prose convoluted, he's not great at summarizing or clarifying points, yet that is one of his charms. I do invite those curious to give it a shot, as his style does open something up for some people. It definitely did for me. Finally, what I do have to beg them is to publish this with a bigger type. The spacing between lines is very narrow and the type size very small, it is hard to read, because it is hard to see... and I'm in my 20s!

This book presents specific details on how a good doctor must be in practice. In particular, a doctor dealing with mental health. Doctor Conti is pretty close to be an angel. I have been in mental pain for more than 20 years, and I do not know Doctor Conti; however, reading his book made me find the most compassionate treatment ever. Do not judge the ones who suffer from trauma.