Body Keeps the Score

The Body Keeps The Score

Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma

By: Bessel Van Der Kolk

A world expert presents a sympathetic exploration of the causes of trauma and the new treatments making it possible for sufferers to reclaim their lives

What causes people to continually relive what they most want to forget, and what treatments could help restore them to a life with purpose and joy? Here, Dr Bessel van der Kolk offers a new paradigm for effectively treating traumatic stress.

Neither talking nor drug therapies have proven entirely satisfactory. With stories of his own work and those of specialists around the globe, The Body Keeps the Score sheds new light on the routes away from trauma – which lie in the regulation and syncing of body and mind, using sport, drama, yoga, mindfulness, meditation and other routes to equilibrium.

About the Author

Dr Bessel van der Kolk is one of the world’s foremost experts on traumatic stress. He is the founder and medical director of the Trauma Center in Boston, USA, and the director of the Complex Trauma Treatment Network. A past professor of psychiatry at Boston University Medical School, Dr van der Kolk is the author of several scholarly books and over a hundred scientific articles.

Parents’ Guide to PANDAS, PANS, and Related Neuroimmune Disorders

Parents’ Guide to PANDAS, PANS, and Related Neuroimmune Disorders

Having a child who suddenly develops PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep), PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) or related conditions such as encephalitis can be a daunting challenge for parents. This clear guide explains the symptoms and diagnosis of PANDAS and PANS, with treatment options and recommended strategies for supporting children at home, at school, and in community settings. The book covers key symptoms including OCD, tics, anxiety, sensory issues and personality changes, with practical advice on medical management, nutrition, lifestyle, and addressing social and behavioural needs. Each chapter also includes handy sidebars with key information to remember, and action steps for overcoming challenges, managing relapse, family self-care and providing children with the best possible support.

PANDAS and PANS in School Settings

PANDAS and PANS in School Settings

A Handbook for Educators

PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) occur when an abnormal immune response produces brain inflammation, leading to unusual psychological symptoms in children. Symptoms can include OCD, tics, ADHD, anxiety disorders, sensory issues and marked personality changes.

This practical handbook explains how educators can distinguish between these symptoms and pre-existing conditions, and offers strategies for supporting students with PANDAS and PANS in school settings. Contributions from experts provide educators with the understanding needed to be able to collaboratively identify PANDAS and PANS, and carry out effective interventions. As the rate of incidence of PANDAS and PANS increases, this book will be an essential resource for school staff in getting to grips with these complex disorders and overcoming the challenges they present.

Demystifying PANS/PANDAS

Demystifying PANS/PANDAS

A Functional Medicine Desktop Reference on Basal Ganglia Encephalitis

Demystifying PANS/PANDAS is a unique and long overdue resource in the field of pediatric neurobehavioral health, providing a comprehensive overview of the “three-pronged approach” to assessment and care, conventional and naturopathic interventions, a trove of case studies, and plenty of clinical pearls along the way.

Even more importantly, this book provides a roadmap for practitioners and families feeling confused and isolated by this condition, empowering them to make better decisions and sparking a greater conversation about this devastating illness.

My Story About PANS/PANDAS

My Story About PANS/PANDAS

Once a typical boy, Owen’s journey with PANS/PANDAS began after he was exposed to an infection that changed everything. Abruptly faced with severe anxiety, OCD, tics, and rage, Owen finds himself navigating a world full of doctors, medical tests, IVIG, and even weird smoothies. Likening his journey to a climb up a challenging hill, Owen helps the reader understand that sometimes the path is straight and easy, but sometimes you must zig-zag or find another way to the top.

The Invisible Load

The Invisible Load

By: Dr. Libby Weaver

The ultimate guide to overcoming stress and overwhelm.

It’s common today to hear people talk about how they feel overwhelmed. There are also plenty who put on a brave face, when behind closed doors it’s a different story.

Where is this stress coming from? Is it really our tasks, duties and responsibilities—or is it something deeper? And why are stress levels continuing to rise?

The answer: our invisible loads.

Our invisible load is the stress we carry, that no one sees, that drives how we think and feel. From the physical load on our body, to the emotional load in our mind, this invisible load is what really sits at the heart of our stress. And until we learn to unpack this, reducing our experience of stress will be almost impossible.

ADHD Explained

ADHD Explained

Your Toolkit to Understanding and Thriving

A NYT best-selling doctor and TikToker offers a collection of quick-read insights to help a newly diagnosed generation understand ADHD

With a new wave of adult ADHD diagnoses sweeping the world, many are beginning to discover what it is that sets them apart, but few have learnt what it takes to thrive…

World-renowned ADHD expert, bestselling author, and TikTok sensation Dr Edward M. Hallowell (aka Dr Ned) demystifies the deeply misunderstood diagnosis of ADHD and offers insight on the minefield of questions that can arise. What does ADHD tell us about our brains, and how we think and act? Can it limit opportunities and connection? Does it offer cerebral superpowers? What strategies can help to lessen the difficulties of ADHD and instead boost its benefits?

This is a fast-track introduction to ADHD – what it is, how it manifests, and ways to cope – inspired by Dr Ned’s viral videos, better known as ‘NedTalks’. Transform your understanding of ADHD and learn to thrive through simple science and must-know life hacks. An easy-to-follow structure and engagingly designed and illustrated spreads, ADHD Explained disseminates knowledge and the latest scientific findings in a style particularly suited to ADHD readers. As both an ADHD expert, and ADHD-diagnosed himself, Dr Ned blends a medical and personal take on the topic in this groundbreaking guide.

About the Author

Dr Edward M. Hallowell is a board-certified psychiatrist, a world-renowned keynote speaker, and the NYTs bestselling author of more than 20 books, including Driven to Distraction (with John J. Ratey, selling over a million copies), which sparked a revolution in our understanding of ADHD. A regular columnist for ADDitude magazine, he is also the host of the podcast Distraction and chronicles advice and personal experiences of ADHD as viral “Ned Talks” on TikTok (171.6K followers, 1M likes). He is the founder of The Hallowell Centers in Boston MetroWest, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle.

cover of the book by Christopher M. Palmer with the title Brain Energy

Brain Energy

Brain Energy

A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health–and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More

This is the book that will forever change the way we understand and treat mental health.

If you or someone you love is affected by mental illness, it might change your life.

We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, and mental illnesses are on the rise. But what causes mental illness? And why are mental health problems so hard to treat? Drawing on decades of research, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain.

Brain Energy explains this new understanding of mental illness in detail, from symptoms and risk factors to what is happening in brain cells. Palmer also sheds light on the new treatment pathways this theory opens up–which apply to all mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, alcoholism, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, and even schizophrenia. Brain Energy pairs cutting-edge science with practical advice and strategies to help people reclaim their mental health.

This groundbreaking book reveals:

  • Why classifying mental disorders as “separate” conditions is misleading
  • The clear connections between mental illness and disorders linked to metabolism, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, pain disorders, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy
  • The link between metabolism and every factor known to play a role in mental health, including genetics, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, sleep, stress, and trauma
  • The evidence that current mental health treatments, including both medications and therapies, likely work by affecting metabolism
  • New treatments available today that readers can use to promote long-term healing

Palmer puts together the pieces of the mental illness puzzle to provide answers and offer hope. Brain Energy will transform the field of mental health, and the lives of countless people around the world.

Cover of The Highly Sensitive Person How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D

The Highly Sensitive Person

How to cope when the world overwhelms you.

For those people who:
have a keen imagination; are labelled too shy or too sensitive; who perform poorly when being observed even though they are usually competent; have vivid dreams; for whom time alone each day is essential;
and find they are quickly overwhelmed by noise and confusion, crowded parties, hectic office life………….
this is the book to help them understand themselves and how best to cope in various situations.

Highly sensitive people are often very bright and creative but many suffer from low self esteem. They are not ‘neurotics’ as they have been labelled for so long. However, high sensitivity can lead them to cease to engage with the outside world.

The book offers solutions for a happy and fulfilling life. Particularly in the way an HSP perceives his or herself: the book helps to ‘reframe’ past events, such as a difficult childhood, or how they see themselves – ie. shy.

Particularly strong material for those raising a sensitive child

The Better Brain : How Nutrition Will Help You Overcome Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Stress

The surprisingly dramatic role of nutrition in our mental health, and how diet and micronutrients can be used to help treat and prevent anxiety, depression, ADHD and other mental health disorders.

‘The Better Brain is the first book that will tell you both how and why nutrients can be used to treat mental-health issues. We are scientists who’ve uncovered that many symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD and more are caused by suboptimal nutrition. We’ve been doing research and clinical studies on this crucial topic for decades, yet we have never published our findings for a general audience before. Following our lectures and Julia’s TEDx Talk, we get asked questions all the time about our findings and why nutrients are so important for our brains. People want to know more. They’re desperate for answers. This is our solution.’

Leading scientists Bonnie Kaplan and Julia Rucklidge have dedicated their careers to researching the role that diet and nutrition play in our mental health. Together they have published several hundred peer-reviewed studies – those from the last two decades reveal the healing power of nutrients and the surprising role they play in brain health.

In this paradigm-shifting book, Kaplan and Rucklidge share their groundbreaking research for the first time and explain how to feed your brain to stabilise your mood, stave off depression and make yourself more resilient to daily stress. The Better Brain also reveals the hidden causes of the rising rates of depression, from the nutrients in our soil to our reliance on processed food. It explains why a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish and olive oil is healthiest for your brain, and why some people benefit from supplementary minerals and vitamins added to such a diet. Complete with a nutritional plan and thirty delicious, mood-boosting recipes, this book will be a complete guide to a healthier, happier brain.

Altered Traits : Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body

Two New York Times-bestselling authors unveil new research showing what meditation can really do for the brain.

In the last twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have gone from being kind of cool to becoming an omnipresent Band-Aid for fixing everything from your weight to your relationship to your achievement level. Unveiling here the kind of cutting-edge research that has made them giants in their fields, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson show us the truth about what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.

Sweeping away common misconceptions and neuromythology to open readers’ eyes to the ways data has been distorted to sell mind-training methods, the authors demonstrate that beyond the pleasant states mental exercises can produce, the real payoffs are the lasting personality traits that can result. But short daily doses will not get us to the highest level of lasting positive change–even if we continue for years–without specific additions. More than sheer hours, we need smart practice, including crucial ingredients such as targeted feedback from a master teacher and a more spacious, less attached view of the self, all of which are missing in widespread versions of mind training. The authors also reveal the latest data from Davidson’s own lab that point to a new methodology for developing a broader array of mind-training methods with larger implications for how we can derive the greatest benefits from the practice.

Exciting, compelling, and grounded in new research, this is one of those rare books that has the power to change us at the deepest level.

Don’t Take It Personally : The Art of Dealing with Rejection

Who hasn’t felt the sting of rejection?

It doesn’t take much for your feelings to get hurt-a look or a tone of voice or certain words can set you ruminating for hours on what that person meant. An unreturned phone call or a disappointing setback can really throw you off your center. It’s all too easy to take disappointment and rejection personally. You can learn to handle these feelings and create positive options for yourself.

Don’t Take It Personally! explores all forms of rejection, where it comes from, and how to overcome the fear of it. Most of all, you’ll learn some terrific tools for stepping back from those overwhelming feelings. You’ll be able to allow space to make choices about how you respond.
-Understand the effect that anxiety, frustration, hurt, and anger have on your interactions with others.
-De-personalize your responses and establish safe personal boundaries that protect you from getting hurt.
-Practice making choices about the thoughts you think and the ways you respond to stressful situations.
-Understand and overcome fear of rejection in personal and work relationships.

Elayne Savage explores with remarkable sensitivity the myriad of rejection experiences we experience with friends, co-workers, lovers, and family. Because her original ideas have inspired readers around the world, Don’t Take It Personally! has been published in six languages.