Surviving to Thriving: A Science Based Approach to Healing From Complex Trauma

Surviving to Thriving: A Science-Based Path to Healing Complex Trauma By Dr. Kirsty Black You’ve survived the storm—now it’s time to learn how to truly live again. If you’ve ever wondered why life feels harder than it should, why relationships are complicated, or why your body seems stuck in constant tension, you may be carrying the hidden scars of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). This groundbreaking, compassionate guide by Dr. Kirsty Black blends neuroscience, trauma research, and practical tools to help you understand and heal from the deep wounds of prolonged trauma. In this book, you’ll discover: The Pain Points You’ve Been Living With Why traditional approaches to PTSD often fail those with complex trauma The hidden impact of childhood trauma on brain development, relationships, and emotional regulation How your body “keeps the score” through chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and fatigue The cycle of emotional flashbacks, self-criticism, and mistrust that keeps you stuck The Healing Process You’ll Learn Understand your nervous system — Recognise fight, flight, freeze, and fawn patterns and learn to work with them, not against them Map your Window of Tolerance — Identify early signs of dysregulation and use targeted strategies to return to balance Rewire your brain and body — Use somatic experiencing, breathwork, and grounding techniques to release stored trauma Quiet the inner critic — Replace self-sabotaging thoughts with self-compassion and supportive internal dialogue Rebuild trust and identity — Establish healthy boundaries, reconnect with your authentic self, and rediscover your values What You’ll Gain from Reading This Book A science-based understanding of Complex PTSD that validates your experiences Personalised regulation tools you can use in everyday situations Practical exercises for navigating emotional flashbacks, silencing self-criticism, and creating emotional safety Strategies to restore healthy relationships—with yourself and others A renewed sense of self-worth, resilience, and possibility for the future Whether you’re just beginning to understand how past experiences shaped your life, or you’ve been on the healing path for years, Surviving to Thriving offers the knowledge, skills, and encouragement you need to move forward. Your past shaped you—but it doesn’t have to define you. Take the first step toward reclaiming your life and living with clarity, peace, and authentic joy. If you connected with The Body Keeps the Score, What Happened to You, or It Didn’t Start With You, you’ll find hope, healing, and practical help within these pages.