Iron Legacy: Childhood Trauma and Adult Transformation

Donna Bevan-Lee had a tough childhood. When her father was feeling playful, he roped her by the foot like a rodeo calf, yanking her to the ground every time the rope connected. In darker moods, he did far worse, his brutality excused by a church that gives men absolute power over women and children. The abuse she suffered had profound and lasting consequences, including self-loathing, addiction, and an inability to say "no." Too many adults have similar histories. Roughly a quarter of American children experience complex trauma resulting from abuse, neglect, catastrophic illness, or other adversity. Because such trauma affects the developing brain, it's not something we outgrow; it permanently alters our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behavior, often without our awareness. It derails our plans, sabotages our relationships, and convinces us that we're unworthy of happiness. It makes us vulnerable to addiction, obesity, depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and early death. It is a formidable challenge. Dr. Bevan-Lee met the challenge of her traumatic childhood and began to help other survivors meet theirs. A pioneer in the field of codependency, she developed programs to treat adults struggling with unresolved trauma. Her flagship program, The Legacy Workshop, has helped thousands of survivors understand their histories and discharge emotions rooted in them. Now she has distilled her history, cutting-edge research, and four decades of clinical experience into Iron Legacy: Childhood Trauma and Adult Transformation. Full of up-to-date information, practical help, compelling stories, and clear-eyed encouragement, Iron Legacy is a comprehensive guide to recognizing and overcoming childhood trauma, written by someone who has been there.