Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy

by Christy Monson

Overview

Finding peace in times of worldwide trauma is difficult, and finding peace in times of personal trauma such as a family death or tragedy can be overwhelming. Therapist Christy Monson professionally and compassionately describes how tragedy physically changes the brain and the body, and she provides powerful techniques to help heal those invisible wounds and cope with the turmoil of our day.

Chapters are interspersed with moving, first-hand accounts that span the range of human tragedy, including those from

• A 9/11 survivor
• Parents who had two children die of brain tumors
• A mother whose son lost a leg in a road side bomb in Afghanistan
• A young adult whose father committed suicide
• And a rape survivor.

Through detailed research, years of experience, and detailed interviews with survivors, Monson shows that there is hope for not just peace but also joy after tragedy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641701228
Publisher:	Familius
Publication date:	04/01/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	877,404
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Christy Monson received a BS degree at Utah State University and an MS at University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She established a successful counseling practice in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a licensed marriage and family therapist, spending a great portion of her time working with young people and their families. She and her husband, Robert, have raised six children and have fourteen grandchildren.

She has written a children's book series, Texting Through Time, and has a picture book, Love, Hugs, and Hope: When Scary Things Happen, released 2013. Her self-help book Becoming Free: A Woman's Guide to Internal Strength was also released 2013.

Her articles have been published on the web on Familius.com, Gospel Ideals, LDS Witness, Modern Molly Mormon, and American Night Writer's Association. Her blog address is http://christymonson.blogspot.com/.

Her websites are: http://www.christymonson.com/index.html and http://textingthroughtime.com/.

Like her author page: http://www.facebook.com/christymonsonauthor?v=wall

Table of Contents

Part 1 Tragedy-What It Does to Us

The Working World, 9/11 Survivor 2

Chapter 1 Personal Tragedy 7

Chapter 2 Symptoms and Feelings We Experience When Tragedy Strikes 12

Chapter 3 Healing Is a Process 18

Chapter 4 Tragedy and the Brain 22

Chapter 5 Tragedy and the Body 27

Part 2 Tragedy and Healing

Two Daughters, the Same Brain Tumors 32

Chapter 6 Listening to Yourself 36

Chapter 7 Healing the Whole Person 43

Chapter 8 Creative Visualizations-An Internal Guide 52

Chapter 9 Creative Visualizations-An Internal Hospital 57

Chapter 10 Body Work and Trauma 61

Chapter 11 Putting It All Together-Physical, Mental, and Emotional Recovery 67

Part 3 Grief and the Healing Process

An Afghanistan Wounded Warrior 74

Chapter 12 Grief and Disconnected Feelings 80

Chapter 13 Nightmares 85

Chapter 14 Facing Fears 90

Chapter 15 Anger 96

Chapter 16 Forgiveness 102

Chapter 17 Letter to Your Loved One 107

Chapter 18 Grief and the Creative Arts 112

Chapter 19 Body Work and Grieving 117

Part 4 Getting Back Into Daily Life

A Survivor: Abandoned, Abused, and Raped 122

Chapter 20 Mistaken Childhood Beliefs and the Grieving Process 125

Chapter 21 Biography 131

Chapter 22 A Memorial Tribute 135

Chapter 23 Positive Thinking 139

Chapter 24 Personal Mantras 144

Chapter 25 Friends 149

Chapter 26 Creating Joy in Your Life after Tragedy 153

Chapter 27 Making It Through the Holidays 157

Part 5 Final Touches for Becoming Your Best

A Family of Deaths 162

Chapter 28 Finding a Therapist 167

Chapter 29 Group Work 172

Chapter 30 Gratitude 177

Chapter 31 Self-Compassion 182

Chapter 32 Finding Peace amid Political Turmoil 187

Chapter 33 A Quick Pickup 193

Chapter 34 My Spirituality 197

Conclusion 201

Bibliography 203

Acknowledgments 211

About the Author 212

What People are Saying About This

LMFT Nefily Ledezma

“In Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy, Christy Monson recounts compelling stories from her decades of professionally healing families in tragic circumstances. Monson pairs her wisdom alongside tender, provoking stories that illustrate tragedy in the lives of past clients and also in her own life. The stories of growth and healing are masterfully and lovingly retold. As a therapist who specializes in helping children through trauma, I’ve found this book a powerful and wonderful new tool in helping my clients heal.”

Dennis J. Carradin Jr.

"This powerful and wonderful book explores and explains one of the most crucial topics in our society. Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy is a moving and compassionate portrayal of what people and communities are searching for in a world filled with chaos, tragedy, and uncertainty. Anyone who is looking for answers to almost seemingly unanswerable questions should read this book from Christy Monson".

From the Publisher

“In Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy, Christy Monson recounts compelling stories from her decades of professionally healing families in tragic circumstances. Monson pairs her wisdom alongside tender, provoking stories that illustrate tragedy in the lives of past clients and also in her own life. The stories of growth and healing are masterfully and lovingly retold. As a therapist who specializes in helping children through trauma, I’ve found this book a powerful and wonderful new tool in helping my clients heal.”

"This powerful and wonderful book explores and explains one of the most crucial topics in our society. Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy is a moving and compassionate portrayal of what people and communities are searching for in a world filled with chaos, tragedy, and uncertainty. Anyone who is looking for answers to almost seemingly unanswerable questions should read this book from Christy Monson".

Editorial Reviews

In Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy, Christy Monson recounts compelling stories from her decades of professionally healing families in tragic circumstances. Monson pairs her wisdom alongside tender, provoking stories that illustrate tragedy in the lives of past clients and also in her own life. The stories of growth and healing are masterfully and lovingly retold. As a therapist who specializes in helping children through trauma, I’ve found this book a powerful and wonderful new tool in helping my clients heal.”

"This powerful and wonderful book explores and explains one of the most crucial topics in our society. Finding Peace in Times of Tragedy is a moving and compassionate portrayal of what people and communities are searching for in a world filled with chaos, tragedy, and uncertainty. Anyone who is looking for answers to almost seemingly unanswerable questions should read this book from Christy Monson".

From the Publisher