Praise for Keep Pain in the Past
“Heart-tugging stories, sage advice and insightful questions make this a must-have book for anyone suffering from PTSD or any other trauma. With masterful writing, the authors help the reader let go of the past, live in the present and, perhaps most important of all, look forward to the future.”
—Allen Klein, bestselling author of The Healing Power of Humor and You Can’t Ruin My Day
“This book offers real stories and a path to authentic emotional healing for people recovering from past hurts and traumatic events. Writing with hope and compassion, the authors guide the reader through an actionable stepwise process of gaining their life back after traumatic experiences and keeping the emotional pain in the past—for good!”
—Helen Odessky, PsyD, author of Stop Anxiety from Stopping You
“Millions of people suffer from PTSD which can dramatically impact their lives. The self-healing process mapped out in Keep Pain in the Past is based on decades of successful treatment of patients and offers help and hope to those who need it. With this remarkable remedy, readers can go from surviving to thriving.”
—Dr. John Duffy, author of The Available Parent; also podcasts on WGN Radio’s “BETTER” show
“Keep Pain in the Past is a well-thought-out tome of helpful, step-by-step tools for healing from physical and emotional trauma. Authors Cortman and Walden present questions for the reader to ask himself or herself at the end of each chapter and provide suggestions that are sensible and real for one to step out of PTSD and to step up to his or her brighter future.”
—KJ Landis, author of Happy Healthy You
“Individuals suffering from drug and alcohol or other addictions, or from anxiety, depression, resentment, and compulsive behavior, as well as those having difficulty moving on from bad experiences, can greatly benefit from the knowledge and practical exercises in this book.”
—Calvina Fay, executive director, Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.
“Time may not heal all wounds, but a powerful process can. I’m so grateful to the authors of Keep Pain in the Past for restoring hope that trauma can be healed without years of psychotherapy. Each wounded heart is longing to be whole again. This book is the perfect companion for that journey.”
—MK Mueller, author of 8 to Great
“The work Dr. Chris Cortman is doing in the field of trauma recovery is some of the most important work being done today. In Keep Pain in the Past, he shares the compelling stories of people he has helped using a simple (though not easy) five-step framework. Through these stories, helpful writing prompts, and other detailed tools and resources, readers see what is actually possible in regards to recovering from trauma (whether with a capital T or a small t), and can begin to attend to their own recovery. I am looking forward to employing ‘The Fritz’ in my own ongoing personal work!”
—Karen C.L. Anderson, author of Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide for Separation, Liberation & Inspiration
Keep
Pain in
the Past
Copyright © 2018 Chris Cortman & Joseph Walden
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover Design: Roberto Nuñez
Layout & Design: Morgane Leoni
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Keep Pain in the Past: Getting Over Trauma, Grief and the Worst That’s Ever Happened to You
Library of Congress Cataloging
ISBN: (p) 978-1-63353-810-8, (e) 978-1-63353-811-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018952275
BISAC—PSY022040—PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)
Printed in the United States of America.
Keep
Pain in
the Past
Getting Over Trauma, Grief and the Worst That’s Ever Happened to You
Dr. Chris Cortman & Dr. Joseph Walden
Mango Publishing
Coral Gables, FL
This book is dedicated to everyone who’s been told, “Time heals all wounds,” but it didn’t. It’s also dedicated to people who were told, “It’s called PTSD, and there is no cure, so you just have to live with it.” Let me not forget those who were told that, “There is no such thing as multiple personality, you’re making that up for attention.” And, of course, it’s for people who were sexually assaulted, molested, raped, sold, abused, and then when you bravely told someone, you weren’t believed.
This book is for all of you who have been abandoned, betrayed, neglected, threatened, beaten, terrorized, bullied, cheated on, swindled, scammed, conned, rejected, or never picked for the basketball team. It’s for you who have come forth and told your story, and especially for you who as yet have not. This book is for anyone willing to hope and believe one more time. This book is for you.
Contents
Treating Trauma; What If We Already Have the Answers We Need to Heal?
Trauma Destroys the Soul Thanks to Mr. Avoidance
Remember: Tell the Tale in Detail