Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma Paperback – Illustrated, July 7, 1997

Waking the Tiger is such a inspirational book about how to heal trauma within ourselves. Peter Levin started for many years ago teaching us, that if we want to heal a trauma, we need to feel it and experience it over again with our feelings. So, it Is not enough to let it go or just entertain it in our thoughts. A must for all of us with trauma in us. and of course, a must read for any therapist in this field.

At the present time we encounter a growing number of people who live with debilitation trauma - some so severe they must give up working or socializing outside their home environment.Peter Levine introduces his topic by having the reader wonder why it is that wild animals that encounter trauma every day as they live by their wits to not become another animals meal for the day, while they look for their own meal, do not suffer debilitating trauma as do humans.But why is it that some individuals just never seem to get over their trauma, to move on with their lives? The answer lies in understanding the relevance of the neo cortex (thinking brain), limbic (emotional) brain, and reptilian (fight/flight/freeze) brain to our existence on the earth.The body of `Waking the Tiger - Healing Trauma' is divided into three sections:* Section 1 - The body as healer. The body has its own intelligence for healing. However, the Western mind is taught to down-play the relevance of that intelligence for living among `civilized' society.* Section 2 - Symptoms of trauma. Often trauma can be connected to a specific incident; however, especially if the symptoms are masked for a period (which may extend to a few years), symptoms become revealed in a way easy to miss. Trauma reveals itself as a recurring pattern in someone's behaviour.* Section 3 - Transformation and renegotiation. The secret in healing trauma involves approaching the situation in a manner that is meaningful to the reptilian brain - the healing is instantaneous and permanent. In contrast, trauma counseling methods that appeal to the intellect are often ineffectual.* Section 4 - First aid for trauma. The sooner trauma is appropriately dealt with, the better. Trauma counseling can be learned for own `on-the-spot benefit or that of another.Who should read `Waking the Tiger - Healing Trauma'?* Trauma councilors concerned for the well-being of their long-term unhealing patients.* Individuals actively working but battling to find relief from trauma.* Individuals who just know `something is wrong with my life but I don't know what'.* Caring hearts that want to know how best to offer in-the-moment relief to others experiencing trauma.Peter Levine explains his topic in an easy-to-read manner, which left me wondering that the knowledge he expounds upon should be so commonplace, yet realizing it is not. The knowledge he provides in his book is profound.I found this 266-page book to be a fantastic read!

“Waking the Tiger; Healing Trauma” by Peter A. Levine is a powerful, accessible guide that redefines trauma recovery. As someone passionate about educating others on trauma, I found Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE) approach transformative. Drawing on animals’ ability to “shake off” trauma, Levine shows how humans can release trapped “survival energy” stored in the nervous system. This biological perspective aligns with my interest in science and offers practical tools for healing. Levine’s SE exercises, like tracking bodily sensations, help process trauma safely, making them ideal for supporting others. Case studies, such as a client overcoming panic attacks, illustrate the method’s impact. His compassionate tone normalizes trauma symptoms, fostering hope and empowerment key for my goal of helping survivors. While some exercises need professional guidance and the book relies on anecdotes over data, its global reach proves its value.

There is something very fantastic that this book offers the reader---ideas about trauma experiences in people's lives- and how to try totransform the consequences of trauma. It is easy to read and that is important in helping the reader to grasp this point-of-view. I thinkit can be read by both professionals and lay people who believe that they have had trauma either early in their lives or later. I do wantto alert the reader--this approach makes a good deal of sense and the exercises are described very well---but there is also somethingvery hard to digest in this approach. I don't think it is a book for all to read. It might be best to be in therapy while reading this bookor it might send you there (not a bad thing!) but it is better if read with others for support in utilizing this important and ground breakingunderstanding of trauma in all of our lives. 9/11 comes to mind for New Yorkers.