Overview

From Unthinkable Loss to Unbreakable Resilience In Keep Breathing, Dr. Kate Truitt, a renowned psychologist, applied neuroscientist, and trauma expert, shares her story of unimaginable loss, trauma, and, ultimately, healing. Faced with the sudden, gut-wrenching death of her fianc� just one week before their wedding day, Kate found her world shattered, catapulting her into a deep void of profound grief, trauma, shock, and guilt. Part memoir and part scientific exploration, Keep Breathing uses Kate's own personal account as a case study to illuminate the common experiences in our human brain--deep love and devastating loss, exhilaration and pain, life and death--that have the power to both derail our lives and ignite us to rebuild, heal, and grow. Her deeply personal loss sheds light on the human spirit's extraordinary ability to persevere and thrive in the face of suffering--providing readers with a roadmap to navigate their own paths to healing and self-discovery. With its raw yet warm candor, Kate's brave storytelling exemplifies what it means to truly come back to ourselves.

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9781962305099

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Reviews

"""No one escapes dealing with loss, and when the loss is unthinkable, the journey can be both long and difficult. This is a story about unimaginable grief that lands on a mind already acquainted with trauma. Dr. Kate Truitt, as both a trauma expert and survivor, provides a firsthand, scientific account of what drove her thoughts and behavior in seeking a cure for her suffering. An amazing story, an enlightening read, and a remarkable ending. For those on this healing journey or those who know someone who is, consider this book aspirational."" --Ronald Ruden, MD, PhD, creator of the Havening Techniques and author of The Craving Brain and When the Past is Always Present: Emotional Traumatization, Causes, and Cures ""Keep Breathing by Dr. Kate Truitt is a whirlwind of emotional honesty and intellectual bravery. This book takes readers on a roller coaster ride through the highs and lows of human experience, combining Dr. Truitt's personal trials with her scientific expertise. Her writing style is unorthodox yet utterly captivating, turning a story of personal grief into a beacon of hope for anyone in the throes of life's chaos. This book doesn't just share a story; it dares readers to confront their own vulnerabilities and emerge stronger, armed with a deeper understanding of the mind and heart."" --Frank G. Anderson, MD, internationally-renowned trauma expert, author of To Be Loved and Transcending Trauma ""Dr. Kate Truitt's new book is a deeply moving memoir and a perfect complement to her first book, Healing in Your Hands. Within these pages, she shares her personal story of tragic loss and the posttraumatic stress that encompasses her life following that fateful day. For those of us who are trauma survivors, these words help us feel less alone and deeply understood. The story continues as a beacon of hope as you, too, will discover the transformational power of Havening Touch techniques and how they allow you tap into the healing potential that lives within us all."" --Dr. Arielle Schwartz, PhD, author of The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook and The Complex PTSD Workbook ""Keep Breathing by Dr. Kate Truitt is a poignant narrative that gracefully intertwines the threads of personal tragedy and scientific exploration. Following her own experience of deep loss, Dr. Truitt examines the facets of trauma, the impacts of childhood, and the struggle with depression, leading readers on a journey toward understanding and resilience. Her story is a testament to the human spirit's ability to not only endure but also to find meaning, hope, and growth in the face of adversity. This book stands as a powerful example of how personal loss can illuminate the path to self-discovery and healing."" --Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC, author of Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief and Anxious Grief ""In Keep Breathing, Dr. Kate Truitt presents a daring and insightful narrative. This book blends a gripping story of personal loss with laser-sharp technical insights about the brain and nervous system. It's a candid, almost provocative invitation to peer into the abyss of trauma and emerge hopeful."" --Annie Chen, LMFT, author of The Attachment Theory Workbook and I Want to Connect ""Never underestimate your ability to experience the darkness and still shine on.' This book contains the message needed for this tumultuous time in our existence. Dr. Truitt has given us a unique opportunity to walk alongside her personal tragedy, hand in hand with the neuroscience of what happens in the brain. A must-read that has changed my life for the better."" --Scarlett Lewis, founder and chief movement officer at the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, international author, and recipient of the International Forgiveness Award, Peace Hero Award, and Common Ground Award, among others ""Dr. Truitt's vulnerable exposure of her personal narrative places her wisdom around the neurophysiology of trauma within a concrete framework. Her ability to describe severe stress through its profound chronological impact on her own life and then zoom out to a wider lens of how humans are affected makes the science personal. She models self-compassion, curiosity, and perseverance in a way that only a clinical psychologist and applied neuroscientist with trauma can, learning through her past. Her description of her healing journey and the changes she experiences in her mind-body system is a moving, heart-warming experience. We root for her the way she roots for us all."" --Christine Gibson, MD, author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit: Nurture Your Post-Traumatic Growth with Personalized Solutions, @TikTokTraumaDoc, and co-founder of the Safer Spaces Training Program ""This is the only book that walks you through the depths of a deeply traumatic event and gives you insight on the neuroscience that is controlling what Kate and others experience. Oftentimes we want to believe we know what is happening to us when we go through trauma. The truth is we don't know the depths of our habits, systems, and repetitive thoughts. This book lays out a path for people to see themselves and the real-life skills they can build to begin to heal the trauma in their lives."" --Ross Sazabo, wellness director at Geffen Academy at UCLA, CEO of the Human Power Project, and author of A Kids Book About Anxiety ""Keep Breathing by Dr. Kate Truitt is a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit, expertly blending her own journey of loss and recovery with her neuroscience background. This book provides a compassionate and empathetic yet scientifically grounded guide for anyone navigating the challenging path of emotional healing. Dr. Truitt's narrative is both touching and informative, serving as a source of comfort and understanding for those facing life's most difficult moments. It's a compelling and moving invitation to find strength and renewal in the midst of adversity. I am so moved by her powerful testimony and her ability to access words to describe life's unthinkable moments and to light a path for so many finding their way through the nonlinear journey of healing. Dr. Truitt is a gift and light in this world and provides a safe haven for all those longing to be seen in their grief."" --Zahabiyah Yamasaki, MEd, RYT, author of Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Your Joy is Beautiful ""A riveting and fascinating book! Dr Truitt's story is inspiring and courageous and gives tremendous hope to people who are recovering from trauma. Everyone should read this book. Once I started, I literally couldn't put it down."" --David Granirer, founder, Stand Up For Mental Health(TM) ""Bold, honest, relatable, informative, and brave are a few words to describe Dr. Kate Truitt's new riveting book, Keep Breathing. Truitt beautifully weaves her personal story with easily digestible neuroscience, helping us understand how our brains work, and inviting us to learn to partner with our amygdala rather than fighting against it. As a certified trauma therapist, I can't recommend this book enough--not only to the mental health community and their clients but to anyone who has been through something hard in their life and wants to reach the other side. Keep Breathing should be on every bookshelf!"" --Susan Zinn, LPCC, LMHC, NCC, founder of Westside Counseling Center, best-selling coauthor of The Epiphanies Project, and the recipient of President Obama's Volunteer Service Award ""Dr. Truitt's masterful book, Keep Breathing, reads like Lessons in Chemistry for neuroscience and trauma. Heartbreaking, courageous, ultimately hopeful and uplifting, this book of brain healing and redemption is a surprise page-turner. I couldn't put it down."" --Leslie Glass, author of The Mother-Daughter Relationship Makeover ""In her newest book, Keep Breathing, Dr. Kate Truitt masterfully intertwines her own poignant story of loss with her extensive knowledge of the brain's workings. This narrative serves as a powerful ally to those wrestling with the weight of emotional trauma. Dr. Truitt's book is a lighthouse in the storm for readers, offering a unique combination of heartfelt experience and scientific exploration. It is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of healing and personal transformation."" --Courtney Armstrong, PhD, author of Rethinking Trauma Treatment ""Keep Breathing is a gorgeous mosaic of life's ups and downs. It is a stand-out book that beautifully weaves Dr. Kate's poignant and vulnerable stories together with the science and psychology behind what is actually going on in our bodies and brains all the while. Her intimate knowledge of the neuroscience of trauma, combined with her personal experience, has given her unique insights to help others overcome their own traumas. Whether you are looking to get relief in your own life or are a practitioner leading or supporting others, Keep Breathing will give you valuable tools and stories to help you move forward in your journey."" --Laura Haver, author of Play Together and founder of Author Moms ""Prepare to be captivated as Dr. Kate Truitt expertly guides you on a remarkable journey, seamlessly inviting the reader to walk alongside her as she rises from the depths of despair to build a purpose-driven, fulfilled life. With skill and grace, she weaves the intricate tapestry of neurobiology into the fabric of real-world trauma-induced emotional distress. Dr. Truitt's unique perspective as both an active participant and a keen observer offers poignant insights into the limitations of our current knowledge. Dr. Truitt's narrative unfolds with a riveting, page-turning style that touches our deepest emotions from hopelessness and loss to the triumphant reclamation of her authentic self. Driven by an unyielding desire not just to survive but to thrive, this story serves as a beacon of hope and understanding for those grappling with the life-altering burden of traumatic stress."" --Steven J. Ruden, DDS, co-founder and developer of the Havening Techniques ""Keep Breathing is the poignant true story of Dr. Kate Truitt's 'phoenix journey' through PTSD. Struck by unforeseen grief just before her wedding, Truitt confronts the waves of pain and the 'profound powerlessness' her own brain subjects her to. Her narrative, resonating with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's My Stroke of Insight, is both a deeply personal tale and a beacon for those touched by trauma. Truitt stands as a guide through the darkness of PTSD, using her expertise to illuminate the path to recovery. This book will change how we perceive pain and human resilience. --John Freedom, CEHP, research coordinator for the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, member of the board of trustees for EFT International, and author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique ""Dr. Kate Truitt pens like a fast-paced novel but with an important catch. She has created a captivating autobiographical piece of literature, courageously exposing wounds from several painful PTSD occurrences. Yet, as a neuroscientist, traumatologist and psychologist, she peppers neuroscientific explanations, research citations and contemporary metaphorical clarification throughout her narrative. This book has double benefit, as she explores flawed human conditions while maintaining a keen observing clinical eye. I was spellbound by her grueling, gritty story, resonated with her dance to survive, admired her tenacity, then paused to grasp neuroscientific constructs. This book belongs in the heart, mind, and hand of anyone seeking knowledge about, recovering from, or treating PTSD."" --Robin Bilazarian, LCSW, DCSW, DCEP, international certified master EFT trainer and author of Tapping the Mighty Mind: Simple Solutions for Stress, Conflict, and Pain ""In Keep Breathing, Dr. Kate Truitt courageously takes the reader through the dark forest of her own path in search of an answer. One might reasonably consider Kate a modern-day mythological warrior. Severely emotionally wounded in battle with a crushing traumatic experience, she rose to subdue and even conquer the evil spell of trauma threatening the land. Mastering the magic, she brings back to the world the knowledge of trauma's mechanism. Like a true hero, she also brings back the prize, a protocol to help to free those lost to trauma and the recognition that, 'the Self can be one thing and the brain another.' Gracefully, intelligently, movingly told."" --Judith Simon Prager, PhD, co-author of The Worst Is Over: What to Say When Every Moment Counts and Verbal First Aid ""This remarkably powerful memoir offers a unique lens of compassion toward our brain's efforts to keep us alive and safe. Shared with exquisite vulnerability, Dr. Kate Truitt's deeply personal journey is raw, wrenching, and transformative, illuminated by neuroscience made accessible with endearing warmth. For readers who resonate--due to trauma, grief, loss, childhood adversities--with the constant search for peace and maybe even purpose, Keep Breathing extends from a place of undeniable authenticity perhaps the most rare and elusive of gifts: hope."" --Joy Thomas, director of communications & community engagement, ACE Resource Network"

Author Information

Kate Truitt, PhD, MBA, is a licensed clinical psychologist, applied neuroscientist, and an internationally recognized expert in the neuroscience of trauma, stress, and resilience as well as the complex interplay among the three. She is regularly featured in global media outlets ranging from Oprah Today and Medium to the BBC and Today. Dr. Kate is an international trainer and has spoken at the United Nations, the United States Department of Defense, PESI, and others. She is also a developer of the Havening Techniques and serves as their Global Director of Research and Curriculum Development. Dr. Kate has dedicated her life to advancing the treatment of trauma and stress-related disorders, eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health, and empowering wellness through the dissemination of psychoeducation and self-healing tools within her speaking engagements, books, blog, and social media presence. Kate resides in Los Angeles, CA.

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