Creating a Healing Society: The Impact of Human Emotional Pain and Trauma on Society and the World

Written by Susan Lawrence, M.D., Creating A Healing Society: The Impact of Human Emotional Pain and Trauma on Society and the World is far more than an individual self-help book, focusing on the ills of human emotional pain and trauma as the root cause of societal and world problems. Without support, traumatized individuals engage in self-destructive and antisocial behaviors, from spreading disease such as AIDS to engaging in drug addiction to perpetuating cyclical ills such as child abuse and neglect - to international atrocities of terror and war. Creating A Healing Society offers a personal insight to suffering, as the author describes her own alienated childhood and her efforts as an adult to help those most in need, and examines how society can be practically and spiritually improved, and offers a list of resources concerning trauma and recovery. Enthusiastically recommended.

"Each of us has an immense ability to influence others, although we are for the most part unaware of it. Even in the briefest of human contacts, we have the power to bring healing to a hurting person simply by being present with them: but we cannot do this is we are still driven by our own traumatic pasts." ~ pg. 77 Susan Lawrence's interest in creating a healing society is a direct result of her journey to compassion. Through her personal experiences she documents her journey in a highly readable format filled with insight and answers. Healing childhood trauma is a way to eradicate problems in society, especially when we set aside fear and embrace compassion. This is a learning process that can take years and in the meantime many of us may fall into anti-social and self-destructive patterns of behavior. How do you recover from neglect, domestic violence, and then deal with the results of trauma as it cycles into more abuse. Susan Lawrence discusses the consequences as they appear as homelessness, helplessness, rage, anguish, despair, depression, powerlessness, unemployment, violent crime, risk-taking, eating disorders, obsessive disorders, addictions and suicide. Through her own personal story and the stories of those she has loved and cared for, she brings a new understanding to the realities of compassion. What can we do on a daily basis to prevent poverty, war and addictive behaviors? Are these simply expressions of the world's unhealed psychic traumas? "...our problems of violence, war, terrorism, and the like, will not be solved by military, political, or diplomatic means alone: but rather by a deep and compassionate understanding of the nature of humanity." ~ pg. 95 While this book's focus is on the healing of trauma in society, interesting thoughts about synchronicity and the "Six degrees of Separation" explore our invisible connections. The more visible forms of peer pressure are also discussed. "Creating a Healing Society" offers a sense of immense possibility in a world where the human spirit rises again and again to face the cycles of abuse and trauma. This thoughtful journey through the nature of trauma explores the lives of five main individuals who profoundly influenced the author's life. Susan Lawrence, M.D. currently teaches a CHS course for prisoners. In the past she has worked with AIDS and cancer patients with a sense of understanding and care. Her life seems to be a journey within compassion to empower the lives of everyone she meets. This is a beautiful book and a comforting read, especially if you want to understand how trauma is creating chaos in our modern society. ~The Rebecca Review

Susan Lawrence, M.D. is more than an author and a doctor. She is a healer, a motivator and absolutely a lifesaver. Her book, Creating a Healing Society, is not only profound but has the capabilities of changing our views on trauma and how it impacts all of us daily. I was just overwhelmed with emotion after reading the first few pages. I put it down, I picked it up--all in the span of a few moments. Not only does she share her own personal experiences with trauma, but she also shares her life with those she has and continues to come in contact with. I found it unbelievable how giving this nurturing human being can be. Honestly, reading this book has changed my life for the better. It was like holding up a mirror and finally finding out who is on the other side. Dr. Lawrence takes us through a journey of understanding how trauma, particularly as a child, can change us and chart the course of our lives. We learn about how AIDS is affecting us as a people, and also how other diseases affect society as a whole. Her book touches on loss of life, and how people can affect us long after they have passed away. But, most important, what can happen to society if we recognize how as adults we traumatize children in a way that we truly never realize. By understanding this we can surely eliminate and discontinue the handing down of pain from one generation to another. I celebrate Dr. Susan Lawrence, her book and its message. She is our modern-day Florence Nightingale, alive, well and healing others by the grace of God. Armchair Interviews says: Very thought-provoking book.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. It offers an in-depth, innovative outlook at why we, as humans, do what we do, based on our personal experiences. It is refreshingly honest and heartfelt which aides in reflecting the writers passionate beliefs. The writers concepts compelled me to want to stop, look deeply inside, and evaluate the who and why of who I am. The writer clearly shows this concept can be carried on through many facets in one's life and through hard work and contemplation lead to greater awareness of who one is. Don't delay....buy today!