Review of Against All Odds

[Shewaofafrica]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Against All Odds" by Carola Hauer.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Carola Hauer, PhD, was a victim of adverse childhood experiences. She grew up in a toxic family and was exposed to physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. In her post-traumatic adulthood, she suffered the long-term consequences of her traumatic past experiences. With great effort and diligence, she began her healing journey, fighting her way through her painful past, and has gained incredible insight into her experiences.
 
As a professional and a front-line worker helping others through their healing journey, Against All Odds is her plea to non-survivors to help reduce unnecessary and avoidable re-traumatization of complex trauma survivors. 
 
There are so many commendable aspects to this book. This was an inspiring and emotional read for me. I was drawn to the strength and sheer willpower the author showed by working on herself, embarking on her healing journey, and turning around to draw people out of the darkness they have been in all through their lives. In Part 3, where she narrated the stories of different complex trauma survivors, I felt incredibly remorseful for the pain they went through at such a tender age, and for those that could overcome their pain and live with it, I felt thankful.
 
For non-survivors who are blessed to have a life without such traumatic experiences, it exposes them to the harsh realities of life and forces them to reflect on their actions and how they would affect survivors. The main purpose of her writing is anchored in the reader's reflections. It compels readers to reflect on how little compassion, kindness, support, and comfort can help trauma survivors in their healing journey and re-connection with society. She emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care in medical settings as well as in law enforcement and judicial settings. She seeks to educate, enlighten, and create awareness about the complexity of complex trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and their correlation with suicide, addiction, and dissociation. The book was exceptionally well edited. I could not find any errors.
 
There was nothing I disliked about the book, so I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to readers struggling with traumatic experiences but looking for healing and hope. I also recommend it to non-survivors who seek to help survivors through their healing journey.

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Against All Odds
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Sandre Lamar]

This book is a profound exploration of resilience and healing from complex trauma. It sheds light on the importance of compassion and trauma-informed care in helping survivors on their journey to recovery and reconnecting with society.