Unbroken: The Trauma Response Is Never Wrong

And Other Things You Need to Know to Take Back Your Life

By: MaryCatherine McDonald PhD

Narrated by: MaryCatherine McDonald PhD

A profound new approach to healing trauma, grounded in a radical reframing of how we understand this nearly universal experience

For centuries, we’ve been taught that being traumatized means we are somehow broken—and that trauma only happens to people who are too fragile or flawed to deal with hardship. But as a researcher, teacher, and survivor, Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald has learned that the only thing broken is our society’s understanding of trauma. “The body’s trauma response is designed to save our lives—and it does,” she says. “It’s not a sign of weakness, but of our function, strength, and amazing resilience.”

With Unbroken: The Trauma Response Is Never Wrong, Dr. McDonald overturns the misconceptions about trauma with the latest evidence from neuroscience and psychology—and shares tested practices and tools to help you work with your body’s coping mechanisms to accelerate healing. Here, you’ll explore:

• What is trauma? The latest science that undoes the stigmas of shame, blame, and humiliation
• Moral injury—having our basic sense of how the world should work overturned
• The truth about triggers—what they really are and how they can guide the healing journey
• Traumatic patterns—new findings to help break free from recurring habits and toxic dynamics
• Why we can always rewrite our inner narratives, no matter how much time has passed
• Finding a “relational home” for trauma—how we can help each other return to wholeness

Dr. McDonald’s case studies reveal the many ways trauma can manifest and persist in our lives, yet there’s one factor every case has in common: the trauma response itself reveals the path to healing. “Our traumatic experiences reveal that we can be bent, dented, or bruised,” she says, “but we cannot be broken.” For anyone who has gone through trauma or wants to help others who are struggling, here is an empowering resource for finding our way home to our bodies, rebuilding our relationships, and returning to full engagement with life.

I never read a book twice-but this one!

I’ve been studying trauma and it’s effects on our brain, relationships, and self concept for over 10 years. This book is invaluable. The information is cutting edge relevant and easily accessible. I love the author’s narration and am still reeling with all the good good info I’m so excited to apply in my life, my business, and my healing modality (Untherapy)-this is a MUST READ for anyone who is interested in understanding themselves or others more deeply.

Great listen!

I loved this book. Great scientific and personal info. Inspiring on many levels! So happy the author narrated.

Best book

Brilliant book. I highly recommend this to anyone on their healing journey. I definitely will listen again and again. 

Brave, insightful, and helpful

I didn’t expect a book on trauma to trigger so much hope. "Unbroken: The Trauma Response is Never Wrong" is a well-written primer on trauma that is a quicker, easier to read than "The Body Keeps the Score" with equally useful content. She distills how the brain processes trauma in a brief but understandable couple pages, explains the impacts of trauma, and provides practical tools for coping with and healing trauma. I finished the book feeling stunned and uplifted by the author’s insight and bravery. A must read for everyone.

Phenomenal Read

I now have more profound insight on what trauma is and how it affects us. I don't feel so fearful and now have hope that I can heal. The author explained everything thoroughly and the exercises were incredibly helpful. I recommend this book to anyone suffering from trauma and PTSD. It will give you a better understanding of trauma, triggers, and the hope that you can heal and that you aren't alone in your battle. Thank you so much!