What Happened To You? by Oprah Winfrey
Synopsis
Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain development and trauma expert, Dr Bruce Perry, discuss the impact of trauma and adverse experiences and how healing must begin with a shift to asking 'What happened to you?' rather than 'What's wrong with you?'.
Through wide-ranging and often deeply personal conversation, Oprah Winfrey and Dr Perry explore how what happens to us in early childhood - both good and bad - influences the people we become. They challenge us to shift from focusing on 'What's wrong with you?' or 'Why are you behaving that way?' to asking 'What happened to you?'.
This simple change in perspective can open up a new and hopeful understanding for millions about why we do the things we do, why we are the way we are, providing a road map for repairing relationships, overcoming what seems insurmountable, and ultimately living better and more fulfilling lives. Many of us experience adversity and trauma during childhood that has lasting impact on our physical and emotional health. And as we're beginning to understand, we are more sensitive to developmental trauma as children than we are as adults. 'What happened to us' in childhood is a powerful predictor of our risk for physical and mental health problems down the road, and offers scientific insights into the patterns of behaviours so many struggle to understand.
A survivor of multiple childhood challenges herself, Oprah Winfrey shares portions of her own harrowing experiences because she understands the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma at a young age. Throughout her career, Oprah has teamed up with Dr Bruce Perry, one of the world's leading experts on childhood trauma. He has treated thousands of children, youth, and adults and has been called on for decades to support individuals and communities following high-profile traumatic events. Now, Oprah joins forces with Dr Perry to marry the power of storytelling with the science and clinical experience to better understand and overcome the effects of trauma.
Grounded in the latest brain science and brought to life through compelling narratives, this book shines a light on a much-needed path to recovery - showing us our incredible capacity to transform after adversity.
Reviews
'An incredible dialogue that bares the fundamental causes of trauma, and rightly turns the question of shame on it’s head and back to the environment. There is so much more we need to learn and this book is the perfect guide to reframing how we can act - through research, experience and compassion - in tomorrow's world. An essential read.' Dr Camilla Pang
'Revealing, intimate, and educational, it’s a testament to the authors’ wish for readers to come to grips with, and let go of, the past – and to move forward into 'post-traumatic wisdom.' Leigh Haber, O Magazine
About the Author
Through the power of media, Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world. As host and supervising producer of the history-making The Oprah Winfrey Show, editorial director of O, The Oprah Magazine, and the CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, she has entertained, enlightened, and uplifted millions of viewers for more than twenty-five years. Her accomplishments as a global media leader and philanthropist have established her as one of the most respected and admired public figures today. She is the author of What I Know For Sure, a collection of her contributions to her widely popular column in O, The Oprah Magazine.
Bruce D. Perry is an American psychiatrist, currently the senior fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas and an adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Wikipedia