A Brave Life: Survival, Resilience, Faith and Hope after Childhood Trauma

by Janyne McConnaughey

Overview

What does a high-functioning survivor of childhood trauma look like? In this third book in the BRAVE series, Janyne shares the story of how she lived her adult life with - and above - the effects of trauma.

Janyne's dissociative coping mechanisms that she created and used as a child, allowed her to survive as an adult, in both functional and maladaptive ways. To others she seemed to be thriving as she and her husband raised a family and served in the church, while Janyne accomplished a forty-year career in education. Her resilience and faith gave her hope and held her until therapeutic healing became possible.

Readers of Janyne's two previous books in the series will recognize her whimsical weaving of informative narration, creative storytelling, and raw vulnerability. She takes the reader through her years in California, Missouri, Colorado, and finally reaches the 'Emerald City' of Seattle. During the journey she comes to understand more about the abundant life and the many ways it was stolen from her by childhood trauma.

A BRAVE Life offers hope and insight to all who have persevered and silently suffered without knowing why. It is also a handbook to help the church better understand how to minister to those who, as children, were victims of the unspeakable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781945099236
Publisher:	CLADACH Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Janyne McConnaughey, Ph.D. retired from a forty-year career in education while healing from the attachment wounding and trauma she experienced as a child. During therapy, she wrote her way to healing and now is redeeming her story by helping others to understand the lifelong effects of childhood trauma and insecure attachment. Janyne serves on the Board of Directors for the Attachment & Trauma Network and is a frequent guest blogger for the organization. She also blogs at her own Website (Janyne.org), and for other organizations addressing trauma and attachment. Though Janyne devotes most of her time to writing about trauma and attachment related topics, she also speaks to educators and to church ministry leaders, at conferences, schools, and through podcast interviews. She can be contacted through her Website. Janyne enjoys living in and exploring the Seattle area with her husband, Scott, children, grandchildren, and her rescue dog, Weber. Her favorite activity is to follow her GPS to "green spaces" along the coast of Puget Sound. To Find Janyne online, visit: Website: http: //Janyne.org Twitter: @janynetweets Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/drjanynemc/ Facebook: http: //www.facebook.com/janynemc/

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction: The Emerald City of Abundant Life 11

Prologue: Gathering on the Porch 19

PART I: CALIFORNIA 28

1. California Dreams 31

2. California Nightmare 36

3. The Search for Normal 45

4. A Rough Road to Marriage 52

5. And Then Came Children 63

PART II: MISSOURI 74

6. Living as a Normal Mother 77

7. Living with ACEs and PTSD 85

8. Teaching in Dissociative Parts 95

9. Writing about Our Normal Life 104

10. Living with Depression and Pain 113

11. Dreaming about Brain Transplants 122

12. Living a Trauma-Based Faith 132

13. A Brain Transplant Success Story 140

14. The Final Missouri Lessons 145

PART III: COLORADO 156

15. The First Ten Years in Colorado 158

16. Living in The 4Generation House 166

17. Telling The 4Generation House Stories 174

18. The Importance of Friendship 184

19. The Approaching Storm 194

20. Living Above the Storm 203

21. The Five-Year Road to the Emerald City 213

Epilogue: The Emerald City Porch 223

Addendum 1: A Synopsis of BRAVE 231

Addendum 2: The Foreword to BRAVE 233

Addendum 3: ACEs Research 235

Addendum 4: Suicide Prevention Resources 236

Addendum 5: Trauma-Informed Church Ministries 238

Acknowledgments 239

About the Author 243

Editorial Reviews

"Author Janyne McConnaughey writes out of her own life experiences and succeeds in explaining the complex feelings and fantasies that surround suicidal thoughts. In a direct, nonjudgmental and loving voice, she offers affirmations and suggestions for those harboring life-ending thoughts. Families and friends of those suffering will glean wisdom, as well, and after reading this important book, will be better able to assist those loved ones who are at risk. McConnaughey is to be commended for coming out of the darkness to shine a light on issues that usually remain hidden; issues that wreak chaos and damage to individuals who carry childhood pain long into adulthood. How I wish everyone could have access to this profound book as its message of healing and recovery are urgently needed in our world."
-Susan Jenkins
educator and author (Scandalon)

"Trauma is about fear and hurting. Healing is about relationship and safety. Relationship needs hope and faith. In this book, Janyne, Non-Janyne, Jane, and all the children we have come to love from her first two books, come together to teach us about resilience. All of the beautiful, vulnerable voices tell a difficult truth that leaves the reader feeling more connected to his/her faith."
-Melissa Sadin, EdD, MAT, M.Ed.

"In her third book, Janyne addresses what her readers have been thinking, 'How did Dissociative Identity Disorder affect her day-to-day life as an adult?' In her captivating story-telling way, Janyne answers that question as she takes us along on the journey of her sometimes-confused life that ultimately leads to her Emerald City."
-LESLIE R. MIKESELL, Ph.D.

"This engaging and poignant book is an invaluable window into childhood trauma, dissociative disorder, and the heart of Jesus. It has fine-tuned my radar and helped me to recognize and relate more effectively to congregants whether we're doing the work of the church or they are seeking counseling. The failure of the church to protect and support Janyne at critical times in her life is truly heartbreaking. We can do better; we must do better! This book can school us to be more aware, more sensitive, more like Jesus to children and adults who have suffered trauma. In this page turner, Janyne cleverly weaves her story with Dorothy of Oz in a way that is both illuminating and entertaining. I highly recommend it for anyone in ministry."
-Rev. Susan Armstrong
D.M.A., Pastor of Care and Discipleship, Reynoldsburg, OH
Church of the Nazarene

"Most books on mental health available to those in ministry are theoretical or written by individuals who are antagonistic toward the organized church. A Brave Life is written autobiographically by a woman who grew up in the church and still loves the church though she has experienced its failures and insensitivity. I appreciate the grace with which she relates how the church failed her, the clarity with which she shares her struggle with guilt and shame, and the candidness with which she tells her journey to mental health. Every person in ministry, courageous enough to read A Brave Life, will recognize the need to become more caring toward adults within their ministry who evidence indications of childhood trauma."
-Al Magnuson
retired executive minister, Converge Heartland

From the Publisher