The Long Tail of Trauma by Elizabeth Wilcox

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Book Review~  Elizabeth Wilcox The Long Tail of Trauma

This summer, I did a reading challenge called 20 Books of Summer. One of those books I read was The Long Tail of Trauma by Elizabeth Wilcox.  I was given a copy to read and review. The  review is totally my own opinion and not influenced by the advance copy. I am glad I was given the opportunity to read and review this memoir. This Book  was very interesting and thought-provoking.

I have some background knowledge of psychology and early childhood from life experience and my degree. This book gave me a lot to think about concerning the children I care for through foster care. I was able to think about the tail of trauma from my own family’s trickle-down effect.

This is definitely worth the time to read. It is eye-opening when you start thinking about the events, the effects, and how the trauma had residual effects on the following generations. I also hope that this book can help break the stigma that so many people with mental health issues suffer. The stigma often keeps people from reaching out for help. Since becoming a foster parent, I have been learning about adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and their impact on mental health. This book is a good example of that.

The Long Tail of Trauma is a multigenerational story. In retracing of her family history, Elizabeth Wilcox explores how trauma can be inherited. She explores this while writing the memoir of 3 generations of women in her family, including herself. The 266 pages are filled with memories from Elizabeth and her mother, Barbara. Memories of mothers, daughters , trauma and its effects. There are lessons in this book that we can think about when looking at events in our homes and world today. Wilcox gives us plenty to think about when learning to parent with intention, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Microsynopsis: In a memoir that reads like historical fiction, a New England journalist uncovers multigenerational trauma in her European ancestors from 1904 to 1945 while dealing with her mother’s PTSD from 1989 to 2018.

The book was officially released on November 11, 2022.