Without stress and trauma there would be no anxiety, depression, addictions or self-harm. There would be fewer infections, cancers, aches and pains. We would not comfort eat, buy things we didn’t need, or self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. We would be satisfied with our lives and content in our relationships. The only lines on our face would be laughter lines.

100% of us experience stress, while 50% of us will also suffer trauma in our lifetime. Stress and trauma have the power to cause or exacerbate 90% of mental and physical illness, so we need to understand how to manage these fundamental issues.

Hospitals are full of patients suffering diseases of excess and neglect. But why do so many of us persist in doing things we shouldn’t, or knowingly neglect the things we should? Are we self-soothing to cope, or self-harming because we just don’t care? Are stressful secrets at the root of all ills? This book explains the science of stress and trauma. It includes tools for the reader to measure their levels of stress and trauma and offers suggestions to help them on their way to recovery.