The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, 3rd Edition: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook--What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing

Product Information

Maia Szalavitz is an award-winning journalist who specializes in science and health. She is the author of Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids and Recovery Options: The Complete Guide with Joseph Volpicelli, M.D., Ph.D. She lives in New York City. For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else will love you.”…The truth is, you cannot love yourself unless you have been loved and are loved. The capacity to love cannot be built in isolation” In each of the stories, readers will find their hearts gripped with compassion, understanding, and ultimately, hope. Apparently, Tina was caught performing fellatio on another classmate in school. Dr. Perry had to come to the realization that his work with Tina had failed. After a few months the Sammy has made huge progress. She is great on walks, greets strangers willingly, frequently initiates play at the dog park, snuggles with humans and dogs on the couch, and has actually become somewhat obnoxious when she wants attention (repeatedly nose-bonking my mouse arm when I am on the computer).

Although I do not mean to imply that all of these children will be severely "damaged" by these experiences, the most moderate estimates suggest that at any given time, more than eight million American children suffer from serious, diagnosable, trauma-related psychiatric problems. Millions more experience less serious but still distressing consequences. I just finished reading “The Rising” last night which is about William Petit’s survival and some form of recovery (I don’t think one ever really recovers from a trauma like his). Mr. Petit is the man whose family was tortured and murdered in their Connecticut home while he was tied up in the basement in 2007. He’s remarried and had a son in 2013. The book is a close look at how it is possible for a human to rise from the ashes of a destroyed life. Every person is different in how they deal with such things, but this man is an example for all in his strength and integrity. An enlightening read. The truth is, you cannot love yourself unless you have been loved and are loved. The capacity to love cannot be built in isolation.” The stories are vividly painted, depicting humane pictures of his child patients who had, at one time or another, suffered neglect, violence, abuse, or sexual assault. Perry invites his reader to join him on his journey to understand better how a child’s developing brain works. I must say I often feel I am simply pushing sand in trying to get current science- and research-based information into people’s heads. The amount of misinformation out there about fear-based reactivity is daunting and depressing. When they actually listen and do what I say, they are amazed and delighted at their results. That’s what keeps me going! But it’s only one dog at a time, and sooo many need help.I see you believe that our companions can’t talk to us. I have always been able to know what certain animals are thinking about. These same animals can read me like a book. I've thought about it, but I just don't have time. And the currency of academics is research articles and grants. Although I like to write—maybe someday—but I'm just too busy." Perry explains using simple but vivid illustrations of the responses of various children to stress as well as the mechanisms going on the brain using facts and images to further buttress his point. If we suspect trauma in a dog’s past, then how might we go about trying to help him or her? Again, we can look to what helps people: The book is an easy read written in an engaging and easy-to-understand way. Nevertheless, it covers some topics that are really difficult to talk about such as molestation, neglect, and abuse. Get ready, this book might leave you in tears.

At the time, this wasn’t a widely spread idea. However, Dr. Perry believed that consistency was very important for kids who were dealing with a trauma. He found it fortuitous that the kids were placed together during the healing phase and not separately as this was going to go a long way helping them heal faster.Animal communicators have helped rescues all over the country at no charge to find lost Foster dogs who managed to leave the safety of their foster homes. They speak to these dogs across the country with just a picture looking into the “soul” in their eyes. I wish to help my two adopted Foster failures to understand rules better, as well be available to help with any of their needs. I will be attending a seminar in two weeks in San Antonio with an instructor I have greatly relied on in the past. Now I need more formal training than just some of the wonderful books that are out there. Dr. Perry concludes by saying that “relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.”