The boy who was raised as a dog : and other stories from a child psychiatrist's notebook : what traumatized children can teach us about life, loss, love, and healing

Includes material on "genocide survivors, witnesses to their own parents' murders, children raised in closets and cages, and victims of family violence ... explains what happens to the brain when a child is exposed to extreme stress, and he reveals how today's innovative treatments are helping ease children's pain, allowing to become healthy adults. Abstract: A world-renowned child psychiatrist takes us inside his pioneering work with trauma victims to offer a groundbreaking new perspective on how stress and violence affect children's brains-and how they can be helped to heal Read more...

A world-renowned child psychiatrist takes us inside his pioneering work with trauma victims to offer a groundbreaking new perspective on how stress and violence affect children’s brains-and how they can be helped to heal

KLIATT

Children who suffer early trauma seem to have different rates of recovery, and some never recover. In this collection of stories, Dr. Perry tells of a number of children he helped. Most had difficult or even horrible childhoods, often full of misguided parenting, abandonment, or torture. Through the stories, he teaches the reader about the human brain and how it can be hurt and healed. In a number of stories, he tells of similar situations with different outcomes. He tells the story of Leon, who at the age of 16 rapes and murders two young girls. Leon was raised by a well-meaning mother who successfully raised an older sibling; the biggest difference was that when the mother (who was mentally impaired) lost her support system, she didn't understand the impact of leaving the younger boy alone, and basically abandoned the baby during the day. Another child was also left home alone in his crib by the caretaker/cousin hired by his parents, who didn't discover his neglect for over a year. This child was able to recover because he had some affection and care when his parents were home. Peter was raised in an orphanage in Russia for three years that left him infantile in some ways and developed beyond his years in others. Dr. Perry actually trained his first grade classmates to understand brain development so that they could help Peter gain the steps he was missing. The boy in the title story was raised by his grandmother his first year, but when she died, he was left with a step-grandfather who only knew how to raise dogs and treated the child like a dog, leaving him in a crate most of the time. Dr. Perry shows great understanding and respect for these children, which enabled him tocomprehend their level of development and help them move forward. Reviewer: Nola Theiss

What happens when a young brain is traumatized? How does terror, abuse, or disaster affect a child's mind--and how can that mind recover? Child psychiatrist Bruce Perry has helped children faced with unimaginable horror: genocide survivors, murder witnesses, kidnapped teenagers, and victims of family violence. In The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, he tells their stories of trauma and transformation through the lens of science, revealing the brain's astonishing capacity for healing. Deftly combining unforgettable case histories with his own compassionate, insightful strategies for rehabilitation, Perry explains what exactly happens to the brain when a child is exposed to extreme stress-and reveals the unexpected measures that can be taken to ease a child's pain and help him grow into a healthy adult. Through the stories of children who recover-physically, mentally, and emotionally-from the most devastating circumstances, Perry shows how simple things like surroundings, affection, language, and touch can deeply impact the developing brain, for better or for worse. In this deeply informed and moving book, Bruce Perry dramatically demonstrates that only when we understand the science of the mind can we hope to heal the spirit of even the most wounded child "What happens when a young child is traumatized? How does terror affect a child's mind--and how can that mind recover? Child psychiatrist Bruce Perry has treated children faced with unimaginable horror: genocide survivors, witnesses to their own parents' murders, children raised in closets and cages, the Branch Davidian children, and victims of family violence. In 'The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, ' he tells their stories of trauma and transformation. Dr. Perry clearly explains what happens to the brain when children are exposed to extreme stress. He reveals his innovative methods for helping to ease their pain, allowing them to become healthy adults. This deeply informed and moving book dramatically demonstrates that only when we understand the science of the mind can we hope to heal the spirit of even the most wounded child"--Page 4 of cover A renowned psychiatrist reveals how trauma affects children-and outlines the path to recovery "Fascinating and upbeat....Dr. Perry is both a world-class creative scientist and a compassionate therapist." (Mary Pipher, PhD) How does trauma affect a child's mind--and how can that mind recover? In the classic The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, Dr. Perry explains what happens to the brains of children exposed to extreme stress and shares their lessons of courage, humanity, and hope. Only when we understand the science of the mind and the power of love and nurturing, can we hope to heal the spirit of even the most wounded child. Content: Tina's world -- For your own good -- Stairway to heaven -- Skin hunger -- The coldest heart -- The boy who was raised as a dog -- Satanic panic -- The raven -- "Mom is lying. Mom is hurting me. Please call the police" -- The kindness of children -- Healing communities. Through real-life examples, a noted child psychiatrist and neuroscientist examines the impact of trauma on children's brains, and reveals the innovative therapeutic techniques used to treat trauma-related psychiatric problems in children