Mindsplain Book Review: “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” — Mindsplain
What’s The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog About?
“ The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog “ is a series of stories from a child psychiatrist, Dr. Bruce Perry, who applies his brain development and neuroscience expertise to study how traumatic experiences shape children’s behavior. Each chapter utilizes vivid yet straightforward illustrations to describe his former patients who have endured violence, abuse, and neglect. Simultaneously, Dr. Perry engages his readers to join him on a journey in understanding exactly what happens to the brain if a child is exposed to extreme stress. Readers will find their hearts swelled with compassion, empathy, and ultimately, hope.
Key Takeaways from The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
- The brain is capable of change despite severe trauma. In other words, healing is possible. Understanding this can provide even the smallest glimmer of hope throughout the darkest of times.
- The responses of traumatized children are frequently misunderstood. Dr. Perry shares stories in which family homes experience a similar theme-chaos and unpredictability. Given so, kids may respond with fear and stress in safe and calm situations.
- Small stressors are essential for children to experience early on. If managed in a safe environment, kids build tolerance and cope with larger stressors more effectively in the future.
- Resilient children are made, not born. We often assume that kids “won’t remember” or are “too young to understand” traumatic events. Perry contradicts this belief in every story he shares, teaching us how children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of stress and trauma.
- Healthy, trusting, and safe relationships are vital in healing trauma. From his encounters with his patients, Perry shares how children need to counteract the helplessness and loss of control they once felt throughout their traumatic experience.
- Love is essential. Kids can have everything they need to survive, but love is the ultimate protective factor a caregiver can provide.
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog Review: Overall Rating
Dr. Perry weaves these children’s stories together into a heartfelt narrative and describes the unimaginable horrors that no person should ever face. It hits hard. And yet, his findings have made a notable impact on the way professionals understand and work with trauma in children.
If you’re a teacher or a mental health professional, reading this book will provide you with a greater awareness of the complexity in working with traumatized children. Dr. Perry reveals how professionals can view and question behaviors while revealing the surprising actions that can reduce a child’s distress and help them grow into healthy adults.
If you currently are or plan on becoming a foster parent, this book will help you comprehend many foster parents’ challenges. Although the stories shared in the book are extreme cases, it’ll provide you with a better understanding of children’s adjustment challenges and development.
The Caduceus represents Hermes and all domains associated with him. Some of the most well-known associations with Hermes are trades, occupations, commerce, negotiation, printing, writing, and eloquence.
However, the characteristics of the Caduceus invoked here are its power to awaken the sleeping, put the conscious to sleep, ease the pain of death, and revive the dead.
Warning: This book can be a difficult read for many. Parts are graphic and upsetting for the average reader and may not be beneficial for someone with unresolved trauma. Take breaks as needed, and ensure you have a safe place to discuss and share your thoughts.
Martyna Bobek is a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Trauma Professional. She specializes in neuroscience informed psychotherapy for trauma and stressor-related disorders. As an active content writer, Martyna publishes articles in the mental health niche and writes for multiple mental health websites. In her free time, Martyna enjoys going on walks with her bulldog Chubs, reading Harry Potter, and attempting to play Queen on the piano.
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Originally published at https://mindsplain.com on February 5, 2021.
