Broken in the Stronger Places: From Resilience to Resourcefulness

Send us Fan MailElizabeth Estabrooks takes us on a profound journey through trauma, healing, and the unexpected paths to recovery in this eye-opening conversation about her new book "Broken in the Stronger Places: From Resilience to Resourcefulness."Drawing from three decades working with survivors of personal violence, Estabrooks challenges the popular metaphor that trauma makes us "stronger in the broken places." While many embrace the Japanese art of kintsugi—repairing broken pottery with gold—as a symbol of trauma recovery, she reveals a more complex truth: trauma never truly disappears. Even after extensive healing work, re-traumatization can occur through national events or personal triggers, shattering those supposedly strengthened places.The conversation pivots to the invisible struggles facing women veterans. "Veteran is default male," Estabrooks explains, leading to troubling statistical blindspots. When headlines celebrate decreased veteran homelessness or suicide rates, they often mask rising rates among women veterans. This invisibility extends to women's self-perception—Estabrooks herself didn't identify as a veteran until age 45, despite serving in the 1980s, a common experience that prevents many from accessing vital benefits.Perhaps most powerful is Estabrooks' personal healing journey. After burning out at the VA's Center for Women Veterans, she followed her instinct to purchase a van and spend 14 months driving across America. This wasn't a planned therapeutic intervention but an example of "resourcefulness"—the capacity to find what you need when resilience alone isn't enough. For helpers carrying others' trauma stories, she offers wisdom about recognizing when it's time to step away and prioritize your own mental health over career expectations.Whether you're a survivor seeking validation, a helper navigating vicarious trauma, or someone supporting a loved one through recovery, this conversation offers invaluable insights about trauma's long-term impact and the unexpected resources we might discover on our healing journeys. Visit awomansvoicepress.com to learn more about Elizabeth's work and upcoming book tour.Support the showHelp Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.danielrobertsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/misnsconsult/