"This book does not end with pain - it ends with freedom."
In this raw and deeply personal testimony, Hankins takes readers on a journey through the fractured landscape of her life, exploring the devastating impact of generational pain and the resilient power of the human spirit. From the humid fern fields of Florida to the sterile walls of a courtroom, TRAUMA is more than a memoir-it is an act of "releasing".
For years, she lived as a "walking dead" soul, a machine trapped in a cycle of denial and survival. Her story begins with the warmth of a mother's fierce love in a humble three-room house-a happiness that was shattered by a series of life-altering events. From a traumatic childhood separation to the soul-crushing weight of her mother's eventual suicide, Vikki faced a relentless onslaught of "trauma on top of trauma".
As she revisits her past Vikki confronts the "beast" of pain she had buried deep within. Through the lens of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), she finally begins to decode the "deadening of feelings" and the "violent disturbance" that dictated her every move.
TRAUMA is an unflinching look at:
¿ The Mother-Child Bond: A daughter's search for understanding and a heartfelt "conversation" with the mother she lost.
¿ The Cycle of Suffering: How untreated emotional shocks can render a person "mentally and emotionally useless".
¿ The Path to Peace: The grueling but mandatory process of facing one's fears and "shattering the silence" to reclaim a future.
Vikki's journey is proof that even the most "tragic" states are not the end. This memoir is a beacon for anyone who has ever asked "Why me?" and a testament to the fact that speaking the truth is the only way to truly breathe again.
"Don't run... Let it out-you have to let it out. It's not easy, but it's mandatory."
