Description

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Growing up and learning the facts of life, children of PTSD parents can struggle for a lifetime, having had their developmental years marred by confusion and grief. Lack of open communication from a child's point of view may lead to costly therapy and the future expenses of children damaged by PTSD as in broken homes, toxic relationships, and poor life choices. Through the authorial voice of Navy Veteran Anita Miranda, "Nana's Helping Hand with PTSD" presents a uniquely nurturing perspective as Anita shares her journey from active duty in the United States military and as a civilian on the family impact of PTSD. This ground- breaking beautifully illustrated resourceful guide allows parents and caregivers to empower their children with invaluable defenses against the negative life-altering impact of children of PTSD parents. Parents who are educated about the effects of PTSD and learn the facts can give their kids correct information and clear up any misconceptions. As a role model for your kids, and your views on PTSD and it's symptoms may strongly influence how they react and cope. If you've ever looked for family storybooks to help share a sensitive subject living with a disability to your child, you know how hard they can be to find. Nana Knows is a true-to-life series inviting children into a safe place to ask questions and receive answers they will understand. In the story, the neighborhood Nana is disabled, yet very wise and compassionate. She welcomes any of the children to visit for milk and cookies. What they leave with is coping skills leading to the release of blame, guilt and feeling helpless. Twins Bobby and Bella show up distraught on Nana's doorstep one afternoon, shocked at their mother's behavior and feeling like their mother no longer loves them. They feel that they did something wrong. Nana ushers them in for their traditional milk and cookies, but when the twins refuse, she offers a listening ear and a helping hand. Can she help the twins understand their mother's PTSD?

About the Author

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Anita Miranda is a mother, grandmother and United States Navy Veteran motivated to truly enrich and expand Living Disabled purposefully. Without this mission, Anita surely would have been another statistic. From ward of the court to Navy recruit, Anita found her passion and sense of belonging when she swore in at the Naval Command Center. Tragedy struck her early in her career, however, when she was assaulted by her supervising Petty Officer. While serving in the Active Reserves, Anita put her past behind her, found employment, began her degree and felt a sense of accomplishment. She bought a home, provided for her children and planned for the future. While raising her children, she knew something was terribly wrong. Believing she was truly broken she tried to move on but when the world saw the horrors of 9/11, Anita was struck by her first flashback. Anita's diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) finally made sense. Shortly after, Anita lost everything for which she had worked so hard for including her sense of duty. For the first time in Anita's life, Anita could not take care of herself or her children. Armed with a Master's degree, she still felt hopeless. One day, her psychiatrist, Dr. Allen, noticed that Anita appeared to age 20 years within a few months, had little energy, and had signs of depression. She took Anita's hands in her own, looked Anita in the eye and said, "Miranda, you are disabled not dead-- Start Living." That moment changed Anita's life to do something-aided by several resources and an amazing support staff at the Phoenix, AZ Veterans Administration. Anita attended many group and individual therapies, read countless books, was prescribed combinations of medication yet Anita could not explain to her children what she had learned about PTSD, what triggers meant, how the brain is affected, but more importantly how much she loved them. Anita created Nana Knows: Nana's Helping Hand with PTSD, inspired by Chicken Soup for the Soul. Anita Miranda draws from her life experience to skillfully weave a new series that helps children and adults understand PTSD. Her goal is to reach out to families and their children, to educate and motivate others to learn from her journey, generation to generation, because Nana "Truly" Knows. Anita Miranda's autobiography, Living Disabled NOT DEAD-PTSD and Me, is a tribute to those who have given up hope, yet are ready to live purposefully.