Anna Dowe

Spouses whose partners suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often feel isolated and confused as they watch their beloved morph into a human they do not quite recognize or even understand.

Often, partnerships that were once blissful become havens of discord, anger, and heartache. Many relationships fall apart as the couple is thrown into a whirlwind of confusion, pain, and frustration as both partners now battle with their new reality.

Bent Not Broken provides hope, guidance, and inspiration for spouses of those brave troops who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is dedicated to all the strong spouses on the home front; those who must fight daily to triumph over this life and relationship altering disorder. The goal of Bent Not Broken is to shed light on the secondary traumatization effects experienced by those closest to the PTSD victim.

Author Anna Dowe delivers transparent, practical, inspiring advice for spouses immersed in the aftermath of their partner’s PTSD. Bent Not Broken is a heart-opening, educational look at the process of coping with and surviving a family member’s suffering from PTSD. Readers are provided with practical skills and workable tools, backed by modern research, professional insights, and real-life first and third person accounts.

These remarkably insightful stories from Anna’s personal accounts and those of other spouses, peer support staff, counselors, doctors, and psychologists will truly help you and your family find power, passion, and purpose once again, even after the tragedy of combat and war.

LEARN HOW…

In the PTSD world, Bent Not Broken offers hope, strength, and courage for the spouses of PTSD victims, women in particular, by helping them gain control of their lives and rediscover self-worth, self-love, and self-compassion.

YOU WILL DISCOVER IN THESE PAGES…

• How you see yourself impacts how you see the world.
• Powerful decisions are never made without clarity of purpose.
• A burnt-out brain is a recipe for disaster.
• No worthy objective is attained in isolation.
• Your biggest goals will force you to face your insecurities.
• An unpredictable world is an untapped world, one waiting to be explored.
• Fear is the enemy of freedom.
• A sense of feeling heard, understood, and respected can go a long way.
• Direction and action are the keys to your new life.
• When purpose is unclear, anxiety will take its place.
• Allowing yourself to grieve is the fastest way to regain your strength.
• If you don’t look after yourself, your body will do it for you.
• How to find YOU again.

“I met Anna Dowe during the most tumultuous time of my life. PTSD had caused my life to spiral out of control. I was juggling a high stress career, an alcoholic father, and the breakdown of my 17-year marriage. Everything was chaotic, everything.

To the outside world my life was perfection: Perfect career, husband, house, and vacations. The world also witnessed my perfect permanent smile—a front that was hiding a plethora of disorder. My health was failing. I was doing too much of everything—drinking, smoking, spending. Anything to numb the pain, anything to feel some resemblance of comfort.

My husband and I separated. Afterwards, my dad died. I was struggling with all the anxiety, flight or fight, and depression that PTSD could cause. PTSD is all consuming. It steals the very essence of your soul, and leaves you isolated, sad, and angry.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason—here comes Anna Dowe. I met Anna through a mutual friend. Instantly, Anna read the signs; she seemed genuinely concerned and quickly learned that she understood the depths of every emotion I was feeling. She had lived it. She got it. She survived it. Anna guided me to my survival, she supported, counselled, and genuinely cared for my wellbeing. Bent Not Broken is a must have tool that everyone can utilize to map out the path to living with PTSD. This book is a gift—a blessing of survival.

Anna, thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world.”

Erica Kennedy, PTSD Survivor

“Bent Not Broken offers hope, strength, and courage for the spouses of PTSD victims, women in particular, by helping them gain control of their lives and rediscover self-worth, self-love, and self-compassion. Anna’s real-life experiences gently invite you to begin or continue your healing and allow you to enhance your power so you can protect, rebuild and restore your family. This book is a love story. It’s all about loving yourself, your children and your family. You deserve every bit of love and support this book has to offer.”

―Barry Spilchuk
Coauthor – A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Founder – TheLEGACY.club

“Anna Dowe understands suffering. Her experience with a husband suffering from PTSD is reflected in this comforting, yet informational book. Her positive attitude and the belief we all can heal from any traumas/stress is inspirational.”

―Bonnie and Dr. Jay Crandall
Authors of Letting Purpose & Passion Drive your Marriage

“If I could read only one book on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bent Not Broken is the one I would choose! The title itself speaks of an important truth- no matter how hard life gets, we can rise from our difficulties and live more passionately and purposefully in spite of challenges.”

―Meor Amer Reza
Author of The Greatest Gift

“Powerful, practical, and solid advice on living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with much confidence. Apply Anna Dowe’s knowledge and tips from her personal experience and from others’ experiences as well, and you’ll feel much more alive and happier that you did not give up on family. A must-read for families.”

―Patsy Chia
Author of Burden No More