Healing the Invisible Wounds of Trauma: A Columbine Survivor’s Story

by Kristen Krueger

How does someone recover from the worst school shooting in U.S. history?

On April 20, 1999, Kristen Long Krueger survived the Columbine High School shooting, which took the lives of thirteen people plus the two teenaged shooters. For the next five years, Kristen lived in a fog. Then she decided she was ready to grow, heal, and rebuild her life.

In Healing the Invisible Wounds of Trauma , Kristen recounts her story of the tragic events of that day and the brave steps she made to find healing and freedom. She Krueger demystifies the misunderstandings and distortions about trauma, bridging the gap between what professionals and talking heads want you to believe and the truth from a survivor.

Your true identity-including your past-lies on the other side of your healing. Kristen Krueger shows you how to find it.
 

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Carey]

An excellent read for anyone who has lived through or knows someone who has lived through trauma. This book may be little, but it is mighty in its assessment of what the talking heads might try to ignore, but what must be faced: what you experience after trauma can be debilitating but it is normal for what you have lived through and you need help to rebuild and begin to live fully free again.

Drawing again and again on her faith and her experience, Krueger unpacks simply and directly what those of us who have lived through trauma need to hear: you can heal and be free from your past hurt.

Need to move on from trauma? Start here. Remember there is hope. Then get the help you desperately need. Be prepared for a fight, but remember YOU are worth it. And God isn't just in your corner, He's in the ring fighting for you.

[Roxie]

I met Kristen Krueger at her reading at the Tattered Cover a few weeks before the twentieth anniversary of the Columbine shootings. Her clear eyed, to-the-point demeanor commands your attention. Her book, written in smooth, direct, not overly emotional language, like the expert counselor she is, pulls no punches. It quickly describes the horrors of Columbine, then touches on other trauma that equally cripples, then reminds you of what you already know - your traumatic experiences will always be with you. True enough, however, you can learn to live with them, work around them, deny them power over you.

READ THIS! YOU WILL BE RELIEVED TO KNOW YOU ARE STRONGER, AND MORE CAPABLE THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT! Continued success to Kristin Krueger and her lovely family!

As an aside, an incredible number of people attended this event...all affected by the events at Columbine. It was incredibly touching...

[Laura Anne]

If you’re a Christian who has suffered from some sort of trauma this book is a healing journey. A few years ago the God stuff would have had me unable to connect with this author. But after finding a degree of faith this book was very helpful for me in processing old trauma that I was just ignoring in a blind hope that it would go away.
A lovely book detailing what it is like to suffer from complex PTSD

[W. Whalin]

Powerful Insights in an Important Book

Kristen Krueger knows trauma firsthand as a survivor of the Columbine school shooting over twenty years ago. HEALING THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF TRAUMA tells her story as a Christian yet is filled with raw honest insights. Krueger took her Columbine experience and used it to become a psychotherapist specializing in trauma. From her own experience and working with others, this book is filled with valuable information.

For example, Krueger writes, “Traveling the perilous roads of healing from trauma is not something you can do on your own. It requires that you find someone trustworthy (likely a professional), again and again, if necessary, to guide you through what you can’t see. The road to healing is not smooth and free of obstacles—in fact, this road is littered with obstacles, fear, loss, and hurt. For this and many other reasons, some people choose to take the fork in the riad that circles back to their comfortable prison.” (Page 87)

We live in a violent world and people who have experienced trauma need to read this book but also pastors and counselors for the insights. I highly recommend HEALING THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF TRAUMA.

W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books Get a FREE copy of the 11th Publishing Myth

[Tara Hart]

The resources at the end were good. The book itself is a jumbled mess. I think my favorite quote is: “You are the only one who can fight your fight, the only one who can win, but you can’t do it alone. Choose to seek other people who know what you’re struggling with and who have won the battle. Choose to seek help even if you don’t yet believe you need it. Choose to fight the demons in your mind that are trying to convince you that your efforts are hopeless, and you will never be free.” I’m still not free from the horrible editing and sophomoric writing.

[Beth Bunchman]

Tons of good info but I found the intro (recounting Columbine) a bit traumatizing to read and the remaining content triggering. Maybe better suited to family? I knew a lot of the info from my own research and therapy sessions but that doesn't help my "circle" understand or help me through the day to day. I think this style and format could be beneficial for my friends and family to "get it" a little better.

[Al Epifanio]

This concise book gives great insight to those suffering from trauma. Furthermore, this vulnerable story helps those in relationships with trauma survivors to understand their journey. Though Kristen says PTSD will not heal with the passage of time, the book does offer much in the way of hope, treatment ideas and care for those wishing to seek freedom from their pain.

[Robin Densmore Fuson]

This book is “on-point” for those who have experienced trauma—emotional, physical, or sexual—abuse or threats of abuse. If you’ve experienced any or even a little of those kinds of trauma you need to read this book, esp. chapters 5,9,10, and 11. Trauma leaves consequences and scars which affect the body for countless of years. Please read to heal.

[Jason]

Columbine Survivor

20 years later, this girl is still seriously troubled. She apparently believes there was an additional shooter but fails to identify him. My understanding is that she's not treating people with PTSD , that's a good thing. I'm not quite sure what to make of this