Breath, Being, and the Body | Fauzia F. Shah, MSW, LCSW

Breath, Being,
and the Body

Healing From Complex
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fauzia F. Shah

Now Available

About the Book

Healing Happens in the Now

Breath, Being, and the Body blends memoir, clinical guidance, and spiritual practice to chart a compassionate, practical path out of suffering for survivors of complex trauma.

Drawing on the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and Kim Eng, Fauzia helps readers distinguish between the egoic, conditioned mind and the observing Self — then offers concrete ways to live from awareness rather than old survival patterns. The result is a trauma-informed, spiritually grounded toolkit that readers can begin using immediately.

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Inside the Book

What You'll Discover

🌿

Understanding C-PTSD

What complex trauma is, how it lives in the body, and why traditional approaches alone aren't enough.

🔮

The Unconditioned Self

How to distinguish between the egoic, conditioned mind and the true Self — and live from awareness rather than survival patterns.

✨

Breath & Body Practices

Concrete tools — breathwork, grounding, earthing, mindful observation — you can begin using immediately.

🪞

Narcissism & Codependency

How to recognize narcissistic dynamics, gaslighting, trauma bonding, and the mirror trap of codependency.

🤝

Relational Healing

Rebuilding boundaries, reparenting the self, attachment repair, and the path to life after the narcissist.

🕊

Reclaiming Your Narrative

How to dissolve trauma's spell, cultivate self-worth, and live with peace in the present moment.

19 Chapters

A Journey Through the Book

Each chapter braids personal narrative, clinical explanation, and guided practices.

Complex PTSD and the Mind–Body Connection

Understanding C-PTSD, its symptoms, and somatic impact. Introducing breath awareness, journaling, and grounding.

The Unconditioned Self

The contrast between the egoic, conditioned self and the true Self. How presence dismantles trauma bonds.

C-PTSD and the Parent–Child Relationship

Childhood abandonment, trauma-driven parenting patterns, and breaking generational cycles.

Attachment Styles and the Echoes of Childhood

How insecure attachment connects to C-PTSD and how to rebuild secure connections.

Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Types and traits of narcissists — covert, overt, malignant — and reclaiming self-worth.

Unmasking the Narcissist

Manipulation, gaslighting, false personas, and tools for emotional clarity.

Interlude: A Map Through the Madness

A reflective pause on emotional chaos and the first steps toward breaking free.

Invisible Scars — The Legacy of Narcissistic Parents

Long-term damage of maternal narcissism. Recognizing gaslighting and triangulation.

Through the Fog — Gaslighting, Trauma Bonding, and the Narcissistic Spell

Deconstructing gaslighting and trauma bonding. Reclaiming inner truth.

Triangulation and Defamation in Narcissistic Systems

How narcissists isolate victims and strategies to disrupt these patterns.

Interlude: When the Roots Are Rotten — Toxic Love in Disguise

The illusion of love in toxic relationships. Choosing yourself.

Breaking the Mirror — Healing from Codependency

How codependency forms through trauma and rebuilding autonomy through reparenting.

The Mirror Trap — When Narcissists and Codependents Collide

The toxic dance and tools to break trauma bonds and reclaim agency.

Life Without the Narcissist

Grief, relief, and rediscovery after leaving an abusive relationship.

The Quiet Anchor — How to Support Survivors

A resource for loved ones. Compassionate strategies without judgment or pressure.

Repressed vs. Suppressed Emotions

Journaling and somatic tools for emotional release.

The Narcissist at Work

Narcissistic abuse in the workplace and setting professional boundaries.

The Lingering Wounds of C-PTSD

Long-term impacts and healing through ongoing present-moment practices.

In the End — Cultivating Self-Worth and Self-Care

Practices for self-love and conscious care. Healing is always possible through presence.

Praise for the Book

What Readers Are Saying

A beautifully written memoir and guide. It's a comfortable and digestible read, and I liked how practical the techniques offered are. I think it will be invaluable for other mental health clinicians to read.

Dr. Alexander Eksir — MD

It is Shah's utilization of the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, shining a light on how the mind works, and how we let our thoughts trap us in a vicious cycle, that shifts her work in a new direction, providing real hope of recovery.

Jerry Shaefer

How can you love someone and not have them in your life? This book reveals how the wounding of trauma affects relationships. It is a testament to what is possible; a map, a blueprint, a hope of healing.

Sandra Turner

Fauzia Shah does something both radical and profoundly generous: she shows us how presence can alchemize trauma, and how self-compassion can rewrite even the most painful scripts.

Mark B. Borg, Jr. — Ph.D

About the Author

Fauzia F. Shah, MSW, LCSW

Fauzia F. Shah is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in trauma therapy, mental health, and substance abuse treatment. She has worked across clinical, academic, and community settings, providing individual, group, and family therapy, as well as court-ordered evaluations.

Trained by leading experts including John Briere, Kim Eng, and Eckhart Tolle, her work integrates evidence-based clinical practice with mindfulness and presence-based healing. She completed Eckhart Tolle's Teacher of Presence certification program in 2023.

MSW LCSW Teacher of Presence 30+ Years Experience

The Awakened Self