Albemarle native publishes book on meditation and trauma – Stanley News & Press

An Albemarle woman has published the first in a series of books about the trauma of her past.

Shannon Graham

Shannon Graham of Charlotte recently self-published a book on Amazon and Kindle called “Meditation for Beginners (and Skeptics).”
“Although this book is about meditation, it is the first in a series I plan to write to help people overcome past trauma and the subsequent self-destructive behaviors that most people suffer from,” Graham said.
Graham said she has benefited from meditation, which allows her to “silence the noise in my head and be introspective and connect with my true self”.
“I felt it was better to not only acknowledge the problem, but to deliver the message through solutions,” Graham said. “When I got sober four and a half years ago, I dove into all things personal development. With a background in nursing, I’m fascinated by neuroscience. I realized that most people suffer from insidious self-destructive behaviors. Some overeat, some overspend, some work too much, and of course some use drugs, but the cause seems to be trauma on various levels. Trauma can be anything from wartime experiences to a child being humiliated by a teacher in primary school. It can get stored in the amygdala of the brain and cause problems if left untreated. As a trauma survivor, I’ve found meditation extremely beneficial and have seen amazing results in coaching my clients.”
“The most well-known benefit of meditation is stress reduction,” Graham said.
“In my book, I write about the many studies that support non-pharmacological meditation as an alternative to lowering blood pressure and managing pain in busy lives. Meditation has many different techniques and practices that are thousands of years old and there is something that can help everyone. The personal benefit of meditation is that it cultivates self-compassion and self-love. Sitting techniques, lying techniques, walking techniques, guided, visualization and even journaling are forms of meditation. For those who have experienced trauma, meditation is about finding your authentic self and giving you love, acceptance and self-esteem.”
While Graham said anyone can meditate, “there’s a reason it’s called a contemplative practice.”
“It takes practice. If you think of it like running, work your way up to 15 minutes and you’re perfect. The trick is to start slowly and work your way up to longer sessions, but it’s definitely worth it. And I’m saying this from someone with severe ADHD. Just like in life, it takes patience and persistence to get started. It’s very simple; just sit quietly and focus on your breathing. If you’re an active person, mindful walking is a good place to start.
“If your mind wanders (and it will at first), refocus on your breath,” she adds. “Be kind and gentle with yourself. Just being motivated is a win.”
Graham has also started her own business, Bring Me Back to Life Coaching, LLC, where she serves as a transformational life coach.
“Coaching uses all that I learned about psychology in nursing, life experiences of failing and getting back up, neuroscience, and self-development to help others design and build a life they truly love,” she said. “Working with the right coach can help people increase their confidence, make better decisions, reach their goals faster, and live a richer, more fulfilling life. I truly say if I can do it, anyone can. My coaching philosophy is focused on moving forward, not looking back. Life is so beautiful, but sometimes we make it so hard.”
Graham also thanks Will’s Place Recovery Resource Centre and founder Allison Hudson Mingle for helping her on her journey.
“My last treatment facility offered me EMDR, a therapy originally designed for soldiers who had been in combat. It has some success with addicts and alcoholics and the concept made sense to my medically trained brain. At that point I was willing to do anything. My family and I were at a loss,” Graham said. “As Alison from Will’s Place can attest, I would not have lasted much longer. She kindly tried to help me on multiple occasions. That was in 2019 and by God’s grace I have not wanted drink or drugs since. It’s been a long journey but I believe I am here for a reason. I had to go there to get here and I am so grateful.”
Mingle said he had known Graham for years and reunited with her around 2015 when she was struggling with alcohol and drugs.
“I witnessed firsthand some of the immense trauma she endured,” Mingle said, “and to see her on the path to recovery today is nothing short of amazing. Shannon’s journey is a true testament to the fact that recovery is possible for anyone and that we should never give up hope. Not only is her story inspiring, it also demonstrates the incredible resilience of the human spirit after overcoming decades of addiction and trauma.”
Graham said anyone who has suffered from trauma or addiction “deserves to be treated better.”
“You are a child of God and you deserve to be treated better,” she said. “If you believe you are stronger than this pain, you will get through it.”

BJ Drye is general manager and editor of The Stanly News & Press and can be reached at 704-982-2123.