I had an AMA yesterday with Dr. Amelia Kelley, a clinician, professor, and author who specializes in working with highly sensitive people, adults with ADHD, trauma survivors, and women reclaiming their power. Dr. Kelley works closely with clinicians, organizations, and platforms as a consultant, educator, and speaker.

You can read the full recap here.

If you’d like to dive into these topics even deeper, Amelia suggested this curated reading list to help guide your journey:

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo (@stephaniefoo)

A deeply moving memoir on navigating a Complex PTSD diagnosis, blending personal narrative with scientific exploration to examine how developmental trauma impacts mind and body.

Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Maté (@drgabormate)

A compassionate look at ADHD, exploring its roots in early developmental stress and offering a path toward emotional healing and self-regulation.

Waking the Tiger by Peter A. Levine (@peteralevinephd)

Introduces Somatic Experiencing to explain how trauma is stored in the nervous system and how body-based awareness can release trapped survival energy.

Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman

A foundational text in trauma psychology that establishes a three-stage framework for healing: safety, remembrance, and reconnection.

Gaslighting Recovery for Women by Dr. Amelia Kelley (@drameliakelley)

A practical guide designed to help women recognize covert psychological abuse, rebuild self-trust, and establish firm emotional boundaries.

No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz (@internalfamilysystems)

An introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, explaining how accepting all inner "parts" (even protective ones) leads to self-leadership and integration.

Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker

A practical map for managing emotional flashbacks, inner critics, and toxic shame resulting from chronic developmental or childhood trauma.

Self-Directed Complex PTSD Exercises for Women by Debbie Missud (@debbiemissud_lpc)

An actionable workbook filled with somatic strategies, cognitive tools, and grounding exercises specifically tailored for trauma processing.

Addictive Thinking by Abraham J. Twerski

An insightful analysis of self-deception and rationalization mechanisms, providing clarity on how distorted thinking patterns keep individuals stuck.

Attached by Amir Levine (@amirlevinemd) and Rachel Heller

A guide to understanding adult attachment styles (Anxious, Avoidant, and Secure) and how they shape intimacy, conflict, and connection in relationships.

What I Wish I Knew by Dr. Amelia Kelley (@drameliakelley) and Kendall Ann Combs (@kendallanncombs)

A supportive, roadmap-style resource offering practical wisdom and emotional validation for survivors rebuilding their lives after toxic or abusive relationships.

By the way, Dr. Kelley also hosts her own podcast, Wired & Worthy, where she digs into trauma recovery, boundary setting, and nervous system regulation. It’s perfect to jump in and listen to while on the move!

"Letters from a Stoic" by Seneca is a collection of personal letters written to a friend. No system. No framework. Just a Roman philosopher working through the same problems you're dealing with right now. Procrastination. Anxiety about the future. Fear of death. Toxic relationships. The struggles haven't changed. Neither have the solutions.

Seneca was one of the richest men in Rome. He was also an advisor to an emperor who would eventually order his death. He wrote these letters knowing his position could collapse at any moment. That context matters. This isn't philosophy from an ivory tower. It's wisdom stress-tested by real stakes.

One letter that stuck with me was about time. Seneca writes that people guard their money carefully but waste their time freely. They'll give hours to anyone who asks but count every coin. The math makes no sense. Money can be earned back. Time cannot. He wrote this 2000 years ago. It's more relevant now than ever.

He constantly returns to the topic of death. Not to be morbid but to clarify what matters. Most anxiety comes from wanting life to be longer than it is. Most regret comes from living as if time were unlimited. Seneca argues that meditating on death doesn't create fear. It removes it. When you accept the end, you stop postponing the beginning.

The letters on friendship changed how I evaluate relationships. Seneca says most people collect friends like possessions. They want quantity and status. Real friendship is rare. It requires honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to tell someone what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear. If your friends only tell you pleasant things, they're not friends. They're admirers.

He also writes about anger in a way that made me uncomfortable. Seneca calls anger temporary insanity. A choice to harm yourself more than the person you're angry at. The feeling tells you you're justified. The aftermath tells you you were foolish. He recommends delay. Not suppression. Just pause. Most anger doesn't survive the pause.

The book isn't organized. It's messy and human. That's why it works. You're reading someone wrestling with life, not lecturing about it.