Surprisingly OK: What Healing Trauma Feels Like

Author: Lee Pepper

Publisher: Sheer Spite Press (2023)

This zine is about what feels like to heal, slowly but surely, from complex trauma. It’s not a how-to guide, more of an exploration of questions like: What is emotional stability like? What is it like to be present in your body? What is it like to rest? What is it like to be in relationships of care? How do things feel different now, from day to day, after so much time and work and healing? It focuses throughout on how the process of healing can help you better live out my values of community and solidarity, and touches on topics like sobriety and recovery, transition, somatic practice, antiracism, and the importance of weird art.

I did my best to write something that would have been helpful for me to read ten years ago, when I started this work, and I hope it helps you along your way too.

It’s a big hefty zine! 18K words, 72 pages, half-letter size, took me like three years to write.

Riso-printed cover with beautiful illustration by Fruitblush.