Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It For Good

Call of the Wild examines the human nervous system—how it develops, how it becomes dysregulated, and how to restore it to balance. Kimberly Ann Johnson addresses an epidemic of unresolved trauma affecting many women, resulting in mental and physical stagnation and illness in a culture that emphasizes executive function over embodied experience. Johnson explains how the nervous system responds to difficult events, from minor stressors like social rejection or near-accidents to severe traumas such as sexual assault, natural disasters, or life-threatening illness. She describes how the nervous system protects us from immediate danger while also creating lasting effects that persist throughout life. The book offers practical guidance for processing nervous system responses and returning to a sense of wholeness and intuitive awareness. Johnson teaches readers how to access the wisdom of their senses, calm dysregulated nervous systems, and reconnect with their instinctive nature. While acknowledging that cultural wounds cannot be easily resolved, she presents the body as a pathway toward healing and moving forward.