From the Publisher ASIN : B00G3L1C2K Publisher : Penguin Books; 1st edition (September 25, 2014) Publication date : September 25, 2014 Language : English File size : 10018 KB Text-to-Speech : Enabled Screen Reader : Supported Enhanced typesetting : […]
ASIN : B00G3L1C2K
Publisher : Penguin Books; 1st edition (September 25, 2014)
Publication date : September 25, 2014
Language : English
File size : 10018 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 644 pages
Best Sellers Rank: #1 in Popular Neuropsychology
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Customer Reviews: 77,177 ratings
| ASIN : | B00G3L1C2K |
|---|---|
| Publisher : | Penguin Books; 1st edition (September 25, 2014) |
| Publication date : | September 25, 2014 |
| Language : | English |
| File size : | 10018 KB |
| Text-to-Speech : | Enabled |
| Screen Reader : | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting : | Enabled |
| X-Ray : | Enabled |
| Word Wise : | Enabled |
| Print length : | 644 pages |
| Best Sellers Rank: | #1 in Popular Neuropsychology |
| - | |
| Customer Reviews: | 77,177 ratings |
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S. Rose –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Life-Saving Trauma Bible
“I think this man is suffering from memories.”So, this book changed my life. No, really. In fact, it’s *saved* it.I have severe PTSD. And despite years of therapy, it seemed to be getting worse instead of better. My flashbacks were occurring more and more often. I was becoming more and more lethargic and frozen in time. And suicide was constantly just *there* in my mind. Constant. I’d even set a date.And then my insurance quit paying for my therapy.As a last, desperate grasp for help, I started to read this book.I have never read anything more validating and more hopeful. To see the brain scans and hear the science that explained *exactly* what has happened to my brain, what is going on during my flashbacks and why I’m always physically sick—all the times I’ve gone to a doctor in pain or feeling like I’m having a heart attack or a stroke only to be told they can’t find anything wrong—brought me to tears. It gave me all the answers I’ve been searching for. It gave everything a scientific, medical explanation—and a path to *healing*.He explained why all of my EMDR therapy wasn’t working—it was because my therapists (bless them!) were doing it wrong. And I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned from my therapists and this book and do EMDR on my own, and today… today I feel more like my old, genuine self, than I have in *years*. The shadow of suicidal thoughts no longer follows me. I feel *light*. And I have *hope*—genuine *hope*—that I actually *can* get better! I’m always telling people *they* can get better and there’s hope for *them*… but I haven’t felt that way about myself. Now, I do. I haven’t had that hope in a long, *long* time. And I even think, after years of struggling and finally making such great progress in such a short time, maybe—just maybe—I can be cured. I never thought I’d say that! The future is so exciting to me now!If you have trauma, do be warned—Dr. van der Kolk talks a lot about his clients and their traumatic experiences and it can be very triggering. Some of the details I felt he definitely could’ve left out, honestly. However, the scientific information, the validation and the information on how to heal trauma, has made this book absolutely *priceless* to me. It’s my trauma bible. I’ll be re-reading it in the future and constantly referring to it.Edit: I keep seeing reviews on here from people who were super upset by the story of the Vietnam vet who murdered a family, raped the mother and left her to die. Honestly, I flipped out at that part, too (aka, had a flashback), in large part because I misunderstood what Dr. van der Kolk was trying to say. I thought for a moment that he was trying to justify what the man did, and had to email my old therapist about it. She read the scene and encouraged me to reread his conclusion, and pointed out to me that he’s actually saying how difficult it was to try to treat him objectively because what the man had done was an absolute atrocity. He never actually justifies it. He calls it an atrocity. It’s just worded weird, and if you’re already triggered by what you’ve just read, it is *easily* misunderstood. I hope he clarifies this in future editions. You have to keep in mind that, van der Kolk’s target audience is actually other therapists. For this reason, it *was* difficult for me to read. I was violently attacked and molested at 5-years-old and repeatedly raped and abused as a teenager. His going over other people’s abuse is overly detailed at times and I had to skip many of those scenes.However, I don’t hold any of this against him at all. The information in this book has changed my life, I feel seen and validated, and I stand by that almost a year after reading it. I keep it right on my writing desk where it’s easily found for reference. Am I cured yet? No. Did my flashbacks stop? Nope. This year has been an unexpected nightmare full of triggers. But I’ve made *so* much progress. And I have hope. And that’s what I need to make it through each day. I sincerely believe that, through a lot of work (which I’m willing to do!), I can be cured in time. And all of that started with this book.
808 people found this helpful
Tom Cloyd, MS MA –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book!
Psychiatrist, professor, world-class researcher, and traumatologist Bessel van der Kolk MD requires no introduction to trauma psychotherapists. My enduring impressions of him over many years is one of relevance, cogency, frankness, and accessibility – served up with a subtle dash of impishness. He tends to be a bit disruptive – something of a provocateur – and everything of his I have ever read has taught me something, confirmed something important, or pushed my thinking in a new direction. When he has something to say, I want to hear it.However, I almost didn’t buy this book: I was put off by the title. Familiar with major reviews of PTSD psychotherapy outcomes research, I know that research support for body-oriented approaches to treating psychological trauma psychopathology is thin at best, and such treatment models simply do not have the research validation of either EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and PE (Prolonged Exposure), neither of which are especially body-focused.J. Interlandi’s excellent article anticipating publication of this book – “A Revolutionary Approach to Treating PTSD” (New York Times Magazine, 2014.05.22 – available online) – initially supported my fears that for some inexplicable reason van der Kolk was now promoting some treatment model for which we have little confirming research. “Psychomotor therapy is neither widely practiced nor supported by clinical studies,” Interlandi informs us. Provocateur he may be, but I’m strongly biased in favor of paying attention to therapies for which we do have solid empirical validation. Our clients do not deserve to be experimental subjects – maybe not even if they agree to this, as I’m not sure they can ever know enough to make a truly informed consent. Knowledge that PTSD and related disorders are usually highly curable, when using the right treatment protocols, sadly remains the possession of a minority of people, even in the professional psychotherapy world.Yet the account of van der Kolk’s therapy work in Interlandi’s article is gripping. Becoming completely absorbed in the account, I was convinced. (I’ve been here before, reading van der Kolk’s own accounts of his work.) And so the disruption begins! Deeper into the article, he has me. Van der Kolk’s critique of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy – a general class of therapies) and PE (E. Foa’s exposure therapy model) is withering and correct: neither really work. “Trauma has nothing whatsoever to do with cognition…It has to do with your body being reset to interpret the world as a dangerous place….It’s not something you can talk yourself out of.” Interlandi reports that “That view places him on the fringes of the psychiatric mainstream.”But he’s right, and I can’t stress this enough. Why? Because as a trauma treatment professional I’m well aware of what the trauma treatment outcomes research actually says. The best current summary of this research well may be chapter 2 of Ecker, et al.’s (2012) “Unlocking the emotional brain”. (Buy this book, too!) Ecker et al. brilliantly presents a synthetic summary that encompasses 11 existing therapy models which actually DO cure trauma psychopathology, if done right. In this context, what van der Kolk is doing makes perfect sense. Finally, it appears, the trauma psychotherapy field is moving toward a consensus which has strong credibility.Van der Kolk’s new book has many virtues. Parts One and Two (102 pp) provide a substantial review of the neuropsychology of trauma’s impact on a person. It’s fun, interesting, informative reading, for professional and layperson alike. Part Three (64 pp) surveys childhood development, attachment experience, and “the hidden epidemic of developmental trauma”. Van der Kolk has for years been a leading champion of the idea that there is a type of PTSD which substantially differs from all the rest. It develops in response to chronic child abuse and/or neglect. I completely share his belief that the diagnosis of Developmental Trauma Disorder (sometimes called C-PTSD, with “C” meaning “Complex”) is overdue for formal recognition. I find his review of the struggle to legitimize DTD as gripping and distressing as anything else in the book. It is anguishing to know that a major problem exists, AND that the psychiatric establishment simply refuses to acknowledge it. DTD/C-PTSD is no fantasy. We see and treat these people, as children and adults. They exist, and they are nothing like “ordinary” PTSD treatment clients.Part Four (29 pp) focuses on memory. I’ve long thought that much writing on treating psychological trauma seems to miss the point: trauma memory is what causes the problem. Deal with that and the symptoms vanish. Why is this so hard to understand? Yet, it is not a common understanding at all. Explaining how trauma memory works is invariably enlightening to my clients. And experiencing what happens when we change the nature of trauma memory is revelatory to someone who’s lived with it for years, if not decades. As he does throughout the book, van der Kolk offers fine stories about clients who have experienced exactly what I’ve seen happen in my clients, making excellent use of what cognitive research tells us: people understand things best through narratives. Offer a good narrative and you convince.Psychological trauma therapy is complex, but we are now well prepared to launch into the book’s core content – Part Five (154 pp), “Paths to Recovery”. He gets right to it: we cannot undo the trauma, but we CAN undo its effect on us, and so get our “self” back. Ch. 13 reviews existing therapies. His approach is to repair “Descartes’ Error” (see Damásio’s 1994 book of that title) by viewing mind and body as a single coherent functional unit. His topical coverage is complete and his critique of current therapies acute – not to be missed.He then writes of the importance of language (Ch. 14). We construct our narrative mainly in words, and the words we choose are critical. But language is not enough (this anticipates his next two chapters). Our senses encompass a larger world, and it’s center is our body, where all our sensory receptors are located. Then he introduces the treatment model he’s long advocated: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). I’m trained in EMDR, and in fact van der Kolk and I had the same instructor for our advanced training: Gerald Puk PhD. Van der Kolk tells an amusing and self-deprecating story about his advanced training experience, in which Puk was able to provide a strong corrective to his approach to clients. This is typical van der Kolk – he’s a truth-teller, even when it may put him in a poor light! And,after all, at this point he has nothing to prove to anyone.Finding an EMDR therapist is not hard (see his “Resources” section). Nor is it hard to find a yoga instructor, and yoga is what he advises for helping a trauma victim get back into their body. Yoga is a wise choice, because it is available, already widely known, and adaptable to a wide range of individuals and capabilities.There is much more in Part Five, and the focus is on self-empowerment. “Victim no more!” as they say. Most trauma therapists have a keen interest in seeing their clients leave therapy charged up and ready to fully embrace their life – that certainly is my own emphasis. Van der Kolk’s thoughts on self-empowerment for those in recovery from psychological trauma will be invaluable to any trauma psychotherapy client.For psychotherapy professionals, this book will be both delightful and confirming. For everyone else, it will be a readable, gripping, highly educational tour of topics all of which are critical to a successful transition back from the impact of psychological trauma. That he gives prominent though not dominating emphasis to developmental trauma disorders is entirely appropriate. Our society has yet to grasp that child abuse and neglect is a more often chronic than not, and that its impact is largely ignored and poorly treated, if at all. This does not have to be. Get educated (this book will do that), then commit to being an advocate for children as well as for adults impacted by trauma. They all deserve the chance to be healed, and we can now do that. Van der Kolk shows us how.The physical book: Jacket design is pleasant and interesting. Binding is less so: color of spine wrapping is semi-florescent, and of paper, not cloth. The book feels substantial and pleasant to hold and look at.Organization -* 6 pp: prefatory praise by peers and related luminaries (interesting comments from some important people in the field);* 2 pp: Table of Contents;* 356 pp: actual text;* 4 pp: Appendix: Consensus proposed criteria for developmental trauma disorder* 3 pp: Resources* 4 pp: Further reading* 51 pp: Notes* 21 pp: Index
2,368 people found this helpful
RobertK –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book on the subject. A classic.
This is the book to read on the subject and answers all the questions about Trauma and what happens. Best layman understanding out there. Good Book! Good reference Book.
4 people found this helpful
Vinh Tran –
5.0 out of 5 stars
outstanding must read for all therapists (and everyone else!)
Psychotherapy concentrates so much on intellectualizing and talking, but this author offers a mind blowing alternative paradigm and whole new world yet ancient world of therapeutic alternatives. Bravo, agree with everything you said about how the priorities of society need to realign around the desperate needs of our disadvantaged children- amen to that! I am an MD w a practice for adults w autism and found much wisdom applicable to my patients and their families- thank you!
3 people found this helpful
Jill Ingenito –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing insight on how trauma affects our bodies
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The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a groundbreaking and comprehensive exploration of trauma and its profound effects on both the mind and body. Drawing from decades of clinical experience and research, van der Kolk delves into how trauma reshapes the brain’s wiring and how this, in turn, impacts our emotional and physical health.What stands out is the book’s holistic approach. It not only explains how trauma manifests but also offers pathways to healing through a variety of methods such as yoga, EMDR, and neurofeedback. Van der Kolk challenges the conventional view of trauma as merely a psychological issue, highlighting how it lives in the body and needs to be treated as a whole-body experience.The book is both deeply insightful and accessible, making it invaluable for anyone dealing with trauma, whether personally or professionally. It’s not just for mental health professionals—survivors of trauma, caregivers, and anyone curious about the mind-body connection will find it incredibly eye-opening.While it’s rich in scientific research, the personal stories shared throughout make it relatable and deeply moving. This book is a must-read for those wanting to understand the lasting impacts of trauma and the possibilities for healing.
33 people found this helpful
Leilani Speer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is not a self help book
4.5 stars for content3 stars for readabilityThis was a dense but excellent read. Incredible examples and research material gathered over many years. I applaud the author’s passion, commitment, and efforts. We all have trauma, not just war veterans or victims of domestic and child abuse. I felt the heartstrings of my own trauma get tugged at multiple points in this book, and I cried multiple times. But do not read this expecting to find solutions to solve your own childhood traumas or mental health concerns. Van der Kolk introduces a variety of clinical treatments for a plethora of issues, with a small twist of his own bias, but it isn’t directly translatable for use. It is good to know that there are so many treatment options and success stories out there.
25 people found this helpful
Michael Philliber –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating!
After being struck by trauma – combat, auto accident, assault, abuse – why do the dreams come and come and come? From where does the anxiety, distractedness, or outburst originate? Are there reasons for the gut balling up into a knot and the chest squeezing tight and feeling like it will implode when unwanted memories of the distress invade? Why does the recall come in pieces, chunks, or flashes? And then there’s the inability to communicate, the mental shut-down, the emotional-frigidity; what is that all about? Is there any way to move from the trauma and its aftermath to some sense of genuine wellbeing? All of these subjects, and more, are covered by Bessel van der Kolk, founder and medical director of the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts, professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, and director of the National Complex Trauma Treatment Network, in his 464 page paperback, “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma”. This volume is written for both the helping-professions technician and therapist, as well as for the traumatized and their families. With thousands of book reviews already posted and published, I’ll make this review brief.“The Body Keeps the Score” unpacks the way trauma affects us, mind, brain, and body. The author looks at multiple forms of therapy, showing their strengths and limits. He recognizes that there are “fundamentally three avenues [of therapy]: 1) top down, by talking, (re-) connecting with others, and allowing ourselves to know and understand what is going on with us, while processing the memories of the trauma; 2) by taking medicines that shut down inappropriate alarm reactions, or by utilizing other technologies that change the way the brain organizes information, and 3) bottom up: by allowing the body to have experiences that deeply and viscerally contradict the helplessness, rage, or collapse that results from trauma” (3). Van der Kolk addresses each of these approaches while explaining in detail what harrowing ordeals do to people.The author’s proposition through the pages is that the anguish of assault and abuse “changes brain development, self-regulation, and the capacity to stay focused and in tune with others…experiences change the structure and function of the brain – and even affect the genes we pass on to our children…devastates the social-engagement system and interferes with cooperation, nurturing, and the ability to function as a productive member of the clan” (349, 351). One of the aspects that surprised me was how the “ventral vagal complex” – the vagus nerve that interfaces with other nervous systems – takes what my brain is experiencing (even re-experiencing through PTSD, etc.) and mobilizes muscles, heart, lungs and other body parts, so that I feel the alarm – or helplessness – or grief in my brain all the way down into my chest and stomach! Which means my body begins to take on muscle-memory (as we put it in martial arts)! Therefore, if “the memory of trauma is encoded in the viscera, in heartbreaking and gut-wrenching emotions, in autoimmune disorders and skeletal/muscular problems, and if mind/brain/visceral communication is the royal road to emotion regulation, this demands a radical shift in our therapeutic assumptions (88). It’s this “radical shift in therapeutic assumptions” that dominates the authors final eight chapters, where he methodically explains different “paths to recovery”. This is truly a captivating read!Van der Kolk weaves into the technical aspects of the book biographical and autobiographical tales that help the reader to see what has gone on, and not gone on, in the world of psychiatry and psychology regarding trauma. The stories also help to cement into the imagination and comprehension what he is trying to communicate. The book is reasonably technical with neuroscience, brain studies, physiology, professional acronyms and so forth. But the author is careful to not leave anyone in the dark. It is a fascinating read that treats the audience as mature enough to handle the subject and grasp the material. I disagreed with the evolutionary explanations of how the brain develops and found the little political rant in the epilogue disappointing. But beyond these, I was almost mesmerized by the book!“The Body Keeps the Score” is a whole textbook on physiology, brain studies and neuroscience, as well as therapeutic theories. It is not a self-help book, but readers who are looking for help will likely find it beneficial. Helping professionals may also find it advantageous as the author has a plethora of notes on various studies and articles. But I think that the biggest value will be for those who have family members, friends, and parishioners that have been through violent experiences. It gives a bigger and better perspective on what s going on, and they will be able to draw from the various paths to recovery approaches they can take as they seek to be part of the remedy and not the trauma. I highly recommend the book.
45 people found this helpful
Lynn Lok-Payne –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece on how trauma impacts everyone
A must-read book that reveals how our bodies store emotions and experiences. In his heartfelt writing, Dr. van der Kolk explores the lasting impact of trauma on our bodies. I appreciate his approach of not wanting to “fix” his patients but to assist them in living more fully.Through a brilliant combination of clinical cases, neuroscience, powerful tools, and caring humanity, he provides a new level of healing for those burdened by trauma. By presenting a variety of approaches, the book guides readers on how to effectively address trauma, emphasizing the transformative power of physical movement in processing emotions and fostering healing.Each person experiences trauma differently. Where one person “recovers” from an event, another holds is as trauma. Even if you haven’t experienced trauma personally, learning about it can enable you to empathize with others who have, providing a deeper understanding of their behaviors. It’s not a book for categorizing individuals, but rather to gain a deeper understanding of trauma and how it impacts everyone’s lives.
20 people found this helpful
monsterpixel –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Please buy this book and start loving your life
Of all the non-fiction books I’ve read, this is by far the best one ever. I grew up in a tough way. Lots went wrong. My brother and I believed we were unwanted and we had plenty of evidence to back up our sentiment. We suffered shared abuse and individual abuses of every kind imaginable. When I became an adult, I subscribe to the concepts of people like Rush Limbaugh and drove around listening to his radio show proclaiming that there is no such thing as post-traumatic stress disorder. I believed I could gut it out, that the past was the past and that only weak people needed to talk through their problems. I believed only losers behaved badly as adults due to anything in their childhood or past and that claiming you were affected by any past problem was a crutch to allow you to embrace failure. Frankly, for a time, that approach worked for me. I got married, had some great children (still have them thankfully), built a company. But it didn’t take too long until it all came crashing down. And, when it did, I spent nearly 1.5 decades down. The anxiety that was always in my throat and chest was, to put it mildly, a distraction. It’s very hard to be kind to people, to focus on your work, to love others when all your power is spent trying to pretend you don’t feel like s***. When you can’t sleep because your heart is beating so forcefully that the entire bed is vibrating – at least it feels that way – you not only lose the joy of sleep, but you feel hopeless and miserable and even more so when you’re not able to understand why you feel this way. When you see everything you have go away and can only occasionally find the strength to take care of yourself and your business and need others in your life to carry you from time to time (much to your embarrassment) and yet you think you’re smart and capable and have no understanding of why you are where you are, life becomes a slog. You trudge through it wishing you were dead or that something would kill you even if, like me, you’d never kill yourself. Literally, when I was a believer, I went to bed every night and my prayers went something like this, “Dear Jesus, please have a bus run over me. I will never kill myself but I’m miserable. Please let me die so my family won’t hate me for killing myself but so that I can stop hating the sun coming up. In Jesus name, Amen.” If you’re like I was (and it’s hard to tell you how I was and hold the tears down even now), this book will help you change all that. It will describe in detail what you’re going through and it captures so many of those subtleties as to make it absolutely amazing. For the first time, I don’t have depression (and I don’t take pills). I don’t have anxiety (it still bubbles up on occasion but using mindfulness, it goes nearly as fast as it comes). My life is pointed in the right direction, my business future is hopeful, my love-life is stabilizing, I know I’ll no longer lose friends. I’m finally on track to getting what I want in every area of my life from women to money to friends and deep connections with my family. While I can’t attribute every part of my success to this book alone as it takes many things to get where you want to go (mostly you), I can absolutely attest to the power of this book. If you’ve suffered any sort of major and/or persistent trauma in your life, please buy (and read) this book. You will one day thank yourself for doing so.
6,546 people found this helpful
KIRK T. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book on Trauma and understanding it
I’ve heard this book referenced several times recently so I bought it for myself. So many insights that I found myself right in them down in a notepad with page numbers to reference them later if I need to. The author put words to so much of what I’ve experienced in life that I had no words for. I only recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of trauma and approaches to Healing it
K.G. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy Details
Soooooo much information on trauma, it’s a lot to take in. This goes deep into the science of how trauma changes the brain and the effects it has on the body and relationships. There are also multiple tools and therapies for treating trauma, which he goes into great detail explaining exactly what the therapy looks like, how it supposed to reactivate areas of the brain, and the outcomes.I’m not sure I agree with the immense details he goes into for individual patient trauma. If a reader chooses this book for help, it might be severely triggering. Also, this might be more geared toward therapists or students of psychology/therapy.
2 people found this helpful
Jessica Brown –
4.0 out of 5 stars
It’s for anyone
You don’t have to be a doctor.. you just need to have interest in self-health. Mind and body are connected and this book maps it out for your well-being.
Rebecca Maki –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible book!
I can’t say enough about this book! Excellent!!!
RaquelElizabeth –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read now!
I found this book easy to read and understand. He puts things in ways that I could understand and actually absorb what I am reading. That’s where a lot of these types of books lose me. The jargon that only intellectuals understand. Lol.I’ve had mental health issues my whole life and this book would have been a life saver if only I read it earlier in life. I learned so much more about trauma from this book. More than 10 years of DBT therapy ever taught me. Not once did they help me work through the trauma that got me here in the first place. This book opened my eyes to therapy that was never brought to my attention before or used to help me at any point in time. This is a must read for anyone looking for help. This book has inspired me not to give up just yet. Thank you to all that were involved in this book. You’re amazing humans.
4 people found this helpful
T. L. Cooper –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Trauma Inflicted Will Resurface
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. felt like being in therapy and studying the therapy technique at the same time. At about the 20% mark, I think, I texted a psychologist friend and arranged a book discussion for when I finished it. The research Van De Kolk has participated in over his career is fascinating as is the other research he gathered in this book. I repeatedly wished I’d found this research twenty or thirty years ago. That said, there were several times word choices that made me feel uncomfortable and earlier in my life likely would have been triggering for me. I’m certain the research has continued to evolve as research tends to do, but The Body Keeps the Score made me finally realize that all those times I felt like my body was betraying me was it having a normal reaction to trauma. Several of the life techniques discussed in the book, I discovered through a more painstaking and lonely process of trial and error and for different reasons. The Body Keeps the Score is a reminder that nothing happens in a vacuum and that trauma inflicted today will resurface someday, especially if it goes unrecognized and untreated. Overall, I found the research compelling but also noticed there seems to be a glaring hole in the research related to the trauma victims who lived through the wars that affected the soldiers the research concentrated on so much. I would highly recommend The Body Keeps the Score for anyone interested in the research behind how trauma is stored in the body and why the body reacts the way it does to trauma.
33 people found this helpful
Destiny Elmo –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book needs a BIG TRIGGER WARNING
After seeing this book recommended in a lot of my support groups at least 30 times in the last few months I had to give this book a read. However in all those recommendations NOBODY prepared me for how detailed and graphic this book was. I devoured the book in 2 days and while I was reading it I winced a few times but didn’t know how much it was effecting me. I unknowingly uncovered deep trauma in me from reading this book. I was recently diagnosed with cptsd and while I knew for sure certain events in my life caused it I always thought I was not bothered by my molestations and rapes and have always been able to talk about them with out batting an eye lash. Ends up this was not a healed wound but something pushed deep inside me. I actually started to read the book in hopes of understanding my husbands PTSD and could of never of imagined of me being so triggered. 10 day mental break down that I almost (and should of) gone to inpatient mental care facility. It brought me to freak out at night, have overwhelming flash backs with sensations, panic attacks where my breath was stolen and I couldnt breath, nightmares, uncontrollable crying for hours.This book is NOT for people who are in a rocky place in their lives. It is important that when you read this book you are in a good spot in your life. Bills paid, not fighting with your spouse, families not in crisis mode, your getting good sleep, eating properly, drinking enough fluids and I would recommend practicing grounding and meditation before attempting this book. Or at least a super good support system and therapist that knows you may go off the deep end.Despite my reaction the book is full of priceless information and I still give it 5 stars. My book is full of underlines and notes and I have several pages of quotes in my journal. If you want to know the science behind PTSD and the full body reactions and behaviors of traumatized people this is the book. If you are looking for healing during a difficult period of your life and you have PTSD I recommend reading “Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma” by Pete Walker- a book that because of the sensitive subject matter it is still able to trigger someone but it has a more positive outlook and encouragement that you can heal. I actually had a week long emotional flashback triggered week with this book to but I think because at the time I was in a better spot I wasnt as bad is this book. So tread carefully.This is all part of the healing journey though. I had to face my demons to get more clarity on my behaviors and why which meant I had to face what has happened to me. In the long run reading these books will have a bigger positive impact on my life then feeling like I was going crazy for a few weeks.
16 people found this helpful
Monica –
4.0 out of 5 stars
I’m So Glad I Read This Book!
Wow! The Body Keeps the Score has so much information in it! I’m not great at reading technical books, especially if they are science related. Yeah. I’m more of a language arts and social studies kind of gal! I have gotten better since I taught sixth grade science, but technical brain stuff still confuses me a bit. Thankfully, Bessel Van Der Kolk does his best to explain things so that even I can understand them. I may have needed to reread some paragraphs a couple of times, but I did finally understand it.The Body Keeps the Score is so well written. Like I said, even I was able to understand it. The writing style may be more technical, but it is still usually easy to understand. If you’re like me and know very little about the brain, you’ll be good! He does a good job of explaining all the different parts of the brain and how trauma affects each of those parts.I learned a lot from the examples he shares of his clients and how they have reacted to traumatic experiences. It’s crazy how the same situation can cause such different reactions! In one person the experience can cause the person’s brain to pretty much shut down, while someone else’s brain in the same experience can cause more of a fight or flight response. I did find it fascinating to learn about these different responses.One of the reasons I’m glad I read The Body Keeps the Score is so that I will be better prepared and be better able to help my friends, family members, and students who have suffered from traumatic experiences. One of my favorite parts was learning about all the different strategies that can be used to help people heal from their trauma. I knew about a few of them, but I learned about several unconventional methods that will help.I love that healing focuses on body awareness and mindfulness. It’s all about separating the past and the present and becoming aware of your body. It seems strange, but apparently when you suffer from a traumatic experience, your past and present collide. When something triggers your mind in the present, you feel the same emotions as you did when you first had the experience. At that point it becomes difficult to discern if you are in the present or in the past. Fascinating, right?Content Rating: PG-Profanity: None-Intimacy: Low (Incest and abuse are noted as causing trauma.)-Violence: Low (He does describe some traumatic experiences his clients have experienced.)Age Recommendation: 16+ (It’s quite technical and younger readers may not fully understand the content or be able to apply the knowledge. There are heavier themes that may not be appropriate for younger readers.)
102 people found this helpful
NatalieNatalie –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, random note
This is my first time buying some of my textbooks for school on Amazon and I gotta say finding this note inside the book was bizarre lol and I think it was sold as new so I’m giving it 4 stars. Other than that the book is in good condition
8 people found this helpful
Laura B –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Length
Good information.
Krystal Ewalt –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read so far
Recommend anyone with trauma to read. I haven’t finished the book yet, but what I’ve read has been beneficial.
Bluelq –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Filled with real data
I love that the author has so many years of hands on experience and is able to point out where current methods worked or not. Most importantly though he really lays down the understanding of the mechanics of trauma and the changes it can create in our brain physiology. This book really does a great job of educating you on the history of all of it, bringing you current on the latest. After hundred of books on the subject this now stands 1st and foremost. It is also a very easy read even for those without any psychology background.
4 people found this helpful
gardengenie –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, arrived in great shape.
Good book, haven’t gotten very far into into it so far. Book arrived in perfect shape, well protected and packaged. I appreciate the care taken with packaging! Thank you!
Terry Brady –
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT
Gave this as a gift. She got a lot out of it.
Renee –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Read
If you’ve experienced trauma, or if you know someone who’s experienced trauma, or you just want to have a better understanding of the impact trauma has on people, commit to reading this book. It is insightful and eye opening. It will make you frustrated to have some understanding of the brain/mind/body connection in response to trauma and realize there are so many more things that can and should be done to help traumatized people heal that simply are dismissed in favor of throwing medication at the problem. Response to trauma is incredibly complex. This book does a wonderful job of breaking it all down in a very understandable way.
One person found this helpful
Jenni R. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Body Keeps the Score
Must read for anyone w/ stress or trauma. That would be EVERYONE! Gabor Mate is the ultimate expect and great conveyer of thought and written word!
Cravey –
5.0 out of 5 stars
So educating
Recommended by my therapist. Highly recommend
Echo –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Almost exclusively a Western understanding of trauma
I’m glad to see that this book has been a great help to many people. I also congratulate the author on rejecting the psychopharmacological approach to trauma. Also I appreciate the fact that he covers so many varied approaches and realises that not every approach is useful or needed by all people. The third great thing is that he has begun to explore approaches of other cultures (singing, making music). These are three great things from the book.However, the problem is that van der Kolk’s understanding of trauma is still completely Western. The trauma narrative in this book is like any other Western approach: trauma is a break in an individual’s psyche/mind and has its own set of specific, definable symptoms. Despite what we are led to believe today, this particular concept of trauma is NOT universal. This means that trauma and PTSD are not a homogenous, universal experience or phenomenon. I will try to outline why as briefly as I can and I thoroughly suggest that anyone who is interested in the details read Ethan Watters’ book “Crazy Like Us” which expands on these ideas in much more depth.Firstly, the symptoms we have come to associate with PTSD are not universal. The symptoms we associate with trauma (e.g. hypervigilance, flashbacks, insomnia etc.) are not necessarily present in other cultures. In other areas of the world people do not experience these sorts of manifestations after distressing events. Instead they might experience mostly physical symptoms such as joint pain, and muscle ache, or a worry about not being able to perform certain rituals. This is straightforward to understand. An analogy might be the flu. The flu has a variety of symptoms and some people experience some symptoms and not others. Some may have cough and muscle ache, others may have headache and vomiting etc.But it goes beyond that. The core of trauma understanding in the West is that it’s a break in an individual’s psyche. That trauma damages an individual’s mind and that certain symptoms follow from this “injury”. We steadfastly believe that this is a universal experience. This is not so. In other non-Western cultures distressing symptoms (whatever they may be) are not always perceived to be directly caused by the damage to an individual but, for example for war or natural disaster, from the damage to the community. To convert this to a Western narrative it would be like saying a person is having nightmares and anxiety because their community has collapsed around them, NOT because they have personally experienced a war or disaster and their mind is damaged. (Watters’ book does an excellent job of explaining this in detail.)All the approaches in van der Kolk’s book are designed to heal an individual psyche. To heal something it must first be considered broken. The ideas that individual psyches are fragile, easily broken and in need of constant professional help and intervention are NOT universal ideas and are not universally understood.Here you might be thinking “Well, I experience these symptoms of PTSD. Of course I have it! I live with it every day!” But my argument is not that people’s suffering or distress is not real or unjustified, but that the way the West experiences and understands trauma is not shared by other cultures.So if it’s not universal, why do so many people who have been through traumatic events experience such similar symptoms? Again, the majority of us are only ever significantly exposed to our own culture. We might read about or briefly visit other cultures/countries but not many of us have a deep grasp of what it means to live that culture. The people around us who experience traumatic events are following the same Western narrative and have very similar experiences of trauma.We would all like to think we are independent, critical thinkers but it would be foolish of us to think that our experiences and beliefs about ourselves are not at all influenced by our society and its expectations. Watters’ explains how our experience and expression of mental distress is shaped by the culture and society we live in and is not universal to time or place. He gives the example of Victorian female hysteria which has since the Victorian era mysteriously disappeared. It’s not that these women were faking their symptoms, they were truly experiencing them, but that there was only a particular group of symptoms for them to subconsciously choose from in their time and place that would have been recognised.People like van der Kolk, that we consider experts, are actively influencing our societal understanding and narrative of trauma. At the moment the way our Western narrative is going is that we are incapable, as individuals, of recovering from even minor distressing events. We are led to believe that negative events destroy our individual minds and that the damage can at best be ‘managed’ by professionals throughout our lives. I know I have said this many times but I would like to repeat this again: this is NOT a universal experience or understanding.Any narrative of any culture which casts people as helpless and damaged is a problematic narrative in my opinion. Our narrative has to change to resilience being the norm, that human beings are naturally resilient and are capable of dealing with and resolving distressing episodes which are a NORMAL part of life. As a conclusion I would like you to consider the following ideas and reading material:1. Many therapies have sprung up over the last half century in the West to help people heal from the distress they are experiencing. Many of these therapies are not just different but directly conflicting yet they ALL claim to be able to heal people’s minds and in extreme cases present themselves as the One True Path to healing. For example, Levine’s Somatic Experiencing, focuses on the body and eschews any method which focuses on discussing or analysing past events, thoughts, current beliefs etc. Many people swear by Somatic Experiencing. On the other hand CBT is all about working with thoughts, beliefs etc. and yet many people swear by this therapy too.2. The PTSD diagnosis in veterans is beginning to show cracks in its usefulness: […]3. Tana Dineen, one of the biggest critics of psychology/psychotherapy, in her book “Manufacturing Victims” writes “The psychology industry considers and treats people as children who, regardless of age, experience or status, must be protected, guided, sheltered and disciplined.” She is referring to Western psychology and whether you like this message or not it’s worth thinking about.
135 people found this helpful
Stacey V. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Very interesting and thought provoking
Will Corsair –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant. Loaded with factual, verifiable information.
This book is brilliant, in that it’s written like a detective story that methodically lays out the case that the author makes in how to deal with PTSD.Along with personal stories and anecdotes, it also lays out the results of peer-reviewed studies and supplemental information that corroborates the author’s approaches.
2 people found this helpful
Jesse –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative, sometimes hard to read
This is a super informative read about trauma. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the topic for themselves or others. It may be triggering for people who have experienced trauma though—so be aware of that. There are portions that are emotionally difficult to read because each chapter refers to different types or experiences of trauma.
Larissa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everyone should read this book!
If I could, I’d keep copies and give them out like candy.
Karen Vanderlaan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good product
This is an important book for anyone who has experienced trauma as well as those who work with trauma survivors
Christine O. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Often recommended by therapists. Easy to read and understand.
One person found this helpful
Kevin lord –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommend
Good read!
One person found this helpful
Connor Hiebel –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible Guidebook for navigating Trauma!
This book has profoundly impacted my life! I appreciate how the author integrates scientific studies to illuminate the workings of our minds and guide us on how to move forward positively. The action steps are powerful! What truly stands out is the author’s unique perspective on trauma healing, especially regarding PTSD. Unlike other authors or therapists, the focus here isn’t merely on reliving or numbing the experience. Instead, it’s about healing in a meaningful way that allows you to truly enjoy life once more.
AmyLou –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book!
This is an amazing book that everyone should read. No matter what type of trauma you have this book will absolutely help you. I had to read it in waves so I could stop and process everything I just read and process trauma that I didn’t even know I had.It’s an amazing resource and I highly recommend reading this!
5 people found this helpful
Ralph C. Crawford –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enlightening and heartening
Wonderful overview of the work done in recent decades to get to the bottom of what is really happening in the minds and bodies of troubled children and adults rather than attempting to just identify symptoms and treat them with drugs and talk therapy. Highly recommended.
John –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real good
Great book , buy it and read it, its just heart wrenching at times. Also page 129 CD45RA and CD45RO is backwards in the book.
Rene –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super great book.
So informative and eye opening to how our bodies and minds hold on to past trauma. With recommendations of ways to help lessen the severity, you will be able to get on the right track and know what to look for when picking out a therapist should you want one. Knowledge is life changing.
4 people found this helpful
In Style with Celeste –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Have Trauma? You NEED This!
For anyone healing from trauma and/or cPTSD, this is pretty much required reading! I learned so much about how my body physiologically stores trauma, why it does that and how I can start releasing it to feel better. Hugs to all on this journey of healing and recovery!
One person found this helpful
Marianne –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It’s Pilgrimage to read all and helper.
Yes he is pilgrimage for my self ,really hard , cry a lot and acceptance too .A lot idea for help children, people’s , veterans too on his hard time .Really good booksYou search all solutions without to know what you need , it is the book.You try to understand your own story, it is your book.Read until the end , if I know I cry a lot and a lot . It help me accept my childhood.Thanks Monsieur Bessel , merci beaucoup.
Kimberly Marie –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read!!
Excellent book of information, gently dancing around the corruption and politics of our medical profession to reveal through many cited studies PROVEN ways to make significant strides in recognizing and resolving the impacts of trauma…
JBM –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Journey Through Trauma Healing
“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk is not just a book; it’s a guiding light through the labyrinth of trauma, offering profound insights and practical tools for healing. As someone who has experienced trauma firsthand, this book has been nothing short of life-changing in my journey towards understanding and processing my experiences.Comprehensive Understanding: One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is its comprehensive exploration of trauma and its effects on the brain, mind, and body. Van der Kolk draws upon decades of research and clinical experience to provide a deep understanding of how trauma manifests physically, emotionally, and psychologically. His insights shed light on the complex interplay between trauma and various mental health conditions, offering clarity and validation to those who have struggled to make sense of their experiences.Holistic Approach: “The Body Keeps the Score” emphasizes the importance of taking a holistic approach to trauma healing, addressing not only the psychological aspects but also the physiological and relational dimensions of trauma. Van der Kolk explores a range of therapeutic modalities, from traditional talk therapy to innovative approaches such as EMDR and neurofeedback, demonstrating how each can play a vital role in the healing process. This holistic perspective resonated deeply with me, providing a roadmap for integrating mind, body, and spirit in my own healing journey.Practical Tools: What sets “The Body Keeps the Score” apart is its emphasis on practical tools and techniques for healing. Van der Kolk offers a wealth of exercises and strategies that readers can incorporate into their daily lives to regulate their nervous systems, cultivate self-awareness, and foster resilience in the face of trauma. From mindfulness practices to yoga and creative expression, these tools empower readers to take an active role in their healing journey, offering hope and agency amidst the darkness of trauma.Validation and Empowerment: Perhaps the most profound impact of “The Body Keeps the Score” is its validation of the trauma survivor’s experience and its message of empowerment. Van der Kolk emphasizes that healing is possible, that survivors are not defined by their trauma, and that they have the capacity to reclaim agency and meaning in their lives. This message of hope and empowerment is a beacon of light for anyone who has felt lost or hopeless in the aftermath of trauma.In conclusion, “The Body Keeps the Score” is a masterpiece of trauma literature that offers profound insights, practical guidance, and unwavering hope to trauma survivors and professionals alike. It has helped me navigate the darkest corners of my psyche, find solace in the embrace of community, and reclaim a sense of agency and purpose in my life. If you have experienced trauma or work with trauma survivors, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It has the power to transform lives and ignite a path towards healing, one page at a time.
25 people found this helpful
Beth –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This psychiatrist really KNOWS trauma & respects patients !
Most helpful book And the psychiatrist is both honest & humble. He is compassionate & respectful of DSM not so much. What a breath of fresh air. He studied a lot of vets and innovated very creative ways to help them heal. He really helps clients! WOW.
anexquisite1 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-Read Personally & Professionally
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in trauma recovery, as it offers both a deep understanding of trauma and practical strategies for healing. It’s particularly valuable for clinicians, trauma survivors, and anyone working in mental health and wellness fields.
Peggy Romero –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty scientific
I think this book is full of information that is so useful that I got the Audible version of the same book so I could read it and listen to it in hopes of comprehending it as much as I possibly canI bought it for a gift for somebody else too
Nehemia Volquardsen –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
Great book understanding how our brains function during trauma, and how we have solutions for dealing with that trauma.
Martin Ferretiz –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This book was well layered and textured intricately with well thought out concepts . I have been helped out by reading this book.
Pat –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting
I was hoping to learn more about how to help older adults who had trauma and how does healing that trauma impact your bodies ability to heal itself.He did not really go into that though I did learn a lot about how to help children and recognize the behavior caused by trauma.I believe there are many older adults who suffered traumatic childhoods and could benefit from the book.
Lily N –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
This a great read for anyone interested in psychology and trauma. Would recommend 10/10
Sonia –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A holistic approach to healing trauma
The Body Keeps Score is a must read for anyone looking to understand trauma more deeply. Despite the heavy subject matter the book explains complex ideas in a way that is engaging and understandable. The Body Keeps Score emphasizes the importance of addressing trauma through a more holists approach of mind, body, and spirit. Overall this is a good read.
Cliente de Kindle –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best book I have read as a Psycholgist
I wish I had come to this book way before in my career as a Psychologist in Colombia.My passion for therapy came to be as I learn to heal my self and an anxiety crisis at 19 years with Meditation and Gestalt Therapy in Bogota.I then went to Psychology school in one of the top 5 universities in my country and found a very disappointing approach to mental health. In none of the classes we were thought about childhood trauma and the impact it can have in our lives.In my early career as a practicing psychologist I went far away from the academy and isoleted from this evidence based world practicing trauma healing therapy with wathever new age trauma healing theories I could found that really worked.Now this book has given me a whole new evidence base background to give roots to my work. I am very grateful to Dr Van Der Kolk for this amazing book.My interest in academics and around trauma healing has grown enourmsly. I have hope that this mindset around society development can reach our politics and practices around my country as well.I am now starting to find people with like minded approaches in my country and I am back feeling proud of being a psychologist, knowing that there are a big group of our people consciously working to help people heal their traumas.
2 people found this helpful
Snowbound –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Read
I read this book six years ago. I’m in a different place now and am reading it again. In my opinion, it is a must read. And don’t just read it once. Wait a couple years and read it again.
One person found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Great book. Well researched.
DTejas –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece in Pyschology
Give this book the attention and slow reading it requires, and it will help you understand how the body keeps track of all your past traumas regardless of how they look or were experienced. This is a must read for anyone studying, working, dealing with trauma.
Took me 1yr to decide –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A favorite of mine
Learned so much in so many different scenarios
J Nittme –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read!
This book is so insightful into the study of the brain and trauma. It really gives an opening to the understanding of our social emotional needs of today.
scott m –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cutting edge stuff
Had no idea so many brilliant doctors and scientists have been making amazing breakthroughs in how people react to trauma and the treatments thereof being advanced even as this book was being written. Have had the privilege of meeting mental health and neurology professionals. Glad this book brings to light some of the incredible work they do. More than a little of it went over my head, but it’s still pretty readable I think for a novice like me.
NeeCee –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
Bought this for my mother and for myself. So far I love it and it is very relatable for me.
Odi –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Painful reality of how our actions WILL (not may or can) impact our kids
This book is dark – in a good cense though. Most of the stories are very tragic, if you’ve been through a similar experience as the ones shared in the book, then this book will speak to you directly. If not, however, it will still speak to you when you scale the experiences down. You will be very judicious on how you speak and behave in from of your kids, you will never scream at your kids anymore, you will be intentional how you love and respect your spouse in front of your kids, but also in private. That all happened to me. Enjoy the read.
3 people found this helpful