The Body Keeps the Score

I started reading this book to help me understand myself and my trauma better. While I am not a trauma expert, I do have some background knowledge about many topics addressed in the book. At first I noticed that the author would briefly mention complex topics in an overly simplified way with no context. I didn’t initially have an issue with this, as it is something that is often seen in psychology 101 classes where you can’t go into depth about certain things and have to simplify it for the sake of keeping things short and simple. I did, however, feel that if someone were to take the statements at face value they might come to the wrong conclusions, as is common from students who take a 101 college course about a broad (and complex) topic. Sometimes the author himself seemed to only have a 101 level understanding of topics mentioned (such as the mirror neurons bit, iykyk). But the last straw was when he got to the repressed memories part. Any neuroscience/psychology/cognitive science UNDERGRAD student who has taken a single human memory course can talk at length about how that theory is not only outdated, but also debunked and dangerous. At that point I knew this guy was a fraud. A quick google search will point you towards the many pseudoscientific theories he presents in this book. There are also many problematic retelling of stories in the book that are presented in an insensitive and disturbing manner. While I know many have benefited from reading this book, it will not help anyone who knows better.

Eye-opening read but it starts to drag towards the end.

Insightful! 10/10 recommend!

The writing style was an easy one for me to engage. However, some of the things he presents I find highly questionable. Namely the whole repressed memory bit. Great harm was done by advocates of this theory back in the 80’s and 90’s and now here it is again. I suspect other parts of the book are more accurate and I have seen it quoted in several other books which I have greater trust in. Bottom line: Don’t rely on it without doing further reading elsewhere.

This was the most insightful and validating work I have read on trauma. Van Der Kolk offers his expertise in simple language anyone can understand.

Opened me way up. Healed me some. Closed me back up.

Highly recommend to anyone not jus tho ping to learn about trauma, but about humanity and how we can be better as a society.

I found the connection of the mind-body in dealing with trauma and the various methods proposed very intriguing.

PERSONAL RATING DIRECTED AT TRAUMA SURVIVORS As a survivor who has only had issues during times of family drama brought on by either my parents or siblings, I thought I had the past taken care of years ago with therapy in my twenties. I was surprised when the darkness returned and again took control of my life in my mid-fifties, bringing all of its friends. In search for the how and the why of its return and new therapies to replace talk therapy, I purchased an almost useless mental health book, only useful in that it offhandedly mentioned The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Van der Kolk’s medical studies, and unique therapies for trauma, PTSD, and the many comorbid disorders that accompany trauma. I was curious. I purchased the audio book and after two hours of listening, I purchased the book. After a day including two additional hours, I purchased my daughter the audiobook, and purchased the book for her husband (three deployments, two of which were in Afghanistan). I gave both of them trigger warnings, although I have had only “so that is why!” reactions. Dr. Van der Kolk has spent his life in complete curiosity surrounding PTSD, studying trauma causing PTSD and its lifelong effects on a person’s mind and body. He walks you step by step through different traumas and gives patients’ firsthand experiences of its effects. In the second section, he discusses different therapies, studies, with firsthand experiences from patients who have undergone various treatments. As he mentioned those treatment I began taking notes and looking for therapists who used some of the therapies. You don’t have to take notes if you have the book. He has every quote, study, or book he has mentioned or quoted text from broken down by chapters in Notes. The Notes section is after Resources and Further Reading and before Index at the back of the book. I have just begun the path to heal the trauma, and am hopeful it will be my last time dealing with “those” memories. I have become empowered with knowledge. I see the fifty-plus year old invisible trail of destruction that has lead, rarely trailing my life. Post-trauma years physical damage has included back, neck, and shoulder pain, migraines, abdominal issues, etc. The mental health alphabet includes Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, OCD, etc., which act as self protection, need to finally take a much needed rest. The Body Keeps the Score has taught me this. The trail is now visible, and I am making changes and asking for help to become whole and heal that inner child. She can now become a healthy part of me no longer needing her army, her only protectors early in life, but who never got the message telling them to stand down - the danger was gone.

Something to ponder to help better our children, family and society.