The Body Keeps the Score

"I have so many thoughts and will write a review soon. Some quick thoughts - excellent, easy to follow introduction to trauma psychology. Lots of difficult to read accounts of horrific violence. Life changing."

"In the words of John Nolan, "a laundry list of problems doesn't make you interesting, and never getting help doesn't make you brave".<br/><br/>Although this book is now a decade old, it's essential reading for anyone who is a human being. Most of us have experienced trauma in one form or another. As a millennial, I am part of the first generation in which mental health is finally being acknowledged and taken seriously- and for good reason. Trauma fundamentally changes the brain and can result in unhealthy coping mechanisms and behaviors which can threaten our relationships and our personal well-being. <I>The Body Keeps the Score</i> breaks down how this happens, why, and how various forms of therapy (talk, EMDR, etc.) and creative/physical outlets (ex: theater, yoga) can have a profound positive impact on people recovering from traumatic experiences and post-traumatic stress.<br/><br/>Not only is this book a vital read for personal understanding and reflection, it should also be essential reading for anyone who works with the public in any capacity. When we learn to look at people through a trauma-informed lens, we are able to understand their behavior better and help them more effectively. <br/><br/>As mental health care continues to grow less taboo and more accessible, it is so important to have knowledge of how our experiences shape our personalities and behaviors. This book provides exactly that, and it should be required reading for every human."

"While this can be hard to read and triggering for some, I would highly recommend checking it out. If it’s hard to read then just take it slow and do whatever works for you while reading the book. It took me a little bit of time because I had to take breaks for days or weeks to think and process some of what I read but I learned a lot from reading it and I think reading it through a second time will be easier now. I’m glad I bought my own copy because this is a book chock full of knowledge that will and can be useful to reread, or refer back to for personal or other various reasons and it can also be helpful in figuring out your characters in stories when writing as well."

"The Body Keeps the Score gave me so much into myself and the people around me. I loved how he showed that there is not one "right" way to treat trauma and taught the benefits of different approaches. He uses loads of research to back up his claims, as well as personal examples. I definitely want to try out a couple of the techniques he discussed. Also, my therapist was ecstatic when I told her I was reading this book. It's given us a base to build on and discuss some of the trauma I'm working through, which has been priceless. This is one I'll definitely be revisiting down the road.<br/><br/>The only spot that bothered me a bit was when he talked about theater and why teens who experienced trauma benefit from it. He gave all the reasons I've heard over and over again (teamwork, a place to express emotions safely, etc.). For me, I gravitated to it because it was a place where I didn't have to be me for two or three hours at a time. I was immersed in someone else's life and personality. I don't know if this is universal, but that felt like a moment where he missed something and jumped to the traditionally accepted reasons."

"Very well written. As an individual with personal traumas being tended to, this book offered a lot of insight and had an immense amount of information that helped me understand myself a bit better. I highly recommend, 10/10!"

"Information is good. Dense material complete with research and practical examples. I can see how this book and its contents can be triggering to readers with trauma. I've seen reviews suggesting this pop science. Rather, the writer has been involved in the development of DSM and is a researcher and practitioner. Despite his work with the DSM he presents interesting critiques of the manual, pointing to limitations, misuse, and flawed development."

"p. 170"

"This is an outstanding work in one of the most subcutaneous crisis in our society. Trauma is real, it's pervasive, and severely detrimental to our society. Policymakers should listen to people like Dr. Kolk and we as a society should step up to address these grave concerns that are not necessarily very visible."

"This book is...okay. While there is a lot of insightful work done on people with trauma, van der Kolk seems to not realize that his personal bias and connection with his patients is affecting his ability to see them clearly. The biggest obstacle I cannot look past is Tom. As his psychiatrist, he had a duty to protect Tom's children and wife from his "violent outbursts," and while every human being deserves empathy, it should not be at the expense of the people around them.<br/><br/>Furthermore, WHAT is the point of going into excruciating detail of the specific traumas? It is not only triggering for people who have experienced such events, but does NOTHING in the grand scheme of explaining the mindset of a traumatized person. I understand the need to generally talk about these concepts, as both perpetrators and victims of trauma.<br/><br/>I do not want to read about how Tom raped women in Vietnam and now deserves our empathy and time because he is struggling with his successful job, and victimizing his family by having violent outbursts. It serves no purpose in the book except for shock value and to keep people reading.<br/><br/>Lastly, he can take on a very condescending and infantilizing tone when speaking on individuals specifically with childhood trauma and mental disabilities. It has not aged well.<br/><br/>Overall, my experience is 3 stars because van der Kolk has good intentions, but this is a relatively poor execution of outlining trauma and giving people a glimpse into their day to day experiences."

"A must read for anyone interested in or working with trauma!"