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#1 New York Times bestseller“Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress StudiesA pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing in this New York Times bestseller Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the worlds foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brains natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolks own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score is a groundbreaking book that explores the lasting effects of trauma on the brain, mind, and body. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading expert on trauma, draws on over thirty years of clinical experience to show how trauma can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and chronic pain. Through his work with survivors of childhood abuse, combat veterans, and victims of natural disasters, van der Kolk has developed a deep understanding of the complex ways that trauma can impact our lives.

In The Body Keeps the Score, van der Kolk argues that trauma is not simply a psychological experience, but a physical one as well. When we experience trauma, our bodies go into a state of "fight or flight," which is designed to protect us from danger. However, if we are unable to properly process the trauma, our bodies can remain in this state of arousal, leading to a variety of health problems. Van der Kolk also explores the role of the brain in trauma and how trauma can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain's neural networks. This can lead to difficulty regulating emotions, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty forming relationships.

The Body Keeps the Score is a powerful and moving book that provides a new understanding of trauma and its impact on our lives. Van der Kolk's work has helped to revolutionize the way we think about trauma and has led to new treatments that can help survivors of trauma to heal.

Key Points:

• Trauma is not simply a psychological experience, but a physical one as well.
• When we experience trauma, our bodies go into a state of "fight or flight," which is designed to protect us from danger.
• If we are unable to properly process the trauma, our bodies can remain in this state of arousal, leading to a variety of health problems.
• Trauma can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain's neural networks.
• This can lead to difficulty regulating emotions, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty forming relationships.
• There are new treatments that can help survivors of trauma to heal.