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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

by Bessel van der Kolk (Author)

A 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 world’s 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 brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s 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.

In his groundbreaking book, "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma," Bessel van der Kolk explores the profound and lasting impact of trauma on the human body and mind. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and research, van der Kolk argues that trauma is not simply a psychological event, but a physical one that can alter the very structure and function of our brains and bodies.

Van der Kolk begins by explaining the physiology of trauma, describing how it can lead to changes in brain chemistry, hormone levels, and immune function. He then explores the psychological and emotional consequences of trauma, such as PTSD, dissociation, and chronic pain. He also discusses the role of memory in trauma, and how traumatic memories can be stored in the body in ways that are inaccessible to conscious awareness.

The Body Keeps the Score is a powerful and eye-opening book that offers a new understanding of trauma and its impact on human health. Van der Kolk's insights have revolutionized the way we think about and treat trauma, and his book has become a must-read for anyone who works with trauma survivors.

In addition to the main text, the book also includes a number of helpful resources, such as a glossary of terms, a list of recommended readings, and a directory of trauma treatment centers. These resources can be helpful for readers who want to learn more about trauma and its treatment.

The Body Keeps the Score is a groundbreaking book that has had a profound impact on the field of trauma treatment. Van der Kolk's insights have helped us to understand the complex and lasting effects of trauma, and his book has provided hope to countless trauma survivors. If you are interested in learning more about trauma, or if you are a trauma survivor yourself, I highly recommend reading this book.

Rating:

Pages:
445
Publisher:
Penguin Books
Language:
English
Released:
08 September 2015
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
0143127748
ISBN13:
9780143127741