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8.85k reviews for:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
4.27 AVERAGE
8.85k reviews for:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
4.27 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
The authors own history of inflicting trauma hangs on this book like an albatross. Much of the advice is unaffordable or out of reach to the average American, although I recognize that is not inherently the book's target audience. However the scientific information on trauma is excellent.
Overall I liked how this book engages with PTSD being an underlying cause in why traumatised children have so many co-morbidities (ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.), especially when he discusses the impact of upbringing and other social contexts. A lot of the cases were tough to read, but overall a good book.
My only criticism is the military context in this book. I understand Van Der Kolk’s professional experience was shaped by his time in the VA dealing with veterans post-Vietnam war at a time where PTSD was not a recognised illness. I also appreciate that therapists and physicians are not here to judge but to treat. However, these sections discussing the military - I can’t say I liked them. I personally have no empathy for people who confess to murdering children and being rapists. It is what it is - Van Der Kolk is a doctor shaped by his time treating veterans and this book is fantastic but from a personal point of view, the topic of military men committing literal war crimes and coming home traumatised was hard for me to engage with. I also found his descriptions about his patients being “slender” and “gorgeous” etc. quite weird, especially considering some of these patients are victims of rape and/or incest.
Nonetheless, this book is good from a medical/biology point of view and I enjoyed reading about approaches to treating trauma.
My only criticism is the military context in this book. I understand Van Der Kolk’s professional experience was shaped by his time in the VA dealing with veterans post-Vietnam war at a time where PTSD was not a recognised illness. I also appreciate that therapists and physicians are not here to judge but to treat. However, these sections discussing the military - I can’t say I liked them. I personally have no empathy for people who confess to murdering children and being rapists. It is what it is - Van Der Kolk is a doctor shaped by his time treating veterans and this book is fantastic but from a personal point of view, the topic of military men committing literal war crimes and coming home traumatised was hard for me to engage with. I also found his descriptions about his patients being “slender” and “gorgeous” etc. quite weird, especially considering some of these patients are victims of rape and/or incest.
Nonetheless, this book is good from a medical/biology point of view and I enjoyed reading about approaches to treating trauma.
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
if you haven’t been in touch with your therapist in a little while maybe call them up
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
it didn’t focus on what I thought it would, but it was still very informative
Quite literally life changing. This should be a part of every child development or social work class. Or really every area in which you deal with people.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced