Reviews tagging 'Rape'

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

341 reviews

carlitabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Abandonment, and War

zombiezami's review against another edition

As someone who isn't a mental health professional, I'm not getting that much out of this beyond the thesis that psychological trauma manifests in physical symptoms. Not really enjoying it, and, at least in the parts that I've read, it is very much building off of Trauma and Recovery, which I've already read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol

itsy719's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

bluejayreads's review against another edition

hopeful informative

5.0

I think this book is supposed to just be a review of Dr. van der Kolk's research on trauma, with an overview of the physiological effects of trauma and discussions of the various therapies he's tried with traumatized patients and the biology and neuroscience of how they helped or didn't. However, all of these points are made with stories of Bessel and his patients, and I found it to be a combination of the science of trauma, insights about my own trauma, and hope that there are effective therapies out there that might help me. 

Like all good books that make me recontextualize my past, I could only read this book in small doses. But that may not be a bad way to read this book - it is absolutely packed with information and you'll need time to absorb it. From the history of trauma being recognized as an actual problem to the biological and neurological underpinnings of the symptoms of being traumatized to the different therapies he has found to be effective and the neuroscience and psychology of why they work, it's thirty years of trauma research condensed to less than 500 pages. One read doesn't feel like it's enough to grasp all the information and possibilities here. 

To my non-medical-trained ears, some of the problems caused by trauma and some of the miraculous healing from trauma described in this book seemed nothing short of outlandish. However, Bessel van der Kolk is one of the world's top researchers in trauma studies and is partially responsible for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (a Congressionally mandated initiative for helping traumatized children) and for PTSD being considered an actual diagnosis in the first place. So he probably knows what he's talking about. 

The main drawback to this book is that the people who most need to read it - i.e. people who are dealing with the long-lasting effects of trauma - are the ones most likely to be triggered by the graphic descriptions of abuse and neglect. It does make for much less boring reading than facts and statistics and I recognize that knowing about the specific traumas is integral to most stories of how the patients recovered, but I found myself wondering if the graphic details couldn't have been toned down just a bit for the sake of traumatized non-doctors reading about this research on their own behalf. Bessel does mention in one anecdote that an instructor in one of the therapies he was learning criticized him for "voyeuristic tendencies" and wanting to know everything about his patients' traumas, and I wonder if the graphic descriptions in these anecdotes were an unintentional expression of his own interest in other people's traumas. 

This book is very thorough and very intense. If you're in the medical field, it's absolutely worth reading. If you're traumatized yourself, it's also worth reading, but take it slow and be aware that it's full of descriptions of abuse that might be triggering. But it's also full of hope that we don't have to be defined by our trauma forever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Self harm

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Rape and War

Pretty much every event or circumstance that can cause trauma responses is mentioned to some degree.

maarsargo's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

4.0

TW: rape, incest, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, violence, drug use

WHAT I LIKED:

• Ch. 10 (Developmental Trauma) was fascinating to read. Trauma during childhood can have far-reaching effects that aren’t seen as much in adult trauma, such as brain development and immune response.

• Part 5 (Paths to Recovery) provided a number of strategies and methods to help survivors cope and heal. This section was particularly helpful and insightful.

• "The problem is the solution." This idea sparked a known but hidden revelation inside of me. Many of the problems people have (eating disorders, substance use, etc.) are solutions to the greater problems they're facing underneath. The visible issues are only the tip of the iceberg; they’re mechanisms for survival in a different context. I can say without a doubt this will influence how I treat/manage patients in the future.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

• For anyone with unresolved trauma, this book is incredibly triggering. Some stories include graphic details or horrifying glimpses into lived experiences that may cause survivors to relive their own trauma.

• In some cases, van der Kolk uses a disturbing matter-of-fact tone when describing the abuse his patients' endured. His words felt light, untroubled. It was difficult for me to stomach how someone could be so passive and nonchalant about the intimate details of unthinkable abuse.

• In many instances, the author refers to his patients as "organisms", which served to rob them of parts of their humanity. Patients are not organisms: they're people, humans, souls.

• Dr. van der Kolk has a history of creating hostile work environments for women and has been let go from one of his positions. This is a friendly remind to keep bias in mind when evaluating research and treatments, especially between genders.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

cbroughton's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

5.0

This novel is incredibly eye-opening, informative, and heartbreakingly sad. “The Body Keeps the Score” discusses the physiological and psychological changes that occur to the body & mind after experiencing trauma and abuse. The author derives this information from scientific studies, his own medical practise, and the personal experiences of his clients. This novel includes real stories of victimization and abuse: readers beware of content warnings. 
Admittedly, there were some chapters that were a little dry/less engaging than others, but overall this novel was fascinating! I was particularly interested in the epilogue where the author discussed ongoing political issues and how they affect the rampant prevalence of trauma eg. Poverty, gun violence, etc. I always appreciate when people can call out the government on their bullshit. 
This is a very important book, and I will certainly recommend it to others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

thira's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

helhas3letters's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

3.5

Very informative work on how trauma is held long-term in the body and brain, with a specific focus on PTSD (incurred either in childhood or adulthood).
The first few chapters detail cause-and-effect with lots of evidence from scientific studies, inclusion of brain scans and diagrams, reference to the author's personal experience working for many years in the field of psychiatry, and fascinating case studies of patients at trauma centres. Concludes with a hopeful and substantial chapter on various empirically proven methods of healing from trauma.
Can be heavy at times as it deals with some very serious issues, but overall an inspiring, enlightening, research-based read. Knocked off 1/2 a star as I thought it was a little repetitive at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Medical content

Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Injury/Injury detail

As this book deals with trauma, there is lots of mention of disturbing and scarring events, however I felt that Van Der Kolk does not go into more detail than is necessary. Most things that can be considered triggers - e.g. death, trafficking, war, domestic abuse - are only mentioned or briefly described to give context to what follows. The author goes into a moderate amount of detail on some instances of child abuse, sexual assault, incest, and self-harm. Mental illness, especially PTSD, is discussed in detail throughout.

ninaleonievw's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

5.0

I’d give this book more than five stars if I could! So informative and important, I learnt so much through reading this book and have realised how i myself have dealt with trauma. The book goes on to talk about recovery which was like a light in the dark and will offer hope to those who need it. There are many unsettling and painful case studies in the first half of the book but through hearing these stories it furthers your understanding of why this book is so important, as we can all learn to help others and ourselves through the mental struggles often faced. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

margotbultynck's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Child death