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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
A bit of a lengthy read but v fascinating nonetheless. That there are many other forms of therapy out there, apart from just talk therapy, is interesting to know. The mention that EMDR seems to have had high levels of efficacy was also v surprising to me (bc the last time I tried it, it really did not work on me at all?). There's obviously a lot more to this book and while my trauma isnt extreme as the ones stated within, there are some information and takeaways that can still be applicable to my own personal traumas.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
***COMPLICATED FEELINGS***
Probably a 3.5
PROS:
1. Builds a complex understanding of trauma from the basics up (including impact on the brain, impact on social and everyday life, elements of healing)
2. Discusses various styles of healing with focus on community, creativity, self expression, and connection with the self and the body
3. Recognizes and names bad actions in people without condemning the people as bad
CONS:
1. Kind of trauma porn
2. Sometimes overly simplistic healing methods being treated as the cause of seemingly miraculous healing; triggers my spidey senses
3. Seems to glorify a false concept of a perfect therapist that will force a client through unimaginable pain with the perfect knowledge that they will be able to unfailingly guide them through it and into an ecstatic and wholly heal beyond
4. The claims are not always supported with sufficient empirical evidence; leans on anecdotes at times
Probably a 3.5
PROS:
1. Builds a complex understanding of trauma from the basics up (including impact on the brain, impact on social and everyday life, elements of healing)
2. Discusses various styles of healing with focus on community, creativity, self expression, and connection with the self and the body
3. Recognizes and names bad actions in people without condemning the people as bad
CONS:
1. Kind of trauma porn
2. Sometimes overly simplistic healing methods being treated as the cause of seemingly miraculous healing; triggers my spidey senses
3. Seems to glorify a false concept of a perfect therapist that will force a client through unimaginable pain with the perfect knowledge that they will be able to unfailingly guide them through it and into an ecstatic and wholly heal beyond
4. The claims are not always supported with sufficient empirical evidence; leans on anecdotes at times
informative
medium-paced
“‘Your body has things to say,” I said back to myself, ‘I will try and listen.’” (page 273)
——————
The Body Keeps The Score really opened my eyes to how much trauma can control every aspect of our lives and how our bodies respond to triggers and can even reject good experiences.
All of this can feel outside of our control until we start looking within and facing those traumas in a safe and supportive way.
This book helped validate a lot of the emotional and physical pain that I have stored within my own body and has inspired me to finally start therapy. And maybe even try new physical activities that I never thought of as therapeutic.
There are many of us walking around with so much pain and unspoken emotion stored within our bodies that manifest into disease and mental health issues.
I know that after reading this book I will not only be softer with myself but softer with others and approach people with more kindness and understanding.
I will listen more to what my body is telling me and sit with emotions that I may not want to confront but know that they need to be released.
Though this book was extremely heavy at times, I think it’s one that more people need to read or at least explore more of Van Der Kolk’s studies and the studies he highlighted in this book.
If we can learn to communicate and create supportive environments for people to feel safe to express themselves, we can change society.
——————
Here are a few more quotes that stuck with me:
“Traumatic stress is an illness of not being able to be fully alive in the present.” (page 314)
“I know it’s because I released something — some tension in my body — that allowed me to be more in the world.” (page 348)
——————
The Body Keeps The Score really opened my eyes to how much trauma can control every aspect of our lives and how our bodies respond to triggers and can even reject good experiences.
All of this can feel outside of our control until we start looking within and facing those traumas in a safe and supportive way.
This book helped validate a lot of the emotional and physical pain that I have stored within my own body and has inspired me to finally start therapy. And maybe even try new physical activities that I never thought of as therapeutic.
There are many of us walking around with so much pain and unspoken emotion stored within our bodies that manifest into disease and mental health issues.
I know that after reading this book I will not only be softer with myself but softer with others and approach people with more kindness and understanding.
I will listen more to what my body is telling me and sit with emotions that I may not want to confront but know that they need to be released.
Though this book was extremely heavy at times, I think it’s one that more people need to read or at least explore more of Van Der Kolk’s studies and the studies he highlighted in this book.
If we can learn to communicate and create supportive environments for people to feel safe to express themselves, we can change society.
——————
Here are a few more quotes that stuck with me:
“Traumatic stress is an illness of not being able to be fully alive in the present.” (page 314)
“I know it’s because I released something — some tension in my body — that allowed me to be more in the world.” (page 348)
At the beginning I was enthralled, and then some parts became less interesting than others.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced