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

Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

I had to skip around since it was a library book with many holds, but I feel as I read enough to say something. I read as much of this book as I could, but found myself stuck with all the scientific words or not wanting to read about the experiences that I myself did not relate to. Suffice it to say, I skipped over a lot of the veteran stories. I feel like I am at a point in my own mental health journey that made it safe for me to read this book. However, if you are not there, stay away. It can be highly triggering although I did feel as though some of the explanations used really helped me to put things into perspective.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Injury/Injury detail