Book Summary

The Body Keeps the Score is a groundbreaking book by psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, exploring how trauma reshapes the brain, body, and emotions. Drawing from decades of research and clinical experience, he explains how trauma survivors store distressing experiences in their bodies, leading to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even autoimmune disorders. The book also provides holistic healing approaches that go beyond traditional talk therapy.

🔑 Key Takeaways from The Body Keeps the Score

Trauma Physically Changes the Brain

• Trauma alters the structure and function of the brain.
• The amygdala (fear center) becomes overactive, leading to hypervigilance and anxiety.
• The hippocampus (memory center) shrinks, making it harder to distinguish past trauma from present reality.
• The prefrontal cortex (rational thinking & self-control) weakens, reducing the ability to regulate emotions.

Trauma Is Stored in the Body

• Even when the mind forgets, the body remembers trauma through muscle tension, chronic pain, and nervous system dysregulation.
• Many survivors experience flashbacks, dissociation, and emotional numbing as the body tries to cope with overwhelming stress.

Traditional Talk Therapy Isn’t Always Enough

• Simply talking about trauma doesn’t always heal it because trauma is deeply embedded in the body.
• Van der Kolk argues that body-based therapies are essential for true healing.

Effective Healing Methods (Beyond Talk Therapy)

• Yoga & Meditation – Helps regulate breathing and calm the nervous system.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – A therapy that reprocesses traumatic memories.
• Neurofeedback – Helps rebalance brain activity.
• Drama & Dance Therapy – Allows trauma survivors to express emotions physically.
• Safe Relationships & Support Systems – Healing happens through connection, not isolation.

Who Should Read This Book?

✔️ Trauma survivors seeking deeper healing.
✔️ Therapists, psychologists, and mental health professionals.
✔️ Anyone interested in mental health, neuroscience, and recovery techniques.

🔹 Final Thought:

Trauma is not just a mental issue—it is a full-body experience. To heal, we must engage both the mind and body in recovery.