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The Body Keeps the Score

Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma

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The Body Keeps the Score

By: Bessel van der Kolk
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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The effects of trauma can be devastating for sufferers, their families and future generations. Here one of the world's experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies and towards an alternative approach that heals mind, brain and body.

'Fascinating, hard to put down, and filled with powerful case histories. . . . the most important series of breakthroughs in mental health in the last thirty years' Norman Doidge, author of The Brain that Changes Itself

'An astonishing and important book. The trauma Bible. I cannot recommend it enough for anyone struggling with...well...anything' Tara Westover, author of Educated

'Dr. van der Kolk's masterpiece combines the boundless curiosity of the scientist, the erudition of the scholar, and the passion of the truth teller' Judith Herman, author of Trauma and Recovery

©2019 Bessel van der Kolk (P)2019 Penguin Audio

 Mental Health Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality Health Meditation Human Brain Substance abuse
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Critic reviews

Fascinating, hard to put down, and filled with powerful case histories. . . . the most important series of breakthroughs in mental health in the last thirty years (Norman Doidge, author of The Brain That Changes Itself)
Dr. van der Kolk's masterpiece combines the boundless curiosity of the scientist, the erudition of the scholar, and the passion of the truth teller (Judith Herman, M.D., author of Trauma and Recovery)
A seminal book that outlines the author's pioneering work
Draws on 30 years of experience to argue powerfully that trauma is one of the West's most urgent public health issues... Packed with science and human stories ... van der Kolk has a lot to say, and the struggle and resilience of his patients is very moving
A gripping bestseller about where trauma goes, and its disastrous effects on both individuals and societies. Deeply interesting.
A masterpiece of powerful understanding and brave heartedness, one of the most intelligent and helpful works on trauma I have ever read. . . a brilliant synthesis of clinical cases, neuroscience, powerful tools and caring humanity, offering a whole new level of healing (Jack Kornfied, author of A Path With Heart)
Incredible (William Leith, 'Books of the Year')
Everyone should read this book
All stars
Most relevant
If you've had significant trauma in your life you need to read this, it deals with some pretty triggering topics but it's definitely impacted my life for the better

Changed my life

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Full of science and the latest theory. Very interesting even for the lay person. I would recommend to professionals and amateur psychologists alike.

A book for professionals, but still accessible

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Brilliant Book A+++ I definitely recommend it to anyone with trauma and distress.

My HIV & Endocrino Doctor recommended this book because I managed to restart many internal organs using unorthodox methods calculated by me, for me. After two major accidents, with permanent brain damage, 3 permanent spinal cord damage at C3-C4 C5- C6 & L5-L6. I was in a coma and workup blind, parelised, unable to breathe, lost 50% of sensation, no able to produce vital steroids for life and many more. But today, I have evolved and can see, walk and so on...
This book is very close to what I did such as Neuroplasticity but also what I call Bio-plasticity in cells and discovered the brain is not in charge and recovery is split un two. indeed, the body keep the Score. The inconscience is faster to evolve to the new you . so how do you tell your inconscience to evolve, without being conscient of it? I had no help but I did and so simple...

Gilles Guichard

A Psychiatrist not afraid to Explore

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The author isn’t very accurate about the sensation seeking personality trait. It’s rather frustrating, having studied the trait. First of all, sensation seeking has various facets, such as experience seeking, which females typically score higher in than males. Secondly, there are numerous biological mechanisms associated with the personality trait, as well as environmental conditions that have been shown to predictably influence the trait both short and long term that are unrelated to trauma. Linking bungee jumping to self-harm in the way that it was done was wrong. The term is being used far too broadly in this book. For anyone interested, the facets include experience seeking, thrill and adventure seeking, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility. The literature is extensive.
Other than that, I liked the book. I was impressed with the breadth of experience communicated, the hope, and the self-awareness of the author which often brought light hearted ness to a dark topic.

Very good with one main issue

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I wish I'd read this sooner. So informative about the mind- body connection. Recommend!

Must read for anyone interested in mental health

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