Current book - The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk

[Rusty Red]

Who has read it? It's lengthy but fascinating and really digs into the concept of trauma emerging as physical symptoms later in life.

 

[Ellen]

I read it years ago. Excellent book especially for survivors of trauma.

 

[HealingNow]

I started to read it, but opted for some others first as didn’t think I had true trauma as I thought it related more to PTSD/war.

However, please let me know if you recommend! I have it on the shelf

 

[feduccini]

I started to read it, but opted for some others first as didn’t think I had true trauma as I thought it related more to PTSD/war.

I don't know how Bessel talks about it in the book but he defines trauma as the response to something that overwhelms you and make you feel hopeless. He also says it happens "in the absence of an empathetic witness" as Peter Levine would put it. If I'm not wrong he's even against the separation between Big T and Small T traumas.

 

[Rusty Red]

I started to read it, but opted for some others first as didn’t think I had true trauma as I thought it related more to PTSD/war.

However, please let me know if you recommend! I have it on the shelf

He does refer back to vets a lot, but he also talks about childhood issues like not receiving enough compassion, and he has patients who were adults that experienced some type of trauma outside of war PTSD. I think the concepts are still very applicable for anyone with TMS. He goes through a lot of the therapeutic possibilities that are talked about here, like EMDR, mindfulness, etc.

 

[Sita]

I forgot about this book. I wanted to get it from the library in the past but it was on a long list so I gave up. Then I forgot about it. Reading this thread, I remembered. Again, I tried to get it from my local library here but it's a 16 person waiting list there so...I bought it on Kindle last night.

I've done EMDR in the past, I'm doing mindfulness, I meditate daily. But I will read the book. Slowly. I'm not going to start reading these days, I like to keep my mind relaxed. I have some stressors in my life now and it's more important to stay calm mentally.

But I might come back on this thread later in January to comment if the book is helpful/good.

Happy New Near everyone!

 

[Wildflower6]

I don't know how Bessel talks about it in the book but he defines trauma as the response to something that overwhelms you and make you feel hopeless. He also says it happens "in the absence of an empathetic witness" as Peter Levine would put it. If I'm not wrong he's even against the separation between Big T and Small T traumas.

In this video, Bessel seems to be in alignment with Dr. Sarno. It's always good for me to read how others frame TMS, even if they don't call it that (looks like a duck......).

 

[Wildflower6]

Who has read it? It's lengthy but fascinating and really digs into the concept of trauma emerging as physical symptoms later in life.

I like how this person includes Dr. Sarno and Bessel in her article:
https://thehappysoup.com/tight-fascia-chronic-pain-and-stress-the-tms-connection/#:~:text=Bessel%20van%20der%20Kolk%20is,trauma%20therapist%20and%20researcher%2C%20Dr (Tight Fascia, Chronic Pain, and Stress: The TMS Connection).

 

[Cactusflower]

I think it’s important here to note that EMDR does not treat chronic pain and my therapist had made sure this was not its purpose or use. She had years of EMDR work with Vets and was a Vet herself who overcame much with EMDR. It is meant to be used to treat the suffering around the chronic symptoms: anxiety, depression etc and it’s proving to work well for these things in so many people.

 

[Rusty Red]

I think it’s important here to note that EMDR does not treat chronic pain and my therapist had made sure this was not its purpose or use. She had years of EMDR work with Vets and was a Vet herself who overcame much with EMDR. It is meant to be used to treat the suffering around the chronic symptoms: anxiety, depression etc and it’s proving to work well for these things in so many people.

Fair point. It is more to treat the trauma background, which can indirectly lead to help with the chronic pain.

 

[BruceMC]

Who has read it? It's lengthy but fascinating and really digs into the concept of trauma emerging as physical symptoms later in life.

I know Gabor Maté cites it extensively in his new book The Myth of Normal (2025). Seems Maté uses it to back up his own insights about the central role of trauma in the etiology of chronic conditions and diseases.

 

[Rusty Red]

I know Gabor Maté cites it extensively in his new book The Myth of Normal (2025). Seems Maté uses it to back up his own insights about the central role of trauma in the etiology of chronic conditions and diseases.

I've read that one too! Also a good book.