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

“Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort.” — Bessel van der Kolk

Introduction: Listening to the Body’s Story

Trauma is not just a memory—it’s a living presence. It lingers in the nervous system, shapes our relationships, and whispers through our posture, breath, and heartbeat. In The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk invites us to listen to the body’s story with compassion and curiosity. This blog is a long-form reflection and interactive guide to that invitation.

Part I: Rediscovering Trauma—A History of Silence and Awakening

Van der Kolk begins by tracing the historical neglect of trauma in psychiatry. From the dismissal of “hysteria” in women to the misdiagnosis of war veterans, trauma was often ignored or pathologized. It wasn’t until the 1980s, with the recognition of PTSD, that the field began to take trauma seriously.

But even then, the focus remained on symptoms—not the lived experience of the survivor.

> Reflect: What stories have you been told about “being strong”? How have they shaped your relationship with vulnerability?

Part II: The Brain on Trauma—When Survival Becomes a Trap

Trauma changes the brain’s wiring. The amygdala becomes hyperactive, the hippocampus struggles to distinguish past from present, and the prefrontal cortex—the rational brain—loses its grip. This neurological chaos explains why survivors may feel hijacked by emotions, stuck in loops of fear or shame.

Van der Kolk uses brain scans and case studies to show that trauma is not “in your head”—it’s in your brain’s architecture.

> Try This: Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Breathe slowly. Which hand rises first? What does that tell you about how you’re breathing?

Part III: The Hidden Curriculum of Childhood Trauma

Children learn about the world through relationships. When those relationships are unsafe, inconsistent, or abusive, the child’s developing brain adapts for survival. This may mean shutting down emotions, becoming hyper-alert, or dissociating from the body.

Van der Kolk introduces “developmental trauma disorder” to capture the complexity of these early wounds—often missed by traditional diagnoses.

> Reflect: What did you learn about trust, safety, and love in your early years? How do those lessons show up in your adult life?

Part IV: The Body’s Testimony—Symptoms as Signals

Trauma survivors often experience chronic pain, autoimmune issues, digestive problems, or a sense of numbness. These are not random ailments—they are the body’s way of expressing what words cannot.

Van der Kolk emphasizes that healing begins when we stop seeing the body as the enemy and start listening to its signals.

> Try This: Scan your body from head to toe. Where do you feel tension, warmth, or numbness? Can you greet those sensations with kindness?

Part V: The Limits of Talk—Why Words Aren’t Always Enough

While talk therapy can be helpful, it often falls short for trauma survivors. Language resides in the rational brain—but trauma lives in the emotional and sensory brain. That’s why survivors may “know” they’re safe but still feel terrified.

Van der Kolk argues for therapies that bypass language and engage the body directly.

> Reflect: Have you ever struggled to explain how you feel? What helped you feel understood?

Part VI: Healing Pathways—Reclaiming the Body, Rewiring the Brain

Van der Kolk explores a rich tapestry of healing modalities:

• EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation.

• Neurofeedback trains the brain to regulate itself.

• Yoga rebuilds the connection between breath, movement, and awareness.

• Theater and expressive arts allow survivors to embody new roles and rewrite old scripts.

• Mindfulness cultivates presence and self-compassion.

These practices don’t erase trauma—they help survivors build new neural pathways and reclaim agency.

> Try This: Choose one small ritual—lighting a candle, stretching, journaling—and do it with full attention. Notice how your body responds.

Part VII: The Social Body—Healing in Community

Trauma isolates. It teaches us that others are dangerous or unreliable. But healing happens in relationship. Van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of safe, attuned connections—whether with therapists, friends, or communities.

He also critiques systems that perpetuate trauma—like punitive schools, prisons, and medical models that ignore the body.

> Reflect: Who helps you feel seen and safe? What kind of community would support your healing?

Part VIII: Integration—From Fragmentation to Wholeness

The goal of trauma recovery is not to forget the past, but to integrate it. This means creating a coherent narrative, reconnecting with the body, and cultivating relationships that support growth.

Van der Kolk reminds us that healing is not linear. It’s a spiral—a return to the same places with new awareness.

> Journal Prompt: What does “coming home to yourself” mean to you? What practices help you feel whole?

Closing Invitation: A Gentle Path Forward

The Body Keeps the Score is a profound reminder that healing is possible—not through force, but through presence. Not by silencing the body, but by listening to it. Whether you’re a survivor, a caregiver, or a seeker, this journey invites you to slow down, breathe, and begin again.

> Let’s Connect: What part of this journey spoke to you? What questions or insights are stirring in you now?