BOOK REVIEW: THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE

Trauma can not be forgotten but can be learnt to live with.

In a few words, I’ll share some insights about THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk.

Trauma comes in various forms; from assaults to accidents to natural and man-made disasters. Trauma is no respecter of person, age, sex, race or qualifications.

THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE, gives you a neurological in-depth on the effects of trauma on the human brain and why people act the way they act and that’s one of the things I love about this book. It aids you to shift your attention from self-loathe and/or self-blame in most cases.

Though, I found this particular book very triggering.

It was a long read for me because it always left me in a terrible mood.

In my opinion, this book’s target market should be psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists etc because it goes further in explaining various trauma treatments. It doesn’t exactly sit in the self-help genre.

If you’re a trauma survivor and you need more insight, I highly recommend but if you’re a trauma survivor with a serious case of PTSD, I do not recommend it.

Traumatized people aren’t only affected by trauma. The people around them are equally affected. And not just the people around them, it affects their minds, brain, emotions, imaginations and even their immune systems.

Trauma produces actual physiological changes, including a recalibration of the brain’s alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity, and alterations in the system that filters relevant information from irrelevant.

Traumatized people often secrete large amounts of stress hormones even after the traumatic event has passed. Images, feelings, sounds, nightmares, flashbacks, and sounds can trigger a traumatic memory.

Self-awareness, the first step to recovery – Noticing the physical sensations as they come. Being able to revisit the past without being overwhelmed by the past.

Change begins when we learn to “own” our emotional brains. That means learning to observe and tolerate the heartbreaking and gut-wrenching sensations that register misery and humiliation.

Paying attention and taking deep breaths helps regulate the body’s nervous system.

Learning how to breathe calmly and remaining in a state of relative physical relaxation, even while accessing painful and horrifying memories, is an essential tool for recovery. When you deliberately take a few slow, deep breaths, you will notice the effects of the parasympathetic brake on your arousal. The more you stay focused on your breath the more you will benefit, particularly if you pay attention until the very end of the out breath and then wait a moment before you inhale again. As you continue to breathe and notice the air moving in and out of your lungs you may think about the role that oxygen plays in nourishing your body and bathing your tissues with the energy you need to feel alive and engaged.

Finding and being a part of a safe place ( like AA meetings, religious gatherings, or talk therapy) that helps you open up is a major step for trauma victims.

Various treatments for trauma as discussed in the book include;

Therapy

EDMR

Neurofeedback

Somatic therapy

Theatre

The rational brain is majorly concerned with our outside environment and the emotional brain can be referred to as our internal housekeeping system. The parts of the emotional brain responsible for identifying and processing danger are;

Thalamus – it is responsible for gathering up information ( sights, sounds, smells, touch ) from the outside world and piecing them together.

Amygdala – it is responsible for identifying whether incoming inputs from the thalamus are life-threatening or not. And it does so with the help of the hippocampus.

hippocampus – it checks and compares incoming inputs with past experiences.

Hypothalamus – it is responsible for sending signals through the autonomic nervous system to the adrenal gland to release stress hormones.

Thereby, the fight-or-flight response.

When the danger is over, the body returns to a state of equilibrium fairly quickly.

But if the body is stuck in a freeze response, maybe the individual is physically trapped – can’t fight back or run, and the body continues to release stress hormones even after the event is long over. In this state, such an individual tends to see the world differently and is prone to be easily triggered, aroused or agitated.

A faulty alarm system may misinterpret signals if not taught to regain proper control.

Mindfulness meditation and yoga play a vital role in taking back control of your emotional brain. Keeping you fully alive and grounded in the present.

Having a support system, statistics say, lowers depression and anxiety. What is more soothing than a reassuring voice or a warm embrace from someone we trust?

Touch. How do you soothe a fussy baby? By picking him/her up, rocking or cradling. Therapeutic massages can help relieve stress and tension. Mindful touch is known to help ground individuals as well.

Communal rhythms and theatre. When we play together, there’s a sense of connection and joy among us. Joining a choral group, theatre group, or dance class can help us feel attuned to one another.

In conclusion, trauma victims will not be able to move past the event if they can’t learn to revisit the past without being overwhelmed by it. Trauma victims need to learn to realize that that was then and this is now. They need to learn to be fully aware of the present and take control of their emotional brain. And more importantly, surround themselves with the right support system.

Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed this piece be sure to comment, clap and follow me. If you’re new here, stick around for more amazing content. I’ll see you in my next article.