Trauma occurs when people are hurt by those who are supposed to care for them, leading to difficulties in integrating and processing the traumatic memories.
Therapies that engage the body, such as yoga and somatic experiencing, help individuals reconnect with their bodies and process trauma.
Deep dives
Understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and society
Psychiatrist Besel van der Kolk, known for his expertise in treating trauma, discusses the effects of overwhelming experiences and how they impact people and society. He highlights the importance of social support and the role of memory in trauma. Van der Kolk emphasizes that trauma occurs when people are hurt by those who are supposed to care for them, leading to difficulties in integrating and processing the traumatic memories. He also explores the implications of trauma on politics, cultures, and relationships.
The connection between trauma and the body
Van der Kolk explains how traumatic experiences affect the body and brain, disrupting the rational part of the brain and hindering the ability to articulate emotions. He notes that trauma leads to distorted memories, reliving the traumatic event instead of transforming it into a coherent narrative. The emotional and sensory dimensions of trauma are discussed, highlighting the importance of therapies that engage the body, such as yoga and somatic experiencing, to help individuals reconnect with their bodies and process the trauma.
The significance of self-compassion and community support
Self-compassion is identified as a crucial element for healing from trauma. Van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in counteracting self-blame and creating a sense of safety and acceptance. He discusses the power of community and social support in overcoming trauma, highlighting the role of networks in providing understanding and belief. Van der Kolk also acknowledges the transformative potential found in experiences like psychedelic therapy, which can open individuals up to cosmic dimensions and elicit profound personal growth and healing.
The complexities and possibilities of navigating trauma in a changing world
Reflecting on the current state of the world, including the pandemic and other global crises, Van der Kolk explores the impacts on trauma and resilience. He notes that the ongoing uncertainty and disruption can trigger past traumas and emphasizes the need for safety and connection in overcoming trauma. While acknowledging the challenges, he also highlights the potential for breakthroughs, such as advancements in trauma research, increased compassion, and renewed appreciation for relationships and self-care.
When Krista interviewed the psychiatrist and trauma specialist Bessel van der Kolk for the first time, his book The Body Keeps the Score was about to be published. She described him then as “an innovator in treating the effects of overwhelming experiences on people and society.” She catches up with him in 2021 — as we are living through one vast overwhelming experience after the other. And The Body Keeps the Score is now one of the most widely read books in the pandemic world. His perspective is utterly unique and very practically helpful — on what’s been happening in our bodies and our brains, and how that relationship can become severed and restored.
Bessel van der Kolk is the founder and medical director of the Trauma Research Foundation in Brookline, Massachusetts. He’s also a professor of psychiatry at Boston University Medical School. His books include Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on the Mind, Body, and Society and The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.