







Reading 'The Body Keeps the Score' was like finding a roadmap to my own nervous system. As someone who’s wrestled with PTSD symptoms for years, van der Kolk’s explanations of how trauma literally reshapes your brain—making ordinary moments feel threatening—finally made me stop blaming myself for 'overreacting.'
What shocked me most was realizing why yoga classes always left me in tears. The book’s section on somatic therapies helped me understand that my body was literally shaking off decades of frozen stress responses during those poses. Now I approach movement differently—not as exercise, but as dialogue with my nervous system.
The case studies wrecked me (fair warning: keep tissues handy), especially the Vietnam vet who could only process his trauma through theater. That chapter convinced me to try EMDR therapy, which has been transformative. Yes, the science sections get dense, but when van der Kolk describes how trauma survivors’ brains light up differently on scans, you’ll want to power through.
This isn’t just a book—it’s the missing owner’s manual for anyone whose body still reacts to old wounds. Keep it on your nightstand. Loan it to confused loved ones. Highlight the passages about neuroplasticity when you need hope. Five years into my healing journey, I still revisit Chapter 16 whenever I need to remember: recovery isn’t linear, but it is possible.
