For years after things fell apart for me, I struggled to understand why I continued to struggle - despite having seen therapists and been in treatment. I had talked about my past and had come to terms with what had happened to me; what I didn’t understand was why I responded to ‘everyday’ situations as well as bigger challenges. I beat myself up (and still do, to be honest) about why I hadn’t ‘got over it’! I then started reading (and listening to) Bessel van der Kolk’s ’The Body Keeps the Score’. For the first time, I understood what was going on for me - the trauma ’stored' in my body and the way it influences my physical and emotional responses.
Insights from Bessel van der Kolk:
Trauma is a word we often associate with extreme events, like accidents, violence, or war. What you might not realise is that trauma can actually take up residence in our bodies, affecting our physical and mental health long after the traumatic experience (or experiences) have come to an end. This concept comes from the work of renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist Bessel van der Kolk
When we talk about trauma, we're referring to the emotional and psychological distress caused by a deeply distressing or disturbing event or series of events. It's important to understand that trauma isn't just a mental experience – it affects our entire being, including our physical bodies. Bessel van der Kolk's research has shown that trauma can become "stuck" in our bodies, leading to a range of physical and mental health issues.
One way trauma gets stored in our bodies is through the nervous system. Our body's natural response to danger is often referred to as the fight, flight, or freeze response. This instinctual survival mechanism helps us react quickly when facing a threat - it’s really important for our survival. However, during traumatic events, this response can become overwhelmed or disrupted. The trauma becomes trapped in the nervous system, causing chronic stress and anxiety even when the danger has passed.
The brain also plays a crucial role in storing trauma. Traumatic memories can become fragmented and disorganised, making it difficult for the brain to process and integrate them properly. This can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts, as the brain tries to make sense of the trauma.
Moreover, van der Kolk emphasises the importance of the body itself in storing trauma. Our muscles and tissues can hold onto the physical sensations and tensions experienced during traumatic events. This can result in chronic pain, tension, and a heightened state of physical arousal, even when there is no immediate threat.
Van der Kolk's research has shown that traditional talk therapy alone may not be enough to release the stored trauma from the body. What he recommends is a holistic approach that includes body-centred therapies like yoga and meditation. Practices such as these can help individuals reconnect with their bodies, release physical tension, and gradually process and heal the trauma that has been stored within. I have used them alongside others such as Cold Water Swimming and Qi Gong to help to ground me and connect to what is going on in my body
Bessel van der Kolk's work has helped to shed light on how trauma can become lodged in our bodies, affecting our physical and mental well-being. For me, it helped to release much of the shame, guilt and self-criticism that I felt about what I thought was mentally holding on to the past. Trauma disrupts our nervous system, fragments our memories, and takes up residence in our muscles and tissues. Recognising this, we can explore therapeutic approaches that focus on both the mind and the body to help individuals heal and regain control over their lives. My aim is to support individuals in finding those that work for them.
In this video, Bessel van der Kolk explains what trauma is and how it is stored in the body:
Comments