The Body Keeps the Score

I purchased this book a while back, and it sat on my shelf for some time, calling me, while I ignored it.

I was afraid.

Afraid that this book would tell me that my 18-month tenure of cancer treatment was just the beginning; that I'd be sentenced to further lifelong trauma and a ripple effect of ways my body would attempt to betray me.

This book did none of that.

This book should be required reading for, well, anyone, but especially teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, school board members, politicians, billionaires...

It's maddening at just how little support Dr Van Der Kolk was able to receive, especially when it comes to diagnostic aids such as the DSM. Too often we prescribe medication as an attempt at treatment when it's really just a terrible band aid.

Reading about the alternative approaches to PTSD like EMDR, neurofeedback, yoga, and theatre (yes, really!) has helped open my worldview on ways we can all work through trauma.