Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score

1. IDEA 1

   Trauma reshapes body and brain

   Van der Kolk argues that traumatic experiences are not just memories but change how the brain and body work. People who have been through trauma may stay on high alert long after the danger has passed.

2. IDEA 2

   The brain's alarm can get stuck

   The book describes a part of the brain that acts like a smoke detector, sounding the alarm when danger appears. After trauma, this alarm can become oversensitive, reacting strongly to everyday reminders.

3. IDEA 3

   Trauma can leave people speechless

   Brain scans described in the book suggest that during traumatic memories, areas linked to language become less active. Van der Kolk calls this speechless terror and says it explains why survivors often struggle to describe what happened.

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