SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY BOOK CLUB
Book: The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van Der Kolk (free PDF here)
Who it’s for: Anyone curious about how trauma effects the body, especially peers & survivors. No prior knowledge needed.
My role: I’m a fellow reader & facilitator, not an expert. We learn together.
The vibe: Low-pressure, supportive. Jump in any week.
Schedule:
• Week 1 (Jan 19-25): Prologue & Chapter 1
• Week 2 (Jan 26-31): Chapter 2
• Week 3 (Feb 1-7): Chapter 3
• Week 4 (Feb 8-14): Chapter 4
• Week 5 (Feb 15-21): Chapter 5
• Week 6 (Feb 22-28): Chapter 6
• Week 7 (Mar 1-7): Chapter 7
• Week 8 (Mar 8-14): Chapter 8
• Week 9 (Mar 15-21): Chapter 9
• Week 10 (Mar 22-28): Chapter 10
• Week 11 (Mar 29-Apr 4): Chapter 11
• Week 12 (Apr 5-11): Chapter 12
• Week 13 (Apr 12-18): Chapter 13
• Week 14 (Apr 19-25): Chapter 14
• Week 15 (Apr 26-May 2): Chapter 15
• Week 16 (May 3-9): Chapter 16
• Week 17 (May 10-16): Chapter 17
• Week 18 (May 17-23): Chapter 18
• Week 19 (May 24-30): Chapter 19
• Week 20 (May 31-Jun 6): Chapter 20 & Epilogue
Thank you, excited to read more of it
@YouCanMakeItToTheSunrise
I've been making measured progress, reached section 5 'Paths to Recovery' and light bulbs are igniting everywhere, it is certainly causing me to reflect and acknowledge how much more impact PTSD has had over me over the past 9 years and that it isn't just fear of the future.
I’ve read, chapter 2. The women, speaking to dr. Bessell prior to treatment, really stood out to me. Sometimes just getting it all out there in a safe space does wonders.
In an effort to start some “cross pollination” of sorts between some of the communities, I posted the following in the 50 and over community.
Perhaps some of you reading “The Body Keeps the Score” might be interested.
Link here: https://www.7cups.com/forum/50plus/ChallengesWeFace_1702/Youdonthavetobelikedbyeveryone_374723/?post=4083550
I will post more observations here on the Book Club thread as I read more. Lots to respond to here!
Update from me. I spent the bulk of the day yesterday reading, savoring through Chapter 5 and a couple of pages of Chapter 6.
Here are a few of the places I underlined (I found my paper copy!):
Chapter 1, page 11: “The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves."
page 15: Sigmund Freud, “I think this man is suppering from memories."
page 17: “We learned from these Rorschach tests that traumatized people have a tendency to superimpose their trauma on everything around them."
“Imagination is absolutely critical to the quality of our lives."
Chapter 3:
page 43— “All trauma is preverbal."
Ed Murrow “I pray you believe what I have said. I reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it I have no words."
Chapter 4, page 56: “If you feel safe and loved, your brain becomes specialized in exploration, play and cooperation; if you are frightened and unwanted, it specializes in managing feelings of fear and abandonment."
(I will post again since I have to take a break in real life.)
page 59: “Treatment needs to reactivate the capacity to safely mirror, and be mirrored, by others, but also to resist being hijacked by others’ negative emotions."
Chapter 5, page 81: “… social support is the most powerful protection against becoming overwhelmed by stress and trauma."
page 86: Ed Tronick: “the brain is a cultural organ — experience shapes the brain."