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The Body Keeps the Score

r/PsychonautUpdated 30 days ago
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How to Change Your Mind sparked my psychonaut journey. What are good next steps?

How to Change Your Mind sparked my psychonaut journey. What are good next steps? — I finished *How to Change Your Mind* by Michael Pollan a couple of weeks ago, and it was mind-blowing (pun intended). The history, the research being done to help people with mental illness using mush…

r/Psychonautpost4/8/2026
Tim Fletcher, his reading list

Tim Fletcher, his reading list — https://youtu.be/q0RiIkd9\_pc \* the Body Keeps The Score (Bessel van Der Kolk) \* What Happened To You? (Bruce Perry w/Oprah Winfrey) \* The Myth of Normal (Gabor Maté) \* When The Body Say…

r/CPTSDpost4/7/2026
The body keeps the score!

The body keeps the score! — I have been on edge all day. Snippy with my husband. Stressed out of my mind. Snappy at the kids. Felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin so started doing dump runs. After two I started to feel wa…

r/raisedbynarcissistspost4/8/2026
Introduction, Valuable Healing and Attachment resources

Introduction, Valuable Healing and Attachment resources — # Hi, and welcome! It is a pleasure to have you with us. Please come as you are, we encourage you to share openly and vulnerably. If you do not wish to share and just browse, you are welcomed here to…

r/HealMyAttachmentStylepost12/28/2021
Best self-help books that actually work (not just motivational fluff)

Atomic Habits by James Clear is the gold standard. Also read 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel van der Kolk.

r/selfhelpcomment11/20/2023
My DA bf broke up with me Saturday morning.

Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score. I've never felt more seen in my life than when reading this book. Pete Walker and his 4Fs are a valuable read and insight, too (already recommended by o…

r/attachment_theorycomment8/10/2025
Success Story: FA/Disorganized Attachment Healing Roadmap, Resource Recommendations

Very, very, very interesting, I've just started my journey this week and finding your success story and the resources you shared is great, as I'm only 10h deep out of the +10.000 ahead, binge watching…

r/attachment_theorycomment10/24/2025
Being DA but really wanting kids

Becoming part of this group definitely self-selects people who are already touched by the spark of insight and change. You can’t unring a bell. However, that doesn’t automatically place everyone in “m…

r/attachment_theorycomment12/11/2025
Trading book recommendation! For those trying to fix attachment issues.

Hi!! I highly recommend these: For core wounds and relationships : 📚Mathew Micheletti and 3 more The Inner Work of Relationships: An Invitation to Heal Your Inner Child and Create a Conscious R…

r/attachment_theorycomment1/27/2026
Trading book recommendation! For those trying to fix attachment issues.

Hi I previously recommended these to someone so will copy and paste it here Book on understanding and healing trauma : 📚The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma…

r/attachment_theorycomment3/2/2026
I’m very good at staying composed. I’m less good at noticing what that composure costs me.

I think people are all different and timing is different as well. You can’t just say one thing will work, when with another person it would not work at all. It’s more about our own story, the process…

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment3/9/2026
how do i detach myself from my thoughts

In yoga, it’s said that if you can’t use logic and reason to change the mind/habits, something must be stored in the body. It’s been proven that the body keeps the score - book https://a.co/d/062WTQ…

r/Meditationcomment3/10/2026
When is emotional control actually suppression?

This is probably the most important question in Stoic practice and honestly most people get it wrong in both directions. The original concept, apatheia, never meant the absence of feeling. It meant fr…

r/Stoicismcomment3/10/2026
When did you finally realise, your life would never be ‘normal’?

I can relate to nearly every comment posted. I believe that I actually realized my life would never be “normal“ after having read “the body keeps the score“ by Dr. Van der Kolk. That concept actually…

r/CPTSDcomment3/10/2026
My desire for relationships disappeared after a narcissistic ex. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and life perspectives. I have to admit I feel a bit overwhelmed by the responses, but also very grateful. I am both relieved that I am not alone in this exp…

r/NarcissisticAbusecomment3/12/2026
32 years of marriage, but I'm still unsettled by an affair from 2006. Is it too late to ask for the truth?

Read the book ‘The Body Keeps The Score’. It will explain your trauma pretty well. You can’t continue to rugsweep, it will only cause your behavior to get worse trying to manage unresolved trauma.

r/survivinginfidelitycomment3/14/2026
Massage therapist shocked by chronic muscle tension

I feel heard to my bones! My husband suggested I read this book- The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. It truly is a godsend!

r/CPTSDcomment3/14/2026
Potentially unpopular opinion re: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Firstly, I had the same opinion RE: internalizers & externalizers as Dr. Gibson writes about them, and really had to sit with all of it for a while before I understood why it came off that way. Secon…

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment3/17/2026
Potentially unpopular opinion re: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

I agree, and that's specifically why I recommend reading Lindsay's book before diving directly into trauma books. There's no mystery here. She opens her book with a disclaimer that it's not a trauma b…

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment3/17/2026
Potentially unpopular opinion re: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

You might read “The Body Keeps the Score” for a more academic presentation of the topic.

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment3/18/2026
I normally don’t like to talk about my issues outside of therapy because I just want people to see me as normal, but I’m 36 and still can’t get past the effects of trauma from my childhood.

First, I’m so, so sorry that happened to you. That’s absolutely inhumane what they did and if they were ever found out CPS would’ve been all over them and removed you from their abuse. What’s helped …

r/CPTSDcomment3/20/2026
Has anyone looked into what chronic depression and trauma actually do to your body at a cellular level? The research is both terrifying and oddly empowering.

My therapist let me borrow one of his books, "The Body Keeps the Score." I haven't started reading it yet, but I think it talks about what you are saying. Should be interesting.

r/CPTSDcomment3/23/2026
r/CPTSDcomment3/24/2026
Has anyone looked into what chronic depression and trauma actually do to your body at a cellular level? The research is both terrifying and oddly empowering.

As a chronically ill person I was finally forced to take care of myself instead of neglect myself. I tell myself that my first job every day is to take care of my body. This helped me move away from b…

r/CPTSDcomment3/24/2026
People with CPTSD what are things that people just don’t get about it?

I’m 39. My mom hasn’t physically abused me since I was 14 or 15. To this day when her hand comes near my face i duck. The body keeps the score.

r/CPTSDcomment3/26/2026
Accidental awakening

The shaking you’ve mentioned could be Somatic Shaking, where your nervous system tries to reset by releasing stored stress, tension, and trauma. Consider looking it up and also reading the book, The B…

r/gatewaytapescomment3/28/2026
Accidental awakening

Great advice im doing TM and targeted self love to ground atm as well as reaching out to community. A friend of mine is reading The Body Keeps The Score and we're spitballing ideas. Thank you for shar…

r/gatewaytapescomment3/28/2026
How to cry?

Do you forget conversations you had? Do you lose track of time? Do you ever feel like it’s difficult to find words? Can you name specific emotions? Do you ever feel, suddenly tired out of no where? D…

r/therapycomment3/28/2026
Why does it take years to realize you’re traumatized? And why does "standard" therapy often miss the point?

Im 38 and just figured out most my life is just been me surviving and living on old wiring from my childhood. I've been ready The Body Keeps the Score. It's helping me understand my reactions within m…

r/CPTSDcomment3/28/2026
Psychiatrist said "We all have some form of trauma" and she also said "blah blah" when I was sharing my trauma

Sadly there are lots of therapist who discount trauma theory. If you feel like trauma was a big part of your condition than I'd advise seeing someone who understands trauma. You can interview your the…

r/CPTSDcomment3/30/2026
Met my ex after a year apart. It was the best day since our breakup. Here's what happend.

This is one of the most beautiful things I've read on here. And I want to honor that before I say anything else. That moment in the rain? You can't manufacture that. That was two nervous systems final…

r/BreakUpscomment3/31/2026
Cbt is humillating

When I've read the body keeps the score, it literally explains how cbt makes people with PTSD worse. I think for many of us, me included, it's done more harm than good. I would personally advise you t…

r/CPTSDcomment3/31/2026
Well, she's gone. [trigger: death]

I recommend the book The Body Keeps the Score. I hope it helps or at least is something to relate to.

r/raisedbynarcissistscomment4/1/2026
Stuck between wanting to live and wanting to give up. Looking for any help at all.

I am in the same situation as you 🫂 The first thing you need is to talk to someone. A therapist and a doctor. The aim is to get some immediate symptom relief. I take sleeping tablets once a week to …

r/DecidingToBeBettercomment4/1/2026
"When trust is lost, traumatized people feel that they belong more to the dead than to the living."

I found Trauma and Recovery to be an incredible book. I personally preferred it to The Body Keeps the Score, and I also really resonated with how she describes how trauma affects you. I'm deeply sorry…

r/CPTSDcomment4/2/2026
I feel like recovery is only available to a select number of lucky people

Thank you so much, I feel more hopeful after reading this :) Do you have any books that you recommend? I've just started reading "The Body Keeps the Score" and "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thrivin…

r/CPTSDcomment4/3/2026
The Drama of the Gifted Child - A must-read for those with CPTSD

I found the very same healing OP, really let me direct the rage and anger where it belonged. Another book of hers that I liked is "The Body Never Lies", a forerunner to "The Body Keeps The Score", pa…

r/CPTSDcomment4/3/2026
Trauma and BDSM

I don't openly speak about this because I know people will accuse me of kink shaming and being a bad person when I say it but, to be frank, yes I'm a kink shamer. I'm also a CSA and SA survivor. I ful…

r/CPTSDcomment4/3/2026
my mom is coming through my town briefly and wants to stay the night in my apartment and i don’t know how to tell her no

For me I was finally able to comfortably and firmly say no when I got in touch with my inner child who was scared. The flash backs to her using the wooden spoon on me and then escalating to my dad who…

r/raisedbynarcissistscomment4/3/2026
I feel no connection with my mom but she believes our relationship is fine. Can anyone relate?

Emotional abuse and emotional neglect are the same thing. It doesn’t matter what the person knows or doesn’t know. What matters is what happened to us. That’s what we can know about very directly. The…

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment4/3/2026
Anyone else struggle to get doctors to take them seriously?

Definitely second your recommendation for the body keeps the score it is an amazing book and it is life-changing

r/CPTSDcomment4/4/2026
Cbt is humillating

I came here to look up music for my ‘Inner Child Work’ playlist, as I’m a somatic breathwork practitioner and I’m so sad to read these posts about how much therapists are letting y’all down. I totally…

r/CPTSDcomment4/4/2026
Anyone else struggle to get doctors to take them seriously?

I'm currently reading "The Body Keeps the Score". I've never heard that it is "semi-controversial"... how so?

r/CPTSDcomment4/4/2026
Why does it take years to realize you’re traumatized? And why does "standard" therapy often miss the point?

Look for “The Body Keeps the Score” elsewhere in this sub friend. It’s a book worth reading for.

r/CPTSDcomment4/4/2026
Actively repressing memories to maintain relationship with parent

Careful with suppression. The body keeps the score and the pain will come through eventually usually in the form of physical illness and autoimmune disorders. 

r/EmotionalNeglectcomment4/4/2026
My (42F) husband (41M) grew a mustache that triggers my childhood trauma. He says I should get over it so he can do what he wants with his face. Am I being unfair in asking him to remove it?

Yes this! I also want to say that generally, across the board, no one should ever force themselves to be sexual with a partner when it feels wrong to them. Your body remembers and it won’t be happy ab…

r/relationship_advicecomment4/5/2026
Therapy moment

These books really helped me: The Body Keeps The Score What Happened To You? If you're female - Quit Like A Woman for drinking if not Rational Recovery and This podcast [https://www.hubermanlab.c…

r/CPTSDcomment4/5/2026
Therapy moment

Try reading The Body Keeps the Score. I have it on Audible on a free trial

r/CPTSDcomment4/5/2026
Non-generic tips for someone struggling with lifelong depression?

Not the same person, but on the same theme: “The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Gabor Mate is one I found helpful.

r/DecidingToBeBettercomment4/5/2026
All abuse is physical.

Yep. A good book I read regarding this is, "The body keeps the score." by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.. SO many people dismiss the idea and I have never once been in a discussion with a doctor that aske…

r/CPTSDcomment4/5/2026
How can I stop my downward spiral?

Oof. That is a terrible string of therapists. I'm really sorry that happened to you. I would recommend reading The Body Keeps the Score. It sounds like you are stuck because of past trauma. It really…

r/DecidingToBeBettercomment4/6/2026
I’m trying to be healthy through a deactivation..

Hey, I like the writing it out in advance also...that's a good technique you both are already using: tremendous! Sounds like a chance to be both alone (first) and authentically feel and express on the…

r/AvoidantAttachmentcomment4/6/2026
I'm wondering if others feel like therapy is a scam?

P.S. The Body Keeps the Score is an outstanding book. It explains how trauma is stored in the body. Also, a therapist/counselor who has either personally experienced trauma, or who is well informed on…

r/CPTSDcomment4/6/2026
I'm wondering if others feel like therapy is a scam?

I agree with everything here! Also wanted to pop in to add a trigger warning to The Body Keeps the Score, it can be very overwhelming for some trauma survivors, I highly recommend reading ABOUT it bef…

r/CPTSDcomment4/6/2026