Bessel van der Kolk — How Trauma Lodges in the Body

The 'On Being with Krista Tippett' episode featuring Bessel van der Kolk delves into the complex subject of how trauma impacts the human body and psyche. Van der Kolk, a psychiatrist and pioneering researcher in the field of traumatic stress, discusses his innovative approaches to treatment, which extend beyond traditional talk therapy to include body-centered techniques. The conversation begins with van der Kolk's background, including the influence of his own family's history with trauma during World War II, and his initial work with Vietnam War veterans, which was instrumental in the formal recognition of PTSD. He shares insights on how trauma can freeze time for sufferers, locking them in a perpetual loop of reliving rather than remembering traumatic events. This is attributed to the way trauma disrupts the brain's memory processing and narrative integration, leading to a chronic sense of threat and a disconnection from the present.

Van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of the body in both experiencing and healing trauma. He explains that traditional psychotherapy often neglects the somatic dimension of trauma, despite evidence that traumatic memories are encoded in bodily sensations. He highlights innovative treatments, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and yoga, which help patients reconnect with their bodies and process traumatic memories in non-verbal ways. Van der Kolk also discusses the role of societal connections and support in healing, pointing out that communal activities and physical engagement, like helping others after a disaster, can be powerful antidotes to the feelings of helplessness that often accompany trauma. Throughout the episode, van der Kolk underscores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the potential for recovery with appropriate therapeutic interventions.