The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Nonfiction

This is a fantastic book focused around Dr. van der Kolk's work throughout his career on the issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to combat veterans, victims of accidents and crimes, abuse victims, etc. I liked The Body Keeps the Score because it explained in detail the brain’s reaction to trauma and how it effects the body. I found comfort in finally being able to understand that you are not defined by your trauma, but you are programmed by it. This book has also been a great tool for learning about other types of therapeutic approaches that one might want to explore for themselves. This book is not light reading, but it’s written in such a way as to educate a layperson with an interest in the topics.

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