The body remembers everything: what role psychological trauma plays in a person’s life and what techniques help to overcome it

Psychological trauma disrupts our ability to trust our inner feelings, and this mistrust makes us misperceive threats where there is none. It affects our mind and emotional state, our ability to experience joy and closeness, and even our physiology and immune system. Moreover, the development of neuroscience and research have been able to explain to us the fact that children and even grandchildren of people who survived the extermination camps suffer from PTSD, although they actually live in safety. Their hormonal system secretes increased amounts of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline. There is also good news. The effects of mental trauma can be significantly reduced and even completely overcome. Bessel van der Kolk's research is based on 30 years of experience working with people who have experienced psychological trauma. The author suggests various ways to treat it, including neurobiological tools, as well as sports and yoga - that is, everything that helps restore the neuroplasticity of the brain. This book will help you understand why we can both hurt and heal each other at the same time, and it gives you hope for a new life. A New York Times bestseller. Rights sold to 18 countries. Over 2,500 reviews on Amazon.com. “Everyone should read this book, whether you have experienced trauma or not. For those who have not experienced trauma, this book will help you understand why some (traumatized) people are the way they are. For those who have experienced trauma (chronic or acute, childhood or adult), this book will explain what the mind and body do to survive, and the trauma (PTSD) that follows.” — From Amazon reader reviews “The publication in Russian of a wonderful book by psychiatrist and outstanding specialist in the treatment of mental trauma Bessel van der Kolk is in some ways a landmark event. It shows that Russia, despite its 20th century filled with severe social traumas, has reduced the level of social and private traumatization in the 21st century and is ready not only to survive, but also to deal with its traumas. The book is written in an understandable language and at the same time contains modern and professionally accurate information about what mental trauma is and how to treat it." — Anna Varga, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Chair of the Academic Council of the Master's Program "Systemic Family Psychotherapy" at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Member of the Board of the Society of Family Consultants and Psychotherapists, is a member of EFTA-TIC (Training Committee of the European Association of Family Psychotherapists)