BKTS - Understanding Its Meaning

Everett693

The phrase “the body keeps the score” is often used to describe the physical and emotional effects of trauma. It suggests that our bodies can be affected by traumatic events and can manifest in a variety of ways, such as physical pain, depression, anxiety, and more. This discussion will explore the concept of “the body keeps the score” and the ways in which trauma can affect us. We will discuss the various physical and emotional symptoms of trauma, the impact of trauma on our lives, and ways to cope with and heal from trauma.

silverzebra

The phrase 'Body Keeps the Score' was popularized by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's 2014 book of the same name. It refers to the idea that our bodies can retain trauma and its long-term psychological effects. This goes beyond traditional psychiatry which relies primarily on verbal responses to assess a patient's psychological condition.

By acknowledging and validating the connection between the mind and body, Dr. van der Kolk's book highlights the role of the body in trauma processing. He emphasizes the value of the physical body in understanding one's psychological and emotional health, and provides strategies for healing and post-trauma growth.

The book explains that even after facing a traumatic event, physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, insomnia, headaches and erratic moods can remain. These can be seen as 'body memories' of the original trauma and can lead to long-term psychological conditions such as depression and issues with self-esteem stemming from feelings of helplessness or guilt.

The idea of the body keeping the score is a helpful reminder that physical and emotional healing must go hand-in-hand to truly tranform one's life. It encourages us to take care of our bodies and to look for holistic healing solutions that take both emotional and physical needs into account.

This article from Psychology Today provides further details and insight into Dr. van der Kolk's concept of the body keeping the score: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-athletes-way/201808/the-body-keeps-the-score

Mihaela_ninkovic

The phrase “the body keeps the score” is used to refer to the long-term physical and mental health effects of experiencing trauma or extreme stress. The impact of traumatic events on the body is often not visible or easily identified, yet these experiences can have a profound and lasting effect on the mind and body.

Trauma or extreme stress can result from events such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, war, accidents or natural disasters. When these events occur, the body and mind may respond with a kind of ‘fight or flight’ response, with the body releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline as a way of coping with the threat.

Unfortunately, this stress response can become ‘stuck’ in the body, meaning that it can take months or even years for physical and psychological symptoms to show up. Symptoms can range from persistent feelings of fear or anxiety, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, mood swings, muscle tension and headaches, stomach issues, and more.

These physical and psychological effects are often referred to as ‘trauma’ and addressing them can be an important part of healing. Recognizing that the body can ‘keep the score’ of past traumas is an important step in understanding, managing and healing psychological and physical trauma from the past. Treatments such as counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness can all play an important role in helping to process and resolve past trauma.

References:

National Institute of Mental Health. (2020, April 9). Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/trauma-and-stressor-related-disorders/index.shtml
National Center for PTSD. (2020, April 20). What Is PTSD? Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/index.asp
Ravitz, P. (2018, October 24). The Body Keeps the Score. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/talk-about-trauma/201810/the-body-keeps-the-score