The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma

Immobilization is at the root of most traumas.

Faulty alarm systems lead to blowups or shutdowns in response to innocuous comments or facial expressions.

motivation, play, and curiosity, which are indispensable for maturing into a well-functioning and contributing member of society. Children who take them are also at risk of becoming morbidly obese and developing diabetes.

Being able to move and do something to protect oneself is a critical factor in determining whether or not a horrible experience will leave long-lasting scars.

During disasters young children usually take their cues from their parents. As long as their caregivers remain calm and responsive to their needs, they often survive terrible incidents without serious psychological scars.

Like my aunt, alexithymics substitute the language of action for that of emotion.

the children of depressed mothers are at risk of growing up insecure and anxious.

Many traumatized individuals are too hypervigilant to enjoy the ordinary pleasures that life has to offer, while others are too numb to absorb new experiences—or to be alert to signs of real danger.

A secure attachment combined with the cultivation of competency builds an internal locus of control, the key factor in healthy coping throughout life.