SOWK Theory Blog : The Body Keeps the Score

 Van Der Kolks discussion and research on neuroscience was incredibly interesting, but I must admit that I got lost throughout this chapter. The medical abbreviations, methods, and research frequently went above my head. I did find his discussion on sleep at the beginning of this chapter more understandable and how even when we sleep, our internal communication is still wide awake. I wondered how those patients felt about having to wake up post REM sleep and if being startled could have changed any remembrance of the dream. While I understand that they knew about the research and therefore knew they would be awakened, I still wonder if it was shocking to suddenly be pulled from your sleep - especially if the dream that had occurred was pleasant. The entire concept of the brain and what it tells us is amazing to me. From discoveries like epilepsy and other mental activities to understanding how EEG patterns can be a biomarker for ADHD.  To sum up this section, Van Der Kolk stat...

 Van Der Kolk amazes me with his thoughts, reflections, and personal experiences with the clients that he has treated. However, he also leaves me with questions and puzzling thoughts. How does one become so knowledgeable in trauma treatment? While I know it took years of education, experience, and practice - I don't think I will ever get his level.  Chapter 17 reminded me a lot of my girl, Kate. I see her in the quote on page 280, " it is much more productive to see aggression or depression, arrogance, or passivity as learned behaviors: somewhere along the line, the patient came to believe that he or she could survive only if she or she was tough, invisible or absent, or that is was safer to give up". Kate appears to show aggression as displayed by her tough and defiant actions. While she may certainly be afraid, she doesn't appear to show it on the outside. She is tougher than most, and sadly it is not because she wants to be, but because for so long she had to be. I...

 I really enjoyed chapter 15 and the exploration of EMDR therapy. Throughout the chapter, we are exposed to different stories of EMDR and the success of this treatment modality.We read about David, a father and husband who has able to overcome and reverse the revengenful 'monster' that he was turning into and was instead able to get back in touch with his generous self and re-find himself in the activites that he enjoyed. We also read about Maggie and her experience with EMDR therapy and freedom that she felt upon completion. However, Van Der Kolk points out that Maggle, "like many trauma survivors, she told one story with words and anohter in her actions...(p. 252). I thought this was interesting perspective and I think about some of my own clients and how sometimes their actions can be contradicting to their words. Honestly, this can sometimes be really frustering, but I see now that this is a trauma response. After reading this section in the book and doing other variou...