Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.
Van der Kolk explains that trauma resets the brain's "smoke detector" (the amygdala).
The book argues that because trauma is stored in the reptilian brain and the limbic system (areas below the level of conscious thought), simply talking about the past is often insufficient.
In some cases, talking about the trauma can actually re-traumatize a person by forcing them to relive the event without the physical tools to stay grounded.
Healing requires "bottom-up" processing—calming the body's physical sensations first so the mind can eventually follow.
Van der Kolk outlines various "body-based" treatments that help the nervous system regain a sense of safety and "agency" (the feeling of being in control of one's body).
