Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort.
This quote represents commonly held knowledge about trauma, PTSD, and its impact. It is also representative of the basis on which Dr. Van Der Kolk bases his opinions concerning how people can recover from traumatic experiences.
Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives
Being able to feel safe around people is Van Der Kolk's thesis and recommendation for being mentally healthy and for leading a life that is satisfying. Without being able to connect with people, which trauma sometimes stops a person from doing, a person is doomed to stay in a cycle of self-hatred and depression.
As I often tell my students, the two most important phrases in therapy, as in yoga, are “Notice that” and “What happens next?” Once you start approaching your body with curiosity rather than with fear, everything shifts.
In this quote, Dr. Van Der Kolk stresses the importance of changing perspectives and approaching recovery and other things in general with curiosity instead of fear. In order to heal, Dr. Van Der Kolk posits that intense healing can only be achieved with a mix of things, including therapy, yoga, and self-reflection.
