Bessel van der Kolk Quotes

• The single most important issue for traumatized people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies.

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Issues, People, Safety

  63 Copy quote

• The parent-child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind.

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Children, Powerful, Parent

  76 Copy quote

• Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become expert at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside. They learn to hide from their selves.

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Past, Self, Bombarded By

  77 Copy quote

• Trauma really does confront you with the best and the worst. You see the horrendous things that people do to each other, but you also see resiliency, the power of love, the power of caring, the power of commitment, the power of commitment to oneself, the knowledge that there are things that are larger than our individual survival. And in some ways, I don't think you can appreciate the glory of life unless you also know the dark side of life

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Commitment, Dark, Caring

  "How Trauma Lodges in the Body". "On Being" with Krista Tippett, onbeing.org. March 9, 2017.

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• You can't see the glory of life if you haven't seen the dark side of life.

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Dark, Sides, Glory

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• People have a range of capacities to deal with overwhelming experience. Some people, some kids particularly, are able to disappear into a fantasy world, to dissociate, to pretend like it isnt happening, and are able to go on with their lives. And sometimes it comes back to haunt them.

  Bessel van der Kolk

  Kids, People, Goes On

  51 Copy quote

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