The Body Trauma Expert: This Eye Movement Trick Can Fix Your Trauma! The Body Keeps The Score!

Intro (0s)

• Eye movement can be used to help process traumatic experiences, with research showing that moving eyes back and forth while recalling a traumatic event allows the brain to acknowledge it as a past event, resulting in 78% of participants being completely cured (17s).
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a renowned psychiatrist who has spent over 40 years researching trauma and its impact on the brain and body, revolutionizing the understanding of trauma (31s).
• Early childhood experiences play a significant role in shaping who a person is, and approximately 90% of people treated in Dr. van der Kolk's practice have childhood trauma (42s).
• While childhood trauma can be difficult to change, it is possible, and Dr. van der Kolk has explored various methods, including yoga for PTSD, psych development, and neurofeedback, with stunning results (1m3s).
• Dr. van der Kolk has also found psychedelic therapy to be effective in treating trauma and has personal experience with it, which has helped him understand his own childhood trauma (1m16s).
• Dr. van der Kolk's work is driven by his quest to understand trauma, which is rooted in his own childhood experiences, and he has made significant progress in healing from his own trauma (1m26s).
• The importance of subscribing to the show is emphasized, with a request to support the team's efforts to provide better content and continue exploring topics such as trauma and its treatment (1m43s).

Bessel's Mission (2m17s)

• Bessel's mission has been focused on understanding how people survive extreme situations and overcome the history of trauma inflicted by others, with the ultimate goal of creating a better world (2m38s).
• This mission is rooted in a social context, but the investigation is based on scientific knowledge, particularly in the fields of brain science and psychological functioning (2m43s).
• The concept of trauma is central to Bessel's work, which aims to explore its effects on individuals and develop ways to address it (2m49s).

What Is Trauma? (2m54s)

• The online usage of the word "trauma" has seen a significant increase, as shown by a graph illustrating a huge jump in people searching for and using the word (3m6s).
• Historically, the concept of trauma was not widely discussed or studied, with Bessel's colleagues at Harvard questioning the relevance of studying trauma (3m29s).
• Over time, the understanding and discussion of trauma have evolved, shifting from being a non-existent topic to becoming a widely used explanatory mode for various issues (3m43s).
• The primary interest in trauma has shifted from solely focusing on trauma itself to understanding it as a breakdown of connection and synchronicity between human beings (3m59s).
• Establishing a relationship with oneself and others is crucial for people suffering from trauma, and this is now a major focus area (4m17s).
• The study of trauma has moved from one extreme, where it was not discussed, to the other extreme, where everything is attributed to trauma, highlighting the need for a balanced understanding (3m47s).

What Trauma Treatments Do You Disagree With? (4m22s)

• There is disagreement with the traditional view of treating psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which often involves methods claiming to cure people in a short number of sessions, typically eight sessions (4m22s).
• Cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive restructuring are methods that aim to help people by straightening out their thinking and making them not think "crazy thoughts," but there is no evidence that these methods can be effective (4m57s).
• Another method involves exposing people to trauma to desensitize them, but this approach also does not address the core issue of trauma (5m5s).
• The core issue with trauma is that it rewires the brain and perceptual system, causing people to see things through the lens of past experiences rather than current experiences (5m30s).
• Trauma is unreasonable, and people who have experienced trauma are not reasonable, which is why talking to them or trying to make them see reason may not be effective (5m23s).

Does Rationalising Your Trauma Help? (5m48s)

• Talking about trauma does not necessarily fix the trauma, as trauma is a speechless experience (5m48s).
• The first neuroimaging study on people reliving their trauma showed that the entire cognitive part of the brain disappears during the traumatic experience, leaving the person with only emotions and no thinking (5m58s).
• This results in the person being confused, befuddled, and experiencing "speechless Terror," as described by Shakespeare, becoming dumbfounded and unable to process their emotions (6m14s).
• The traumatic experience is beyond belief, causing the person to stay in a state of confusion and agitation (6m19s).
• Finding language to describe the traumatic experience is crucial in helping the person begin to organize their relationship with themselves, although it is not enough on its own (6m27s).
• The process of finding language and putting the experience into words is essential in helping the person start to make sense of their trauma (6m41s).

What Is Considered Trauma? (6m47s)

• Trauma is an overwhelming experience where an individual feels completely helpless and unable to cope with a situation (6m58s).
• There are two types of trauma: small "t" trauma and Big "T" trauma, with the former being very real and often relational (7m26s).
• Small "t" trauma occurs when an individual's environment does not acknowledge their existence, such as being told to stop crying or being blamed for a parent's behavior (7m54s).
• Examples of small "t" trauma include being told "I'll give you something to cry about" or being made to feel responsible for a parent's actions (8m0s).
• Relational trauma, a type of small "t" trauma, is a significant issue for many people and can result from feeling unseen or unheard, such as having to care for a parent but not being acknowledged oneself (8m24s).
• Big "T" trauma, on the other hand, often involves more overtly traumatic events, such as natural disasters, but even in these situations, the presence of a supportive community can help mitigate the trauma (7m34s).
• Trauma can also result from significant life events, such as being fired from a job, but whether or not this becomes traumatic depends on the individual's context and definition of trauma (8m52s).

Can Small Events Lead to Trauma? (9m26s)

• Small experiences that others may consider trivial can result in a deeper trauma response due to individual perception (9m27s).
• The issue is not the event itself, but rather how it is perceived by the individual, as the same event can affect people differently (9m36s).
• Personal experiences and past events, such as childhood trauma or significant life events, can influence how an individual perceives and responds to a particular situation (9m45s).
• For some people, a seemingly minor event can trigger a strong emotional response due to its connection to past traumatic experiences, such as a brother's behavior or a parent's neglect (9m48s).
• In contrast, others may not be affected by the same event, and instead, may focus on their strengths and abilities, downplaying the significance of the experience (9m57s).

Bessel's Experience as a Psychiatrist (10m5s)

• Bessel van der Kolk had a strong psychiatric training at one of the Harvard hospitals and later worked at the last state mental hospital in Boston, which was a sanctuary for very disturbed people (10m16s).
• After the institution closed, he worked at the Veterans Administration hospital, where he met people who were competent and good athletes but had broken apart due to life experiences, which opened his eyes to the fact that people can be broken by life experiences (10m38s).
• This experience reminded him of his relatives who were concentration camp survivors and Japanese camp survivors, and it intrigued him to learn more about how people can be affected by traumatic experiences (10m54s).
• Bessel van der Kolk was born in 1943, a significant year that had a huge impact on who he became, and his earliest imprint was of his father being detained by the Germans, while his mother was raising small kids in hiding (11m18s).
• His family lived in a place where the Nazis were launching rockets to London, and half of the rockets fell into their backyard, leaving a preconscious imprint of the trauma and misery he experienced as a child (11m41s).
• Growing up, Bessel van der Kolk was a very sickly child, and many kids his age died due to hunger and misery, which left a trace in his curiosity and being, including a body that was very sickly (12m2s).
• His early life experiences, including the trauma and misery, had a significant impact on his life and work, shaping his curiosity and interest in understanding how people can be affected by traumatic experiences (12m17s).

Bessel's Parents (12m29s)

• Bessel van der Kolk was one of five children, and he was very sick as a child (12m35s).
• His mother was emotionally unavailable due to being "broken" by the 1919 pandemic, which led to her father developing Parkinsonism, making her a "frozen person" (12m47s).
• Having a "frozen" mother had a significant impact on Bessel, affecting his perception of the world and making it challenging for him to learn about affection, intimacy, closeness, and vulnerability (13m18s).
• Bessel's mother would faint when he asked her about her childhood, which happened only once when he was a junior professor at Harvard (13m35s).
• Bessel's parents visited him in the US after he invited them, and during their visit, he asked his mother if she had been sexually abused, which caused her to faint (14m40s).
• Bessel's father reacted to the situation by blaming him for his mother's fainting spell, saying "look what you did to your mother" (14m54s).
• Bessel's mother never provided a straight answer to his question, and he still doesn't know if she was sexually abused (15m7s).

Consequences of Child Abuse (15m17s)

• Child abuse is a preventable cause of mental illness, the single most common cause of drug and alcohol abuse, and a significant contributor to leading causes of death such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, and suicide (15m17s).
• Addressing child abuse in America would reduce the overall rate of depression by more than half, alcoholism by 2/3, and suicide, drug use, and domestic violence by three quarters (15m28s).
• These statistics are based on data from a large CDC study conducted by Vincent Felitti, which involved 25,000 people (15m38s).
• There is a growing interest in understanding the impact of early childhood experiences on individuals (15m50s).

Is It Important to Understand Childhood Experiences? (15m53s)

• Understanding childhood experiences is not overblown and being curious about how one became who they are is beneficial for self-awareness (15m58s).
• Recognizing the internal factors that contribute to one's personality and development is essential for personal growth and understanding oneself (16m3s).
• Being curious about oneself is necessary for self-awareness and also helps in being curious about and understanding other people (16m20s).
• Childhood experiences, including traumatic events such as incest, can significantly impact a person's development and understanding of themselves (16m25s).

Was Your Mother an Incest Victim? (16m28s)

• A person realized as an adult that much of their work focused on incest, which led them to ask their mother if she had experienced something similar, causing her to faint (16m29s).
• The mother's fainting was seen as an indicator that something had triggered a reaction, but the exact cause was unknown (16m49s).
• The mother was described as being very uptight about sex, which was seen as a possible sign that something had happened to her, but the specifics were unclear (16m44s).
• The mother's reaction to the question was not taken as conclusive evidence that she was an incest victim, but rather as an indication that something had occurred (16m55s).
• The mother's behavior around sex was described as being terrified, rather than just uptight or uncomfortable (17m8s).
• The conversation turned to the number of people treated in practice who had similar experiences or reactions (17m13s).

How Many Patients Trace Issues to Childhood Experiences? (17m17s)

• Approximately 90% of adult dysfunction can be traced back to an early childhood experience (17m24s).
• This percentage is based on a specific subset of patients, as individuals with Autism or OCD do not typically seek treatment for the discussed issues (17m36s).
• The narrow filter of patients seen is due to the specific focus on the crux of what happened to them as a child, which influences the high percentage of childhood-related trauma (17m44s).

Examples of Child Abuse (17m46s)

• The core issue in child abuse cases is often the lack of acknowledgment and honor for the child's identity, resulting in them feeling unseen and unprotected (17m46s).
• Terrible things done to children can include physical abuse, such as being beaten up, sexually molested, or having their bones broken, as well as emotional abuse through hurtful words (18m9s).
• Emotional abuse can be just as damaging, with examples including a mother telling her child that they will never have friends because people will reject them if they get to know them (18m17s).
• Such hurtful statements can be a common occurrence, and people may say terrible things to kids intentionally or unintentionally, causing harm (18m37s).
• Examples of child abuse can be observed in everyday situations, such as in supermarkets or parking lots, where parents may be seen yelling at or mistreating their children (18m48s).
• Parents may struggle with recognizing their own behavior as abusive, thinking that their actions are justified or that they are doing what they think is best for their child (19m0s).

How Culture Influences Parenting (19m3s)

• In some cultures, parents believe that punishing their children is necessary to raise them to be healthy and well-rounded, which is an interesting cultural issue that has been passed down through generations (19m4s).
• In contrast, some countries like Sweden and Holland have changed their attitudes towards physical punishment, and it is now considered a crime to hit children (19m26s).
• In the US, some people, particularly black people, believe that physical punishment is necessary to teach their children right from wrong, as stated in the Bible, and they may resist alternative approaches (19m45s).
• The speaker grew up in a household where they were physically punished in significant ways, which they now consider horrendous, but they also acknowledge that their home had discipline, which they believe helped them avoid negative outcomes (20m5s).
• The speaker's mother was from Africa, and their father was from England, and they reflect on how their upbringing has influenced their life, with both positive and negative outcomes (20m20s).
• The speaker's mother couldn't read or write, but they still managed to achieve their goals and avoid dysfunction, which they attribute to the discipline in their home (20m51s).
• The speaker notes that their perception of their life and upbringing has changed over time as they have gained new insights and perspectives (21m7s).
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of predictability in parenting, as their own parents were predictable, which helped them anticipate and know what to do (21m20s).
• The speaker believes that chaos is a terrible thing, and predictability is essential for children's development and well-being (21m30s).

Disciplining Children (21m37s)

• The individual was punished frequently as a child, and the punishments were predictable, often resulting from actions like playing football in the house and breaking ornaments (21m39s).
• During a visit from their parents, their three-year-old daughter used the bathroom next to the parents' bedroom, prompting the mother to yell and suggest punishing the child (22m8s).
• The individual initially felt an impulse to punish their daughter but then realized they were about to reenact the same behavior their parents had exhibited towards them (22m26s).
• They made a conscious decision not to punish their daughter and instead set a limit with their mother, allowing the child to use the bathroom (22m42s).
• This experience was transformative, as it made the individual realize they were about to repeat the past and instead chose to take responsibility for their actions and do things differently (22m47s).
• Discussing this experience still evokes strong emotions, but it also represents a moment of liberation, as the individual began to take ownership of themselves and their parenting choices (23m4s).
• This moment marked a turning point, allowing the individual to make conscious choices and break away from automatic behaviors, ultimately leading to a greater sense of responsibility and self-awareness (23m32s).

Liberation Equals Separation (23m49s)

• Separation from others can be a difficult process, especially when it involves going against one's upbringing or the norms of their tribe, as it can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation (23m49s).
• The desire to belong to a tribe is a fundamental human need, and leaving one's tribe can be a major and complex life change, akin to a pilgrimage (24m19s).
• The act of separation requires acknowledging and overcoming learned behaviors, which can be challenging, especially when those behaviors were ingrained through physical discipline or other forms of punishment (24m44s).
• Having children can be a significant learning experience, as it teaches individuals how to deal with challenging situations and overcome their own limitations, with children serving as important teachers in this process (25m11s).
• Personal growth and self-awareness can be facilitated by recognizing and addressing one's own flaws and weaknesses, such as the tendency to repeat learned behaviors, and making a conscious effort to change and improve (24m58s).

What Did You Learn for Your Children? (25m29s)

• The first child was initially described as easy, loving, luminous, pretty, and girly, but later became gender ambiguous and divorced her husband to be with a woman, undergoing a significant transformation in the process (25m29s).
• The child's transformation was a remarkable journey to witness, with the parent expressing amazement at the changes they observed (25m55s).
• The second child, a son, was neuro-atypical, often out of control, and exhibited many physical reactions, but was also very bright (26m2s).
• Despite initial reactivity and a tendency to stay in bed and play computer games, the son grew up to be a loving and thoughtful adult parent (26m19s).
• Both children have become very different people from what was initially expected, but they have a good relationship with their parent (26m28s).
• The parent acknowledges not fully understanding either of their children, but values their relationship with them (26m38s).
• Dysfunctional behavior can be observed in others, but in this case, it is noted in the context of the parent's own children (26m42s).

Medical Treatment for Behavioural Dysfunctions in Children (26m46s)

• In children, a common reaction to behavioral dysfunctions is to give them medication or attach a label to them, but this approach may not be effective in capturing the underlying issues they are suffering from (26m46s).
• A psychiatrist's personal experience with their son, who was initially considered for medication due to behavioral issues, led them to explore alternative approaches, as they knew that the prescribed medications were not helping (26m56s).
• The psychiatrist's expertise in psychopharmacology allowed them to make informed decisions about their son's treatment, and they eventually found alternative methods that helped their son rearrange his mental state (27m15s).
• Children from low-income families are four times more likely to receive antipsychotic medications than privately insured children, which is a significant concern due to the potential risks of interfering with natural brain growth and development (28m41s).
• Giving medication to children can be potentially very dangerous, as it may change the way their brain develops and prevent it from learning new adaptations (29m0s).
• It is essential to consider social and physical conditions, such as movement, touch, synchrony, and music, before resorting to medication, as these factors can play a crucial role in a child's development and well-being (29m42s).
• Western societies often rely on taking chemicals to change the way they feel, which can be a respected tradition, but this approach may not be the most effective or healthy way to address underlying issues (30m1s).

Impact of Movement on Healing (30m21s)

• People are skilled at talking and understanding things, but sometimes it's more effective to tell people's stories and explore how different cultures regulate their physiology and synchronicity through movement (30m21s).
• In 1992, China was still recovering from the cultural revolution, and people were not allowed to discuss their experiences or express themselves freely (30m29s).
• Despite the restrictions, people in China found ways to cope with their trauma through movement, such as practicing tai chi and qigong in public parks (30m52s).
• These traditional Chinese movements helped people calm their bodies and minds, and they were widely accepted and practiced in China, unlike in Western cultures where they might be viewed as unusual (31m18s).
• Different cultures around the world have unique ways of helping people regulate their physiology and synchronicity, and movement plays a significant role in this process (31m27s).
• The importance of movement in healing is closely related to the concept of childhood trauma and the need for children to grow up with a secure attachment to their caregivers (31m41s).

Importance of Secure Attachment to a Caregiver (31m46s)

• A person's attachment to a caregiver significantly influences how others perceive them, and this perception can shape their identity (31m47s).
• When children are consistently told they are cute or lovely by their caregivers, they tend to internalize this perception and develop a positive self-image (31m59s).
• Conversely, if children are frequently told they are ugly, nasty, or mean, they may adopt this negative identity and struggle with it throughout their lives (32m18s).
• The way people treat children early in life has a profound impact on their development and can leave lasting imprints that are challenging to change (32m23s).
• These early experiences can have a lasting legacy, and as a therapist, addressing these imprints is a significant part of the therapeutic process (32m30s).

Can You Heal from Childhood Trauma? (32m43s)

• Childhood trauma is changeable, and it is possible for individuals to heal from it, with the assumption being that everyone can heal given the right chance and resources (32m43s).
• Many patients who have experienced childhood trauma can be helped, but the focus on productivity and behavioral change often overshadows the exploration of unconventional methods that may be more effective in treating trauma (33m8s).
• The emphasis on productivity and cost-effectiveness in mainstream psychology and psychiatry can hinder the use of unconventional methods that may be beneficial for healing from childhood trauma (33m26s).
• The profit motive can be a significant obstacle to good practice in treating trauma, prioritizing cheap and efficient methods over effective ones (33m56s).
• Unconventional methods that may be helpful in treating childhood trauma are often not practiced in mainstream psychology and psychiatry due to their unconventional nature and potential lack of cost-effectiveness (33m49s).

The Body Keeps the Score (34m18s)

• The phrase "the body keeps the score" has become a widely used term to describe how the body holds onto traumatic memories and experiences, often becoming a meme and being used in everyday language (34m41s).
• The base premise of the title is that trauma is a visceral experience, meaning it is lived and felt in the body, and can manifest physically, such as through heartbreak, stiffening up, surrendering, losing power, and tightening up (35m13s).
• Trauma can be approached in two ways: either by trying to change the mind, which will then change the body, or by changing the body, which will then change the mind (35m30s).
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an example of the first approach, which involves changing the mind to change the body, but this method may not always be effective, as it can be similar to what spouses try to do with each other, often without success (35m43s).
• The term "somatic approach" has been mentioned as a relevant concept in this context, although it is not fully explained in this part of the text (36m9s).

Somatic Approach to Healing (36m12s)

• The somatic approach to healing involves experiencing and acknowledging the feelings of the body, allowing it to express itself freely, and exploring how it interacts with the world (36m18s).
• This approach also involves enabling the body to do things it may have been afraid to do, thereby promoting healing and growth (36m28s).
• Women seem to be more adept at this approach, although the reason for this is not explicitly stated (36m38s).

Are Women More in Touch with Somatic Healing? (36m39s)

• Women tend to be more in touch with somatic healing than men, as they often engage in activities such as yoga, dancing, and other forms of physical expression that promote body awareness and connection (36m40s).
• These activities are not exclusive to women, as men have also participated in similar experiences, such as basic training in the military, where they undergo intense physical challenges and shared experiences with others (36m55s).
• The military's basic training program is an example of how shared physical experiences can foster a sense of competence, connection, and camaraderie among individuals, often transforming them into a cohesive unit (37m5s).
• This transformation is not achieved through verbal communication alone, but rather through deep, shared physical experiences that create a sense of unity and shared understanding (37m29s).
• Research has shown that individuals with more traumatic experiences may have a greater need for somatic healing and physical expression as a means of processing and releasing their trauma (37m42s).

Impact of Trauma on Creativity (37m47s)

• People who have struggled with trauma in their background often become more creative and successful, as they are forced to discover new options and see new possibilities (37m49s).
• Those who do not find solutions to their trauma may not have the capacity to seek therapy and may end up struggling with issues like drug addiction (38m17s).
• Homeboy Industries, a program in Los Angeles, is a successful example of a trauma-based program that helps formerly incarcerated individuals by providing a safe space and acknowledging their past experiences (38m34s).
• St. Quinton Hospital and San Quentin prison in California are also using trauma-based approaches, including movement and group work, to transform people's lives (39m1s).
• Movement and activities like dancing can give people a sense of connection and pleasure, and are being used in some therapy settings (39m21s).
• There is a joke in the investment community that entrepreneurs who have experienced trauma may be more successful, as they are more likely to come up with solutions to problems (39m46s).
• Barbara Corcoran, a Shark Tank investor, has said that her most successful investments are often in entrepreneurs who have experienced trauma, as they are more likely to come up with solutions to problems (40m0s).
• However, this idea may be due to selection bias, and not all people who have experienced trauma are able to come up with solutions to problems (40m33s).

Trauma as a Perception (41m0s)

• Trauma can increase the probability of becoming an anomalous adult, leading to the development of a unique mind and brain to fit a particular situation, and if that situation is not helpful, finding new solutions is necessary (41m2s).
• Trauma is not a story in the brain, but rather a perception that is created based on an event and the brain's adaptation to it, which depends on factors such as age and circumstances (41m29s).
• The perception of trauma can vary greatly depending on the individual's age and circumstances, with younger children often internalizing the trauma as their fault, while older individuals may have a different understanding (41m50s).
• The brain creates a map of the world based on experiences, which can lead to expectations of certain things at certain times, and this internal view of the world can influence how individuals interpret new situations (42m36s).
• Research using ink blot tests has shown that people have completely different interpretations of the same image, highlighting that individuals live in different worlds and have unique perceptions based on their past experiences (43m19s).
• The ink blot test has been analyzed on over 100,000 people and can detect certain patterns, but it is not a replacement for brain imaging, which is a more respectable and measurable way to study the brain (44m16s).
• The mind and perception play a crucial role in understanding trauma, and research in psychedelic studies aims to explore how people change their minds and perceptions (44m35s).

How Many People Have Trauma? (44m50s)

• A significant percentage of people experience trauma in some form, with a quarter of people experiencing physical abuse, one out of five people experiencing sexual abuse, and one out of eight kids witnessing violence between their parents (44m57s).
• These statistics indicate that trauma is not a binary issue, where a person either has trauma or does not, but rather a complex issue that can affect anyone (45m16s).
• In a room of professionals, it is estimated that at least half of the group has a visceral understanding of what trauma means and how it affects the brain (45m27s).

How Does Trauma Affect Brain Activity? (45m35s)

• Trauma can affect brain activity, but neuroimaging scans may not necessarily show definitive differences in a traumatized individual's brain compared to others, as brain patterns can vary greatly among people (45m35s).
• However, research has identified certain patterns of brain connectivity and activation in traumatized individuals, such as increased activity in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) area, also referred to as the "Cockroach Center" of the brain (46m40s).
• The PAG is responsible for detecting danger and can be overactive in traumatized individuals, causing a constant sense of fear or danger (46m52s).
• Trauma can also affect the insula, the part of the brain responsible for physical sensations and body awareness, leading to a disconnection from bodily sensations and feelings of being alive (47m26s).
• In some cases, traumatized individuals may experience dysfunction in the area below the amygdala, leading to a constant sense of subliminal dread or anxiety (48m10s).
• This anxiety can be elementary and not necessarily related to higher-level mental functioning, but rather a primal response to perceived danger (48m31s).
• The amygdala can also become hypersensitive in traumatized individuals, leading to an increased response to triggers and a tendency to overreact to minor stimuli (49m1s).
• This hypersensitivity can cause individuals to feel like they are constantly in danger and can lead to difficulties in relationships and daily life (49m19s).

Study: Reliving a Traumatic Event (49m46s)

• A brain scan of a man who was involved in a terrible car accident shows that when he relives the traumatic event, the right posterior part of his brain, specifically the temporal parietal junction, fires up, indicating the feeling part of the brain is activated, while the left side of the brain, responsible for cognition, shuts down (49m59s).
• When a person is in a state of trauma, they lose their sense of perspective and the ability to differentiate between the past and the present, as the timekeeper of the brain, the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, goes offline (50m52s).
• The brain scan of the man shows that the right side of his brain is extremely activated, while the left side appears to be inactive, and there are empty spaces in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, indicating a lack of sense of time and perspective (51m32s).
• Trauma is not a memory, but a reliving of the traumatic event, which can be triggered by specific sensory details, causing the person to feel like the event is happening in the present moment (53m31s).
• The man in the brain scan was intentionally triggered to relive his traumatic experience by being shown a picture of his car accident and asked to recall specific sensory details, which caused his right brain to become active and his timekeeper to go offline (52m43s).
• The man has undergone EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, which has helped him to stop triggering and has resulted in significant improvement, allowing him to function normally and no longer be trauma-prone (54m39s).

Most Radical Improvement in Clinical Practice (54m59s)

• A significant improvement in clinical practice has been observed, with people showing remarkable progress in overcoming their trauma. (55m0s)
• A notable example of this improvement is a woman who was involved in a terrible car accident and initially exhibited symptoms of freezing, being upset, and freaked out. (55m11s)
• After just three sessions, the woman was able to talk about the accident in a more composed manner, acknowledging the traumatic event but also expressing her ability to move forward with her life. (55m20s)
• The woman mentioned that she now drives her car to visit her granddaughter, indicating a significant reduction in her trauma-related anxiety. (55m32s)
• This remarkable progress was achieved in just three sessions, highlighting the effectiveness of the therapeutic approach being discussed. (55m37s)

EMDR (55m40s)

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy was initially met with skepticism, but it has been found to be effective in treating trauma by moving the eyes from side to side while reliving the traumatic experience (56m19s).
• The therapy involves moving the eyes back and forth, which activates certain pathways between the temporo-parietal junction (sense of self) and the insula (body), allowing the brain to distinguish between the past and present (57m8s).
• Research on EMDR, which took 15 years to complete, has shown that it can help people process traumatic experiences and move past them, with some participants reporting that the trauma "sucked, but it's over" after just a few sessions (56m40s).
• The therapy has been found to be effective in helping people heal from trauma by making it possible for the brain to say "this is what happened to me, but it happened in the past" (57m26s).
• The discovery of EMDR's effectiveness has been a significant breakthrough in the treatment of PTSD, and it has been written about in several books, including one that introduced the term "PGSD" in 1984 (55m55s).
• EMDR has been studied and researched extensively, with a focus on understanding how it works and how it can be used to help people overcome traumatic experiences (56m59s).

How Effective Is EMDR Therapy? (57m39s)

• Research on EMDR therapy found that 78% of people who experienced adult trauma, such as being assaulted or raped by a stranger, were completely cured (57m46s).
• However, most people treated with EMDR therapy have Early Childhood trauma, which is more complicated to treat and more resistant to this type of therapy (58m4s).
• Early Childhood trauma is more stubborn and resistant to treatment because early childhood experiences shape a person's identity and create a deep imprint (58m11s).
• In contrast, later life experiences, such as attending college, may become part of a person's identity but do not radically change who they are (58m24s).
• The deep imprint of early childhood experiences makes it more challenging to treat Early Childhood trauma with EMDR therapy (58m36s).
• The therapy being discussed is related to eye movement, which is mentioned as a key aspect of the treatment (58m44s).

Demonstration of EMDR (58m46s)

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) treatment has been extensively studied, with evidence supporting its efficacy across various conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety (58m46s).
• A 2014 meta-analysis of 26 randomized control trials found that EMDR significantly reduced PTSD symptoms with a large effect size (58m57s).
• A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis reported that EMDR alleviated depressive symptoms (59m6s).
• The same 2014 meta-analysis noted that EMDR led to significant reductions in anxiety symptoms among PTSD patients with a large effect (59m17s).
• A 2024 systematic review and individual participation data meta-analysis concluded that EMDR is as effective as other psychological treatments for PTSD, achieving comparable symptom reduction and remission rates (59m28s).
• To demonstrate EMDR, the participant is asked to bring to mind an unpleasant experience, recalling what they saw, heard, and felt during that time (59m56s).
• The participant is then asked to rate the vividness of their feeling, which is initially a 6 or 7 out of 10 (1h0m42s).
• The participant is instructed to follow the demonstrator's finger with their eyes while recalling the unpleasant experience (1h0m50s).
• After the eye movement exercise, the participant reports feeling calm and finds it hard to recall why they were bothered by the experience initially (1h1m28s).
• EMDR seems to create new associative processes in the brain, allowing the participant to reorganize their perception of the traumatic experience (1h2m21s).
• The demonstrator notes that they did not ask the participant to describe their experience in detail, as language can be an interactive process that may lead to filtering or embarrassment (1h3m2s).
• The goal of EMDR is to circumvent the verbal process and reorganize the brain's perception of the traumatic experience in a non-verbal way (1h3m23s).

Breath work (1h3m57s)

• Breath work is a topic of interest, with some individuals running businesses and retreats focused on it, and it has been used since ancient times in certain cultures (1h3m59s).
• Breath work is culturally dependent, with some cultures like India being more familiar with it, while others like Europe may not know much about it (1h4m15s).
• People tend to be conformist and may initially dismiss innovative approaches like breath work, but it is a legitimate practice that can be effective for treating trauma (1h4m42s).
• The effectiveness of alternative approaches like yoga for treating trauma has been studied and proven, despite initial skepticism from some academic colleagues (1h5m10s).
• Yoga has been found to be effective for treating PTSD, and it is now more widely accepted as a treatment option for trauma (1h5m21s).
• Innovative approaches like breath work and yoga can be met with resistance, but they can also be valuable tools for healing and treating trauma (1h5m30s).

Impact of Yoga on Trauma (1h5m40s)

• Yoga is not used to treat trauma directly, but rather to treat one's relationship to their body, which can be distorted by trauma (1h5m42s).
• Trauma can distort an individual's relationship to their body (1h5m48s).
• Research has shown that practicing yoga can activate certain brain areas that tend to be dampened by trauma (1h5m56s).
• Studies have found that yoga can have a positive impact on brain areas affected by trauma, although specific details of these studies are not provided in this segment (1h6m7s).

Study: Effects of a Weekly Yoga Class (1h6m8s)

• A study found that after doing yoga, the insula, the part of the brain that helps individuals understand what their body feels like, gets more activated (1h6m16s).
• The insula is responsible for linking how we feel in our bodies to what we know about ourselves, including the stories we have in our heads about ourselves (1h7m25s).
• Trauma can damage the insula, leading to a disconnection from one's body, which is an adaptive response to feeling overwhelmed by physical sensations (1h6m42s).
• This disconnection can cause dysfunction on a day-to-day basis, resulting in feelings of being numbed out or disconnected, and an inability to feel alive or connected (1h7m37s).
• Trauma can also lead to two types of responses: disconnection or hypersensitivity, where individuals may feel hyper-sensitive or unable to feel pleasure (1h7m51s).
• The insula plays a crucial role in anticipating and meeting the body's needs, and trauma can interrupt this process, leading to a loss of contact with one's body (1h6m37s).
• The study suggests that yoga can help activate the insula, which can be beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma (1h6m16s).

Disconnection and Hypersensitivity (1h7m54s)

• People who have experienced trauma often exhibit contradictory behaviors, such as remembering too much and too little, feeling too much and too little, and experiencing extreme agitation and numbness at the same time (1h7m54s).
• The insula plays a significant role in this phenomenon, along with other brain structures, contributing to hypersensitivity and disconnection (1h8m29s).
• Yoga can be a helpful tool in reconnecting one's senses and making it safe to feel emotions, but it can also be agitating or triggering for traumatized individuals (1h8m40s).
• Certain yoga poses, such as the "happy baby pose," can be particularly triggering for survivors of sexual abuse, causing them to hold their body in a frozen position to avoid triggering feelings associated with the trauma (1h9m28s).
• Traumatized individuals may need to be careful when practicing yoga and take steps to avoid triggering past traumas, such as working with a sensitive teacher or modifying poses to feel safe (1h9m51s).
• The experience of being agitated and numb at the same time is a common human experience, and understanding the role of the insula and other brain structures can help individuals better navigate their emotions and behaviors (1h8m24s).

Impact of Physical Activity on Trauma (1h10m12s)

• People who have experienced trauma may exhibit physical characteristics such as a "crumpled up" body and low self-esteem, but engaging in physical activities like yoga can help improve their mental health (1h10m13s).
• Rolfing, a form of intense massage, can be beneficial in releasing physical tension and trauma stored in the body, allowing individuals to feel more connected to their body (1h10m43s).
• Trauma can become a habit, manifesting in habitual responses to certain situations or people, and therapy can help individuals become aware of and change these responses (1h11m10s).
• Understanding the origin of these habitual responses, often rooted in past experiences, can help individuals develop a narrative to explain their feelings and behaviors (1h11m51s).
• Engaging in activities like martial arts can provide a visual experience of the body's ability to defend itself, helping individuals overcome feelings of victimization and develop a sense of self-protection (1h12m10s).
• This visual experience can be more effective in addressing trauma than intellectual understanding alone, as it allows individuals to connect with their body and develop a sense of empowerment (1h12m52s).
• Physical activities can provide a sense of control and self-care, helping individuals overcome traumatic experiences and develop a more positive relationship with their body (1h12m45s).

Picking Up People's Energy (1h13m1s)

• People often describe meeting someone and feeling a certain way about them without being able to articulate why, which can be attributed to picking up on each other's energy (1h13m2s).
• The mirror neuron system plays a significant role in this phenomenon, where one person can sense and reflect the emotions of another, even if the other person is trying to hide them (1h13m16s).
• This energy transfer can affect interactions and conversations, making it challenging to determine whether one's feelings are a result of the other person's energy or a personal trigger from the past (1h14m2s).
• From an evolutionary standpoint, this ability to subconsciously read people and form patterns may have developed as a survival mechanism, allowing individuals to quickly assess potential threats or dangers (1h14m27s).
• Humans are interconnected creatures that thrive in communities, and understanding this collective nature is essential to understanding human behavior and survival (1h14m54s).
• The ability to sense and adjust to each other's energy is crucial for building and maintaining relationships, which is at the core of human existence (1h15m38s).
• However, modern society may be losing this ability, as people become increasingly lonely and isolated (1h15m43s).

Challenges of Individualistic Cultures (1h15m47s)

• Individualistic cultures face significant challenges, with screens and virtual realities being a major issue, as they provide a false sense of pleasure and reward without requiring actual effort or social interaction (1h15m47s).
• The use of screens can lead to a "cheap" dopamine rush, giving users a feeling of experience without actually learning how to interact with others or develop meaningful social connections (1h16m12s).
• Community and social connection play a crucial role in trauma, and the lack of genuine social interaction in individualistic cultures can hinder the development of essential social skills, such as learning how to get along with others and understanding visual reactions of pleasure and friendship (1h16m30s).

Role of Community and Social Connections in Trauma (1h16m33s)

• The development of the field of trauma has been critical, and one troublesome aspect is that many professionals, including those who have experienced trauma themselves, have started their work with individuals such as combat veterans (1h16m35s).
• Combat veterans have found solace and understanding by forming groups and sharing their experiences with one another, allowing them to learn from each other and form strong bonds (1h17m1s).
• These connections have helped individuals survive trauma, as bonding with others has proven to be a crucial factor in the healing process (1h17m14s).
• Women tend to be more effective at forming these connections than men, which can be beneficial in the context of trauma recovery and support (1h17m19s).

Are Women Better at Forming Connections? (1h17m22s)

• Human beings often do not know what love is until they experience a deep bond with others, such as those formed in combat situations (1h17m22s).
• Combat veterans have taught that being in combat together creates an enormously deep bond between people (1h17m39s).
• In situations of great danger, men are there for each other, protecting and looking after one another (1h17m50s).
• The environment of combat forms a deep bond among individuals, characterized by mutual protection and care (1h18m1s).

Building Relationships in the Army (1h18m4s)

• In situations of danger, people naturally form strong bonds with each other as they rely on one another for support and protection, which is a fundamental human experience that cannot be replicated through digital means (1h18m6s).
• This instinctual response is characterized by a sense of mutual reliance, trust, and commitment, as individuals "have each other's back" and feel secure in knowing they can count on one another (1h18m25s).
• In contrast, individualistic societies often encourage self-reliance and independence, discouraging people from forming strong emotional bonds with others (1h18m38s).
• The concept of "many Englishmen" is defined as individuals who are sent away to boarding school at a young age, where they must learn to fend for themselves without the constant support of family or caregivers (1h18m46s).
• The experience of attending boarding school, such as Eton, can be transformative for some individuals, helping them develop resilience and coping mechanisms in the absence of traditional support systems (1h18m57s).

Building Connections Through Sports (1h18m59s)

• In England, public schools have traditionally used sports as a powerful way to build connections and closeness among people, particularly men, through shared physical activities like playing football and fighting in fields (1h18m59s).
• Playing sports can create a sense of unity and shared responsibility, as teammates rely on each other to overcome challenges and problems (1h19m20s).
• Even years after playing sports together, people often maintain easy contact with their former teammates, highlighting the lasting impact of these connections (1h19m33s).
• In contrast, modern society often involves living alone, surrounded by screens and white walls, which can contribute to feelings of isolation (1h19m44s).
• Studies suggest that the average American has zero people they feel they can turn to in a time of crisis, down from three people two decades ago, emphasizing the need to rebuild connections in modern life (1h19m52s).

How to Get By in an Individualistic Society (1h20m4s)

• In today's society, people are lonelier than ever before, and this is partly due to the societal design that fosters loneliness (1h20m5s).
• The challenge lies in finding ways to address this issue on an individual level and help people connect with each other (1h20m12s).
• A potential solution involves creating projects that bring people together, such as making music or theater, to promote collaboration and deep connection (1h20m25s).
• Humans have a natural inclination towards collaborative, active, and physical creation, which can be a powerful tool for building connections and improving mental health (1h20m37s).
• Traditional mental health approaches often focus on talk therapy and medication, but neglect the importance of deep, interpersonal connections (1h20m49s).
• The key to addressing loneliness and promoting mental well-being may lie in finding ways to bring people together and foster a sense of community and collaboration (1h20m52s).

Are You Optimistic About the Future? (1h20m59s)

• A person expressed desperation after the last election, which was characterized by "othering," where people were made to feel different and evil, and immigrants were blamed for problems (1h20m59s).
• This behavior is seen as a projection of people's own discomfort with themselves onto others, particularly those from different religions and skin colors, rather than acknowledging and addressing internal issues (1h21m21s).
• The person being spoken to is not a fan of Trump, describing him as an "obvious psychopath" who doesn't care about others (1h21m48s).
• The person is challenged to point out anything good about Trump, implying that his actions and behavior are largely negative (1h21m55s).

Are You Able to Point Out Anything Good About Trump? (1h21m58s)

• When interviewing pro-Trump guests, a question is posed to them, asking if they can point out anything bad about Trump, as he has made questionable statements and has a history of bankruptcy (1h21m59s).
• Trump has made statements that are considered foolish, such as claiming to have been received better than anybody else in Chinese history during a visit to China (1h22m8s).
• Trump's past includes going bankrupt, which is often brought up in discussions about his character and decision-making (1h22m16s).

Human Inclination Toward Fighting (1h22m19s)

• A person is described as saying terrible things and insulting others all the time, yet it is acknowledged that there may be something good about them, as evidenced by Ivanka's past affection for this individual (1h22m26s).
• This person is ultimately characterized as terrible (1h22m33s).
• The topic of trauma is revisited, with a reference to three aspects of trauma (1h22m37s).

Three Ways to Reverse the Damage of Trauma (1h22m39s)

• The first step in reversing the damage of trauma is to understand the individual, including their values, what is working in their life, and what they want to work on, rather than focusing on their trauma or creating a list of their problems (1h22m49s).
• This process involves creating a map of who the individual is, including their strengths and challenges, and exploring how they relate to others, including the therapist (1h23m29s).
• The therapist checks in regularly with the individual to ensure that the process is helping them and may suggest activities such as martial arts or yoga, but ultimately helps the individual discover what is going on and where it leads them (1h23m48s).
• To determine the best treatment approach, the therapist observes how the individual responds to different topics, including their level of agitation and ability to focus, and uses this information to inform their approach (1h24m26s).
• If the individual is chronically agitated or unable to focus, the therapist may suggest activities that can help calm their body and brain, such as yoga or neurofeedback, which involves using electrodes to monitor and organize brain activity (1h24m55s).
• Neurofeedback involves hooking the individual's skull up to electrodes, projecting their brain activity on a computer screen, and using this information to play computer games that help organize their brain waves and improve focus and attention (1h25m7s).

Types of Brainwaves (1h25m38s)

• There are five different types of brain waves: gamma, beta, alpha, theta, and delta, which vary in closeness and frequency, with gamma being the closest and delta being the farthest apart (1h25m38s).
• Gamma brain waves are not typically associated with anxiety, but rather with focused thinking, and their presence can vary depending on the location in the brain (1h26m5s).
• The back of the brain is supposed to have slow waves, as it deals with the body's housekeeping functions, such as regulating breathing, eating, and bodily functions, which can be disrupted by trauma (1h26m13s).
• A large part of the brain is dedicated to body regulation, which can be severely impacted by trauma, leading to changes in brain wave patterns (1h26m34s).
• When a person closes their eyes, their brain is supposed to develop slow waves, indicating a sense of peace, but in individuals who have experienced trauma, the brain may become agitated and create faster waves, leading to feelings of agitation (1h26m41s).
• Trauma can lead to brain disorganization, and treatment focuses on addressing this disorganization rather than the trauma itself (1h27m24s).
• The goal of treatment is to train the brain to become calm and organized, especially in the back of the brain, which is responsible for bodily regulation, allowing individuals to feel peaceful when they close their eyes (1h27m9s).

Psychedelic Therapy (1h27m33s)

• Some individuals are recommended to have a psychedelic experience, which has been suggested more frequently in recent times due to stunning research results that exceeded expectations (1h27m38s).
• However, not everyone is considered ready for psychedelics, and some are advised to start with neurofeedback and body practices to live more in their body before undergoing psychedelic therapy (1h27m59s).
• Body practices are essential and will be discussed further, but they are considered necessary steps before exploring psychedelics (1h28m11s).

Body Practices (1h28m12s)

• Body practices such as yoga, martial arts, and massages can be beneficial for healing and recovery (1h28m13s).
• For individuals who have experienced physical trauma, such as being beaten up or molested, human touch can become complicated and uncomfortable (1h28m22s).
• As a result, these individuals may not feel comforted by human touch, and the natural calming effect of touch from other humans may be absent in their body (1h28m35s).
• Learning to live in a body that can be touched is an important aspect of healing and recovery from trauma (1h28m45s).
• Human touch is considered a healing tool, and being able to receive and feel comforted by touch is essential for overall well-being (1h28m51s).

Is Touch Healing? (1h28m53s)

• Touch is an elemental human need that plays a crucial role in human connection and can be a powerful tool in healing and reversing trauma (1h28m57s).
• There are three broad ways of reversing trauma, one of which is the top-down approach (1h29m5s).

Talk Therapy (1h29m6s)

• Talk therapy is based on understanding and insight, but its importance can be downplayed, especially for individuals who are more cerebral and suspicious of the idea that explaining and understanding things is enough to address their issues (1h29m7s).
• The speaker is a cerebral person and tends to be suspicious of the idea that talk therapy, which focuses on understanding and insight, is sufficient (1h29m12s).
• The two main aspects being discussed are talk therapy, which involves understanding and insight, and taking medications (1h29m29s).

Bessel's View on Taking Medications (1h29m31s)

• Medications can be used to shut down the body's alarm signals, which is a common approach to treating trauma and related disorders (1h29m31s).
• The initial approach to treating trauma often involves the use of medications, and some individuals may find them helpful in managing their symptoms (1h29m33s).
• The person discussing trauma treatment started their career as a psychopharmacologist and conducted the first studies on Prozac and Zoloft for PTSD (1h29m37s).
• Medications such as Prozac and Zoloft are not inherently bad and can be beneficial for some people in managing their PTSD symptoms (1h29m42s).
• A third approach to treating trauma, known as the bottom-up approach, involves allowing the body to process and release traumatic experiences in a safe and controlled environment (1h29m49s).

The Bottom-Up Approach (1h29m53s)

• The body needs to have experiences that contradict the helplessness or rage associated with trauma, which is the focus of somatic therapies that target the body rather than the mind (1h29m53s).
• Somatic therapies aim to provide people with experiences of connection and pleasure, which is a crucial aspect often missing in the therapy, mental health, and medical fields (1h30m0s).
• Another dimension of experiences that can be beneficial is having alternate reality experiences that can "blow your mind" (1h30m24s).
• In terms of energy, matcha is highly recommended due to its benefits, with Perfect Ted being a favorite matcha company that offers various flavors of matcha pouches (1h30m36s).
• Perfect Ted matcha pouches come in flavors such as salted caramel, peach, mint, berry, and vanilla, and can be easily prepared by mixing the powder with a liquid (1h30m47s).
• Perfect Ted products can be found in Tesco and Holland Barrett stores or online, where a 40% discount can be applied using the code "diary 40" (1h31m18s).
• While the gym can be helpful, it often becomes a very limited approach (1h31m35s).

Does Going to the Gym Help? (1h31m38s)

• Going to the gym can be a solitary experience and may not be an ideal form of trauma treatment, as it often involves repetitive activities like watching TV while on a treadmill (1h31m38s).
• Some people, including a colleague who is a weightlifter, believe that lifting weights can be extremely helpful for trauma, and it may be true for many others, but there is a lack of research on the topic due to limited funding (1h32m2s).
• Many weightlifters who have been interviewed have experienced early trauma, such as being bullied as kids, and have used weightlifting as a way to build self-esteem and defend themselves (1h32m34s).
• Weightlifting can be a way for people to feel a sense of agency and power, especially for those who have experienced trauma and felt helpless, but it may not be enough on its own to overcome trauma (1h33m30s).
• Some individuals, such as those who were abused by Catholic priests, have turned to weightlifting and bodybuilding as a way to cope with their trauma, but it has not been enough to fully overcome their experiences (1h33m21s).
• In addition to physical activities like weightlifting, making a connection with the feelings of helplessness and using other forms of therapy, such as psychedelic therapy, may be necessary to fully address trauma (1h33m46s).

Bessel's View on Psychedelic Therapy (1h33m50s)

• The view on psychedelic therapy is that it can be helpful for people who are traumatized, as it can open up their mind to larger realities and help them see that their trauma is just a small part of a much larger universe (1h33m50s).
• The culture of psychedelic use changed in the 60s, and they became illegal and criminalized, but scientists like Rick Doblin and Michael Mithoefer have worked to open up the world of psychedelics again (1h34m45s).
• A study was conducted comparing good psychotherapy with psychotherapy plus MDMA, and the results showed that the MDMA vastly changed the situation, with people becoming more aware of themselves and having compassion for themselves (1h35m38s).
• The study also found that people who used MDMA had a deep sense of self-compassion, instead of the usual response of self-hatred and self-blame, and they also had compassion for their perpetrators (1h36m22s).
• The use of psychedelics can lead to a sense of time and a realization that traumatic experiences happened to the person, rather than being their fault, and can also bring up vivid and deep memories that were previously unaware (1h36m37s).
• The experience of using psychedelics can be described as a true revolution, as it can bring about a sense of compassion and understanding for oneself and others (1h37m41s).
• The study's results were stunning, with people who used MDMA showing significant changes, whereas the therapy alone did not make as much of a difference (1h35m51s).
• The paper written about the study did not get quoted much, but the secondary data showed that trauma can change a person's experience of themselves and that psychedelics can help people become more aware of themselves (1h36m13s).

Effects of MDMA (1h37m46s)

• Research on MDMA therapy has shown significant results, with a phase three clinical trial reporting that 67% of participants who received MDMA-assisted therapy no longer met the PTSD criteria, compared to 30% in the placebo group (1h38m8s).
• This drastic change in PTSD symptoms is notable, but the more important outcome is the change in people's relationship to themselves, which is often overlooked (1h38m36s).
• A key aspect of this change is whether individuals can develop a positive relationship with themselves, characterized by self-love, an open heart, and a willingness to engage in new experiences (1h38m48s).
• The focus on PTSD symptoms can be limiting, as it neglects the broader question of whether individuals can embrace themselves as human beings (1h38m59s).
• Studies on treatment-resistant depression have also shown interesting results, highlighting the potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy beyond PTSD treatment (1h39m7s).

Impact of Psychedelics on Treatment-Resistant Depression (1h39m10s)

• A 2021 study on treatment-resistant depression found that a single dose of psilocybin led to significant reduction in depression, with effects lasting up to 6 weeks for many participants (1h39m17s).
• In the same study, 30% of participants were in remission after 3 weeks, and a study by Johns Hopkins University showed that 71% of participants experienced a more than 50% reduction in symptoms after two psilocybin sessions (1h39m29s).
• The Johns Hopkins University study also found that 54% of participants achieved remission 4 weeks after treatment, and a follow-up study found that nearly 60% of participants maintained reductions in depression symptoms one year after treatment (1h39m39s).
• Psilocybin is not yet legal in America and the UK, but ketamine is, and it has been found to have similar effects to psilocybin and MDMA in treating depression, despite being a completely different chemical substance (1h39m58s).
• Ketamine therapy is being used to treat depression, and it has been found to have similar effects to psilocybin and MDMA, although the exact reasons for this are not specified (1h40m6s).

Bessel's Experience with Psychedelics (1h40m18s)

• Bessel van der Kolk participated in an MDMA study, where he had to take MDMA as part of his job, despite initially thinking it was just a substance that induced pleasure (1h40m23s).
• During the experience, he felt the trauma and pain of his patients that he had previously dismissed as not affecting him, and he spent eight hours in agony (1h40m50s).
• The experience had a profound effect on him, making him a sadder but wiser person, as he was able to feel the pain more deeply (1h41m7s).
• His guide, Michael Mithoefer, helped him process his feelings of failure and pain by sharing his own experience of reliving the memories of patients who died in his hands during his own psychedelic experience (1h41m30s).
• The context and setting of psychedelic experiences are crucial, and having a supportive environment and guide can make a significant difference in the outcome (1h42m11s).
• The importance of a safe and supportive environment is highlighted by the fact that most participants in the study said they couldn't have done it without the support of the researchers (1h42m46s).
• The experience emphasized the need for a supportive context, which is often lacking in a profit-driven world that seeks to provide quick fixes rather than comprehensive support (1h42m36s).

How Did Psychedelic Experiences Change You? (1h42m57s)

• Psychedelic experiences led to significant personal changes, including increased humility and compassion towards others, resulting from just one dose, although multiple experiences were had. (1h42m57s)
• The experiences also included painful ones, which contributed to the development of greater self-awareness. (1h43m10s)
• This newfound awareness helped in understanding the personal connection to the quest for understanding trauma, with further insights gained after the age of 70. (1h43m23s)

Have You Healed from Your Trauma? (1h43m33s)

• Healing from trauma is a complex process, and the concept of healing can be subjective, with some people considering themselves healed while others may not. (1h43m34s)
• Many people, including those who have worked with the author, have reported doing well and experiencing improvement in their condition. (1h43m40s)
• The author's book is described as a hopeful one, with each chapter featuring stories of people who have shown improvement, backed by scientific evidence. (1h43m49s)
• The author has conducted research to prove the effectiveness of various therapies, including EMDR, yoga, and neurofeedback, in helping people recover from trauma. (1h43m59s)
• The author's mission is to advocate for trauma recovery and to conduct scientific research to determine the effectiveness of different therapies for different individuals. (1h44m8s)

Psychodrama (1h44m21s)

• Psychodrama is a technique that involves acting out personal experiences in three-dimensional space to process and overcome trauma, and it has been helpful in dealing with personal trauma (1h44m27s).
• In a psychodrama exercise, individuals are asked to place family members or others in a physical space, which can evoke strong emotions and reactions, making the experience feel more concrete and vivid (1h44m49s).
• The placement of individuals in the space can reveal underlying feelings and dynamics, such as authority issues or complicated emotions, which may not be immediately apparent when simply talking about the experience (1h45m45s).
• The exercise can also involve acting out scenarios that were not possible in real life, such as confronting or expressing emotions to someone who was absent or unresponsive, which can be a powerful way to process and release emotions (1h46m51s).
• Another aspect of psychodrama involves imagining and acting out a scenario with a person who represents the idealized version of someone, such as a nurturing parent, which can lead to a deep emotional release and a sense of what could have been (1h47m15s).
• The physical and three-dimensional nature of psychodrama can create a sense of reality and make the experience more impactful, allowing individuals to tap into emotions and memories that may not be accessible through traditional talk therapy (1h48m19s).
• Psychodrama can provide a reparative emotional experience, giving individuals a sense of what it would have been like to have a different experience in the past, which can be a powerful tool for healing and growth (1h48m33s).
• This technique is often used in group settings, where individuals can work through their experiences with the support of others, and can be a powerful way to create a virtual reality that can be deeply impactful and memorable (1h48m1s).

The Rise in ADHD Diagnoses (1h49m18s)

• Approximately 11% of children aged 3 to 17 in 2022 had been diagnosed with ADHD, up from 9% in 2016 (1h49m21s).
• In the UK, between 2000 and 2018, ADHD diagnosis in adults rose 20-fold, with a 20-fold increase in medication prescriptions among men aged 18 to 29 (1h49m30s).
• In Australia, over the past decade, ADHD medication has surged nearly 300%, with more than a 450% increase among adults, and a significant rise among women (1h49m45s).
• ADHD is viewed as a dimensional issue, rather than a binary one, where people have varying capacities to focus, pay attention, and be flexible in their attention (1h50m13s).
• This dimensional issue means that some people have better abilities in these areas than others, and some people may have issues staying focused, still, or paying attention due to underlying issues (1h50m25s).
• Trauma can significantly impact a person's capacity to focus and concentrate, with nearly every traumatized child meeting the criteria for ADHD (1h50m57s).
• The diagnostic system for mental phenomena is flawed, as these conditions are not entities like cancer or astrocytoma, but rather complex networks of organizing the mind (1h51m18s).

Cause of ADHD (1h51m31s)

• ADHD is viewed as a response to Early Childhood stress and Trauma, rather than purely genetic or neurological, but it can also be caused by genetic, toxic, or traumatic factors (1h51m34s).
• The surface behavior of ADHD includes not being able to focus or concentrate, as seen in the case of the speaker's son who met the criteria for ADHD in math (1h51m50s).
• The speaker's son had organic issues but was not particularly traumatized, and he eventually outgrew his ADHD symptoms, indicating that these conditions are not stable and can change over time (1h52m2s).
• ADHD is considered a multifactorial surface phenomenon, meaning it can be influenced by various factors and is not a fixed condition (1h52m19s).
• The speaker was diagnosed with ADHD, but this information is not further elaborated upon in the provided text (1h52m25s).

Is ADHD Over diagnosed? (1h52m28s)

• People with ADHD can exhibit drastically different symptoms, making it challenging to understand the condition when there are many subtypes, and the singular label may not be helpful in understanding oneself (1h52m28s).
• The current diagnostic system is considered to be unscientific and was created by making a list of diagnoses in a room 40 years ago, with no scientific validity to support it (1h53m16s).
• PTSD is one of the more scientifically reliable diagnoses, but the categorization of human minds is still very primitive, and it is known that the system should be moved beyond, but it hasn't been done yet (1h53m27s).
• The focus is not on helping people, but rather on running successful and financially stable organizations, as stated by the head of an insurance company who took a neurofeedback training (1h53m48s).
• The head of the insurance company expressed that his interest is not in getting people better, but rather in having as many subscribers to his insurance as possible (1h54m14s).
• The current system prioritizes financial gain over helping people, and it is known that the system should be changed to focus on helping people, but it hasn't been done yet (1h54m22s).

Check This Cut (1h54m24s)

• Doctors are being asked how to improve a patient's condition, and what is wrong with them, despite having extensive knowledge of neuroscience and how the brain organizes information (1h54m24s).
• There is a need to update the understanding of the brain to 2024 and consider the networks in the brain and their connections to mental functioning at different ages (1h54m35s).
• The brain's ability to filter out irrelevant information, be still and quiet, and complete tasks are important factors to consider in understanding mental functioning (1h54m55s).
• Understanding how the brain develops at different ages, such as what children understand at age three versus age five, is crucial in addressing trauma and preventing the development of traumatized children (1h54m46s).
• A key question is how to prevent raising a traumatized child, highlighting the importance of addressing trauma and promoting healthy brain development (1h55m3s).

How Can We Raise Untraumatised Kids? (1h55m6s)

• Raising kids in a community environment with multiple caregivers is crucial to prevent passing on personal pathologies to them, as it allows children to see multiple perspectives and idealize different role models (1h55m6s).
• Having a single caregiver can lead to the child being exposed to the full extent of that person's pathology, making it essential for kids to be raised by a number of people (1h55m15s).
• The concept of "it takes a village" is idealized, where kids are part of a large environment with many caregivers, allowing them to see their parents as safe but flawed people (1h55m40s).
• A nuclear family setup can make it harder for parents to keep their personal pathologies out of their child's life, emphasizing the importance of community in raising untraumatized kids (1h55m50s).
• Community plays a vital role in raising a child and is essential for healing childhood trauma (1h56m3s).

Helping People in Traumatic Events (1h56m9s)

• Trauma is about feeling helpless and not having anyone come to one's rescue, which is why it's crucial to have the experience of being helped when feeling scared or unable to do something, creating an imprint that someone will be there for support even in difficult times (1h56m12s).
• Many people miss this experience, especially those with a violent or drunken parent, where the other parent often turns a blind eye and fails to protect them, leading to a sense of betrayal (1h56m42s).
• The betrayal of a parent not intervening to stop the other parent from hurting their child is a significant issue for many people, and having bystanders who do not come to one's help can be particularly damaging (1h57m10s).
• To recover from this type of trauma, it's essential to counteract it with adult experiences where people come to one's help, such as being part of a sports team, theater group, or musical group where individuals feel supported and valued (1h57m31s).
• Rhythmicity and synchronicity are at the core of our internal sense of safety and belonging, and being part of a group that promotes these qualities can be particularly helpful in healing from trauma (1h57m55s).

Question from the Previous Guest (1h58m6s)

• The question that the audience may have after hearing the conversation is "where do I get the help I need," as it can be hard to find the right support for trauma and healing (1h58m18s).
• Many people who have found a way to heal from trauma have been explorers, trying different approaches and finding what works for them, often through accidental discoveries (1h58m35s).
• The mainstream approach may not be effective for everyone, and individuals need to discover what works for them, which can be a tough and sometimes frustrating process (1h59m0s).
• It's essential to make a distinction between what's not working and blaming oneself, as self-blame can be unhelpful and hinder progress (1h59m17s).
• Community and connection can play a significant role in healing, as seen in the benefits of being part of sports teams, music groups, or other collective activities (1h59m51s).
• Many adults, especially men, may lack these community connections and need to make an effort to fill their lives with more of these activities (2h0m30s).
• Society is not always designed to provide what people need, and individuals must take responsibility for seeking out connections and community (2h0m47s).
• Technology has both helped and hindered community building, with the decline of traditional community centers and the rise of individualized entertainment (2h0m54s).
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's work has had a significant impact on many people, providing a new understanding of their experiences and offering hope for healing and treatment (2h1m36s).
• The host expresses gratitude to Dr. van der Kolk for his work and its impact on his partner and many others, and encourages him to continue his work (2h2m8s).
• The conversation ends with an announcement about the "Diary of a CEO" conversation cards, which feature questions from guests, including Dr. van der Kolk, and provide a way for people to engage with the topics discussed (2h2m22s).