Traumatic Stress

The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society

By: Bessel A. van der Kolk, Alexander C. McFarlane, Lars Weisaeth

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Length: 20 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

This best-selling classic presents seminal theory and research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Together, the leading editors and contributors comprehensively examine how trauma affects an individual's biology, conceptions of the world, and psychological functioning. Key topics include why certain people cope successfully with traumatic experiences while others do not, the neurobiological processes underlying PTSD symptomatology, enduring questions surrounding traumatic memories and dissociation, and the core components of effective interventions. A highly influential work that laid the foundation for many of the field's continuing advances, this volume remains an immensely informative and thought-provoking clinical reference.

©1996 The Guilford Press; Preface to the Paperback Edition copyright 2007 by The Guilford Press (P)2017 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"It is impossible to capture the richness, breadth of perspective, and sheer clinical wisdom that van der Kolk and his colleagues bring to this volume." ( Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic)

More IMPORTANT than Ever

I read “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk, and wanted more science to illuminate the roots of Trauma. “Traumatic Stress:” adds even more light to the hope of processes and paths that can help people manage and thrive after the unspeakable.... or at least the rather not say traumas of life. It’s a lot of science, but worth trying to grasp for the ah-ha gems. There is hope, & more often then not, it’s not sold at the drugstore

Huge Bessel A. Van der Kolk fan!

If you’re looking into the category of trauma. This is wonderful! It taught me so much about myself and my past.

not engaging

not engaging. very bland reading, not good for s book on PTSD. couldnt make it past chapter 2 and I can normally push through. flop.

not helpful

this book was a waste of my free book. it was not helpful as he kept saying statistics and so many names in reference that it was actually confusing.

Solid science, but for practitioners only

If you could sum up Traumatic Stress in three words, what would they be?

The book is a good primer and reference for practitioners. There are a large number of studies to back up the points made in each chapter. The sources are mostly drawn from studies of military veterans and survivors of natural disasters or rape.
Lay readers, especially those without knowledge of medical jargon, will find the book incomprehensible. It contains no self-help advice.

I have 2 reservations:
1. The theory is Freudian. These days, I would expect a migration to a neuroscience approach to theory; however, this is a minor part of the book and does not detract from the main content.
2. The authors idealize religion. While some practitioners and patients may gain much from faith, some people (myself included) have been traumatized in the name of religion. Were I given a religious treatment, that would serve only to re-traumatize me. Practitioners should beware of blindly assuming that particular beliefs or practices are universally good.

Needs updating but very informative and non biase,

Good book needs updating but gives a good Un biased look at a fascinating subject.