6 ways to heal trauma without medication | Bessel van der Kolk | Big Think

Big Think
19 Sept 202108:53
EducationalLearning
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TLDRBessel van der Kolk, a renowned physician and psychiatrist with 50 years of experience studying trauma, discusses the limitations of conventional treatments for PTSD. He explores alternative therapies such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), yoga, theater, neurofeedback, and the use of psychedelics like MDMA to help patients reprocess traumatic memories and foster self-compassion. Emphasizing the importance of body awareness and the individualized nature of trauma treatment, van der Kolk highlights the profound impact of these non-traditional methods in healing and transforming the lives of those suffering from PTSD.

Takeaways
  • 💊 Traditional medications like Prozac and Zoloft for PTSD were found to be largely ineffective by Bessel van der Kolk.
  • 🧠 The nature of trauma involves the survival brain making an immediate judgement on whether an event is dangerous or safe.
  • 🤔 The challenge in treating trauma is helping individuals to feel fundamentally safe in their bodies.
  • 👩‍⚕️ Good psychotherapy can be helpful in trauma treatment, not to 'fix' people, but to acknowledge and care for their internal wounds.
  • ❤️ Self-compassion and understanding one's reactions as understandable are crucial for beginning the recovery from trauma.
  • 👀 EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy has shown to be effective in changing the brain's circuitry and aiding trauma recovery.
  • 🧘 Yoga has been found to be a more effective treatment for PTSD than conventional drugs, by fostering a deep relationship with one's internal sensory system.
  • 🎭 Engaging in theater and role-playing can help individuals feel different emotions and sensations, aiding in trauma recovery.
  • 🧠 Neurofeedback can shape the brain to be more open to new experiences and calm, focused states.
  • 🍄 Psychedelics, such as MDMA, have shown promise in treating trauma by allowing individuals to view their experiences with compassion and without self-blame.
  • 🧑‍🔬 Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes that different people may require different treatments, and trauma recovery is a unique and individual process.
  • 🌟 The importance of experimenting with various treatments and approaches to find what works best for each individual's healing journey.
Q & A
  • What is the conventional approach to treating feelings of distress according to the speaker's upbringing?

    -The conventional approach, as described by the speaker, involves taking medication to alleviate feelings of distress.

  • What was the outcome of the speaker's initial studies on Prozac and Zoloft for treating PTSD?

    -The speaker found that Prozac and Zoloft, along with other conventional drugs, did not work very well for treating PTSD.

  • What is the fundamental challenge in treating trauma according to Bessel van der Kolk?

    -The fundamental challenge in treating trauma is helping individuals to live in bodies that feel fundamentally safe.

  • How does psychotherapy help in the recovery from trauma?

    -Psychotherapy is helpful as it allows individuals to acknowledge the terrible experiences they've had and to take care of the internal wounds, fostering self-compassion and understanding of their reactions.

  • What is EMDR, and how does it work?

    -EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It involves asking individuals to recall traumatic memories while following the therapist's moving fingers. This process is believed to change the brain's circuitry, leading to a different interpretation of the traumatic event.

  • Why did the speaker initially dismiss EMDR as a 'crazy method'?

    -The speaker initially dismissed EMDR due to its unusual approach involving eye movement, which seemed nonsensical before he witnessed the positive results it produced.

  • How did yoga prove to be effective in treating PTSD in the speaker's studies?

    -Yoga was found to be more effective than drugs studied for PTSD because it helps individuals develop a deep relationship with their internal sensory system, learn calm breathing, and understand how different movements and postures affect them.

  • What role does theater and movement play in the healing process from trauma?

    -Theater and movement help individuals to experience different roles and feelings within their bodies, which can lead to a realization that their body's sensations can change based on their self-perception and organization.

  • How does neurofeedback work, and what benefits has it shown in the speaker's studies?

    -Neurofeedback involves using electrodes on the skull to reward certain brainwave patterns associated with calmness and focus. It has shown success in reshaping the brain to be more open to new experiences.

  • What was the speaker's initial reaction to the idea of using psychedelics for trauma treatment?

    -The speaker was initially enthusiastic about the idea, as it resonated with his experiences from the 1960s, but he advised against it due to the legal and career risks associated with psychedelic substances.

  • How did the use of MDMA (ecstasy or molly) in the treatment of trauma manifest in the study?

    -In the study, participants took MDMA while lying on a bed with two therapists present for eight hours. The drug allowed them to revisit traumatic experiences with compassion, leading to a significant increase in self-perception and self-awareness, and a substantial drop in PTSD symptoms.

  • What is the key takeaway from the speaker's discussion on treating trauma?

    -The key takeaway is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating trauma. Different people require different treatments, and the process of healing from trauma is experimental and individual.

Outlines
00:00
🧠 Trauma Treatment and the Limits of Conventional Medicine

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a psychiatrist with 50 years of experience studying trauma, discusses the inadequacy of conventional treatments like Prozac and Zoloft for PTSD. He emphasizes the importance of body awareness and safety in treating trauma. Traditional psychotherapy is highlighted as beneficial for acknowledging and addressing the emotional wounds of traumatic experiences. The concept of self-compassion is introduced as a crucial part of the recovery process. Dr. van der Kolk also mentions his initial skepticism towards unconventional methods like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), but after witnessing its effectiveness, he acknowledges its ability to change brain circuitry and help individuals let go of traumatic memories. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of studying yoga as a potential treatment for PTSD.

05:03
🎭 Alternative Approaches to Healing Trauma

The narrative continues with Dr. van der Kolk exploring various non-pharmaceutical treatments for trauma. He talks about the profound effects of EMDR and how it enables individuals to reinterpret their traumatic experiences from a new perspective. The effectiveness of yoga in fostering a deep connection with one's body and treating PTSD is discussed, noting that it was more effective than pharmaceuticals. However, he laments the lack of transformation in clinical settings to incorporate such practices. The study of theater and movement is mentioned as another approach, suggesting that embodying different roles can help change one's self-perception and relationship with their body. The 'Shakespeare in the Courts' program is cited as an example of using theater to help juvenile delinquents experience different roles and feel their bodies in various ways. Neurofeedback is also discussed as a method to reward calm and focused brainwaves, thereby reshaping the brain for new experiences. The paragraph concludes with Dr. van der Kolk's personal anecdote about his interest in psychedelics for trauma treatment, the successful study of MDMA (ecstasy/molly) for PTSD, and the importance of individualized treatment approaches.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Trauma
Trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that can have long-lasting effects on a person's mental and emotional well-being. In the video, trauma is the central theme as the speaker discusses various methods for treating its effects. The speaker mentions that trauma involves a survival brain's initial interpretation of an event as dangerous or safe, which is crucial for understanding the individual's reactions and the challenge of helping them feel fundamentally safe in their bodies.
💡PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. It is characterized by intrusive memories, flashbacks, and severe anxiety. In the context of the video, PTSD is a specific type of trauma that the speaker has researched extensively. The speaker conducted studies on conventional drugs like Prozac and Zoloft for PTSD, only to find that they did not work very well, leading to the exploration of alternative treatments.
💡Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a therapeutic process that involves a licensed therapist and a patient in a confidential, interpersonal relationship to treat or prevent psychological problems. The speaker emphasizes that good psychotherapy can be quite helpful in treating trauma, not by fixing people, but by helping them acknowledge the terrible events they experienced and take care of their internal wounds. This is a significant part of beginning to recover from trauma, as it fosters self-compassion and understanding.
💡EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy that involves recalling distressing memories while making specific eye movements or other physical stimuli. The speaker initially dismissed EMDR as 'crazy nonsense,' but after witnessing its effectiveness, acknowledged that it can change the brain's circuitry and help individuals reinterpret their traumatic experiences from a different, less distressing perspective.
💡Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India, which aims to transform body and mind. In the video, yoga is presented as a more effective treatment for PTSD than the drugs previously studied. The speaker suggests that yoga helps individuals to open up their relationship to their body, learn calm breathing, and become more aware of how different movements and postures affect them, ultimately forming a deep relationship with their internal sensory system.
💡Theater and Movement
Theater and movement involve the use of the body and voice to express and convey emotions and narratives. The speaker discusses how playing different roles through theater can help individuals feel that their bodies can experience a range of emotions and sensations, depending on how they relate to themselves. This can be a powerful tool for those recovering from trauma, as it allows them to explore different aspects of their identity and experience.
💡Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time displays of brain activity—most commonly electroencephalography (EEG)—in an effort to teach self-regulation of brain function. The speaker mentions that neurofeedback was successful in their studies, as it can shape the brain to have a different configuration that is open to new experiences. This technique can help individuals regulate their brainwaves associated with calmness and focus, providing a reward that aids in the healing process.
💡Psychedelics
Psychedelics are a class of hallucinogenic drugs that can induce altered states of perception, mood, and cognitive processes. The speaker, a 'child of the sixties' with experience in LSD, discusses the potential of psychedelics like MDMA (ecstasy or molly) for treating trauma. The video describes a study where patients were given MDMA during an eight-hour session with therapists, which allowed them to revisit and process traumatic experiences with compassion and without self-blame, leading to significant improvements in PTSD symptoms.
💡Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is the practice of being kind to oneself in instances of pain or failure, as opposed to being self-critical. The speaker highlights the importance of self-compassion in the recovery from trauma. It involves acknowledging the terrible events that have happened and understanding that one's reactions are natural and understandable. This awareness is a crucial part of the healing process, as it helps individuals to take care of their emotional wounds.
💡Healing Experiment
The concept of a 'healing experiment' refers to the idea that recovery from trauma is a process of trial and error, where different treatments and therapies are tested to find what works best for each individual. The speaker emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating trauma, and each person's journey to healing is unique. This experimental approach underscores the importance of personalization in therapy and the need for continuous exploration of new and diverse methods.
💡Shakespeare in the Courts
The 'Shakespeare in the Courts' program is a unique initiative mentioned in the video where juvenile delinquents are given the opportunity to become actors in Shakespearean plays. This program is highlighted as being beneficial for individuals to feel their bodies and experience different roles, such as a king or a warrior, which can lead to a deeper understanding of themselves and their potential. It serves as an example of how non-traditional methods can be used to help individuals recover from trauma by engaging with their emotions and identities in a creative and expressive way.
Highlights

Conventional drugs like Prozac and Zoloft were found to be ineffective for treating PTSD.

Bessel van der Kolk, a physician and psychiatrist with 50 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of feeling safe in one's body when treating trauma.

Good psychotherapy is helpful in acknowledging the trauma and the need for self-care.

Self-compassion and understanding one's reactions are crucial for beginning trauma recovery.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was initially dismissed but later shown to be effective in changing brain circuitry and alleviating trauma.

Yoga was found to be more effective for treating PTSD than any drugs studied, by forming a deep relationship with one's internal sensory system.

Theater and movement therapy can help individuals feel different emotions through role-playing, affecting their self-perception.

Neurofeedback, using electrodes on the skull, can shape the brain to be more open to new experiences.

Psychedelics, specifically MDMA, were considered for their potential to open up the mind and treat trauma.

MDMA-assisted therapy allows patients to revisit traumatic experiences with compassion and without self-blame.

MDMA therapy has shown substantial drops in PTSD symptoms, more so than other treatments studied.

Different people require different treatments for trauma; there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Healing from trauma is viewed as an experimental process, with each individual requiring a personalized approach.

Non-conventional techniques such as yoga and theater have profound effects on trauma recovery.

The Shakespeare in the Courts program uses theater to help juvenile delinquents experience different roles and deepen their self-awareness.

Bessel van der Kolk's research spans various disciplines, from psychotherapy to psychedelics, in the search for effective trauma treatments.

The study of MDMA for trauma treatment involved an all-day session with the drug and two therapists, leading to remarkable self-awareness and acceptance.

Van der Kolk cautions against the immediate adoption of new methods, advocating for a careful, experimental approach to trauma treatment.

Transcripts
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