Bessel van der Kolk

"The most important thing we can do is listen to our bodies."

"Trauma lives in the body."

"To recover, we must learn to tolerate the sensations in our bodies."

"Real change comes from within."

"We are capable of more resilience than we think."

"The mind-body connection is fundamental to health."

"Isolation is one of the greatest obstacles to recovery."

"We can rewire our brains through conscious effort."

"The present moment is the only place we truly exist."

"Children develop through play and exploration."

"Our brains need novelty to stay healthy."

"Fear is often about losing control."

"The nervous system needs to feel safe before it can heal."

"We are more than our diagnoses."

"Compassion is the foundation of healing."

"Our stories shape our reality."

"Being witnessed by another person is healing."

"The body is the keystone of the self."

"Trauma can be transformed into wisdom."

"We must learn to live with uncertainty."

"The capacity to love is the capacity to be vulnerable."

"Children need safe adults to help them regulate their emotions."

"Our primitive brain reacts; our rational brain responds."

"Healing requires us to become conscious of our unconscious patterns."

"The body remembers what the mind forgets."

"We cannot think our way out of trauma."

"Connection is more powerful than any medication."

"The nervous system is constantly scanning for danger."

"We need to teach children about their own bodies."

"Art is a language that bypasses words."