Newmag Publishing House and the Gulbenkian Foundation presented the book “The Body Keeps the Score” on the “Good Morning” program (video)

The televised presentation took place on Armenia TV’s “Good Morning” program. Tatev Baghdasaryan, the editor of the Armenian edition, noted that the book has a strong psychiatric focus. 

“People are constantly exposed to stress. Some stressors may go unnoticed or be forgotten, but their imprint can remain in the brain for years, memory never truly lets go. In the book, the author uses the expression ‘memory ruins.’ One day you might experience gastrointestinal or heart issues without any physiological cause, these could be consequences of unresolved trauma”.

Baghdasaryan emphasized how relevant the book is for Armenia today: 

“Research has been conducted among Holocaust survivors, war victims, and survivors of disasters and terrorist attacks. Now imagine this level of trauma concentrated in our small Armenia, wars, homeland loss, refugees, earthquakes, regime changes. When people seem inert or indifferent, it’s because an entire nation is living with a post-traumatic heart. This book can help professionals, families, and society become more attentive and supportive.”

Anush Aleksanyan, founder of the "Yerkusov" Psychological Center, called the book a major chrestomathy on trauma work. 

“The book follows two parallel narratives, one presenting treatment methods, their successes or limitations, and another recounting the author’s professional journey, research, and patients’ stories. Van der Kolk shows how deeply trauma affects not just the mind but the body. Healing requires a holistic approach, helping patients reconnect with their physical selves. Trauma changes posture, movement, even everyday body language.”

One of the translators of the book, Gohar Gevorgyan, emphasized the emotional and intellectual depth of the material. 

“The book is complex but essential. Even as a translator, I discovered a new way of understanding trauma. It’s especially important for specialists. The terminology was challenging to translate, but the book’s many footnotes help readers navigate it. I used to think trauma was purely psychological, this book showed me how much the body ‘keeps the score’ too.”

Drawing on more than 30 years of professional experience, Bessel van der Kolk outlines not only the health problems caused by trauma but also diverse treatment methods, from therapy to yoga, acting, and dance.