# 1 Cause of Violence in Our World

The impact of “adverse childhood experiences” is a major thread of van der Kolk’s work, and explains why so many people bear the hallmarks of traumatic stress, from depression to addiction. The Body Keeps the Score argues that child abuse constitutes the “gravest and most costly public health issue in the United States”.

In a landmark 1998 US study cited in the book, more than a quarter of respondents said they had been physically abused as children. It also found that people who had four types of negative early-life experience — such as abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction — were seven times more likely to become alcoholics than those who had none.

“Everybody who gets hurt at home tries to pretend it’s normal to everybody else,” says van der Kolk gravely of the child’s evolutionary impulse to protect the bond with their caregiver, even if that person is causing them harm. “You’re not going to tell your classmates that something [bad] happens to you.” ~ Bessel van der Kolk: The leading expert in PTSD and author of ‘The Body Keeps the Score’

Dear friend,

You likely guessed it!

The number one source of violence in the world is domestic violence, not war!

Below you’ll find a new episode of our weekly podcast as we explore how to go from being a victim of trauma to the process of healing and overcoming effects of trauma.

Would love to hear your questions and comments as well as any feedback or suggestions for topics to cover on future episodes.

Please forward this information with anyone who you believe would benefit.

Until next time, we continue in solidarity. 

Neseret Bemient, RN, BScN
Holistic Mental Health Coach 
Website: Return to Wholeness Healing Services
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@NeseretBemient
Twitter(X): Neseret Bemient (@JourneyofHope4U)

BIG DREAMS

...start inside
...take courage
...involve effort
...include mistakes
...build character
...are achievable

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~