Episode 22: Harvard-trained Dr. Frank Anderson on the path to healing trauma

Dr. Frank Anderson originally trained at Harvard, and is now known as one of the world’s leading trauma experts. For nearly 30 years, he worked alongside Bessel van der Kolk, who famously wrote the international bestseller The Body Keeps The Score.

Over the last decade, Dr. Anderson has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America and the Huffington Post. Most remarkably though, Dr. Anderson is not just a trauma expert, he is also a trauma survivor.

This year, he published a memoir on his own journey.Dr. Anderson speaks to you from a place of going through trauma, and also helping people through their own trauma. 

As Frank explains, it’s estimated that 70% of people will experience a traumatic event throughout their lifetime. In this episode, we cover some of these basic questions, before diving into the deep stuff, like what happens to the brain when you are traumatized, and the foundational building blocks of healing.

We believe the conversation is special, and Frank shares some ground-breaking insights that will make a huge impact on your life, Whether you are trying to cope with trauma in your own life, or help somebody through theirs, it’s a must-watch.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - 2:38 - Intro
2:38 - 10:32 - The moment Frank lost control
10:32 - 28:16 - The source of Frank’s trauma
28:16 - 33:25 - The complicated relationship with an abuser
33:25 - 38:06 - Training at Harvard with Bessel van der Kolk
38:06 - 42:31 - Why was The Body Keeps The Score such a hit?
42:31 - 46:08 - What exactly is trauma?
46:08 - 50:13 - The problem with “big t” vs. “little t” traumas
50:13 - 1:02:56 - What to do in the immediate aftermath of trauma
1:02:56 - 1:10:02 - What if you’re being abused right now?1:10:02 - 1:16:21 - How everyone facilitates pain & trauma
1:16:21 - 1:22:16 - The different categories of trauma
1:22:16 - 1:24:03 - Can you over-identify with trauma?1:24:03 - 1:30:13 - Symptoms of trauma
1:30:13 - 1:36:11 - What happens to the brain on trauma
1:36:11 - 1:39:40 - You have to go back to move forward
1:39:40 - 1:46:49 - The importance of talking about your trauma
1:46:49 - 1:48:19 - How meaning-making plays a role in healing
1:48:19 - 2:02:15 - Psychedelics, MDMA & healing trauma
2:02:15 - 2:04:27 - Finding a trauma therapist
2:04:27 - 2:16:19 - The moment Frank’s dad died
2:16:19 - 2:20:29 - Forgiveness, compassion & healing trauma
2:20:29 - 2:22:59 - How important is closure to trauma
2:22:59 - 2:24:03 - To the person who feels hopeless right now

Buy Frank's memoir:
https://shorturl.at/mZ7Je

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Twitter: https://x.com/frankandersonmd?lang=en

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