How to Decode Your Body’s Messages About Your Mental Health

One of the most peculiar ideas of psychology is that trauma may end up ‘in the body.’ We can understand that a difficult event might be lodged somewhere in the mind - but how, and by what mechanism, might a trauma get remembered or stuck in our physical selves? Can a kidney ‘remember’ a sorrow? Can a wrist or a femur hold on to the memory of a punitive parent or a painful divorce? Sign up to our mailing list to receive 10% off your first order with us: For books and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: Our website has classes, articles and products to help you lead a more fulfilled life: ​​For Psychotherapy and other therapeutic services: If you want to keep working on your mental well-being and self-understanding, download our hugely helpful new app now: For information on The School of Life’s learning and wellbeing solutions for businesses, including workshops and talks, visit Email business@ or join our monthly business newsletter: Join this channel to get access to exclusive members perks: FURTHER READING You can read more on this and other subjects on our blog, here: “One of the most peculiar ideas of psychology is that trauma may end up ‘in the body.’ We can understand that a difficult event might be lodged somewhere in the mind - but how, and by what mechanism, might a trauma get remembered or stuck in our physical selves? Can a kidney ‘remember’ a sorrow? Can a wrist or a femur hold on to the memory of a punitive parent or a painful divorce? But mind and body are not impermeable entities; much traffic flows between them. When we are sad, some of the grief in our minds may well find a home in our shoulders; when we are terrified, some of the fear from our imaginations can grip onto our lower vertebrae…” MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE Watch more films on SELF in our playlist: SOCIAL MEDIA Feel free to follow us at the links below: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: CREDITS Produced in collaboration with: Jesse Collet Title animation produced in collaboration with Graeme Probert