--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike other forms of psychological…" description: "\"“Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core issue in trauma is reality.”\" — Bessel A. van der Kolk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg" --- # Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core… ![“Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core issue in trauma is reality.” quote by Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg) > ““Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core issue in trauma is reality.”” [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trauma’s core problem is its clash with perceived reality, not just symptoms. **In simple terms:** Trauma distorts reality. Key Takeaway Address reality in healing. Themes trauma psychology reality healing Mood empathetic analytical Type clinical educational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - patient self‑assessment - clinical training Key Concepts cognitive distortion memory neurobiology Questions to Reflect On - How does reality perception shape trauma? - What therapeutic methods restore realistic appraisal? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on reality may overlook emotional processing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Minimization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimization/) [Psychological disorders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-disorders/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Ptsd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ptsd/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) ## Related quotes > [“The scientific study of suffering inevitably raises questions of causation, and with these, issues of blame and responsibility. Historically, doctors have highlighted predisposing vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-scientific-study-of-suffering-inevitably-raises-questions-of/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“we are threatened with suffering from three directions: from our body, which is doomed to decay..., from the external world which may rage against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/we-are-threatened-with-suffering-from-three-directions-from-our-body/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“It was difficult to find information because Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was called shell shock during W.W.II, and when Vietnam Vets were found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-niles/it-was-difficult-to-find-information-because-post-traumatic-stress/) [Sara Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-niles/) > [“PTSD is a whole-body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-pease-banitt/ptsd-is-a-whole-body-tragedy-an-integral-human-event-of-enormous/) Susan Pease Banitt > [“In our family "whim-wham" is code, a defanged reference to any number of moods and psychological disorders, be they depressive, manic, or schizoaffective. Back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lovelace/in-our-family-whim-wham-is-code-a-defanged-reference-to-any-number-of/) [David Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lovelace/) > [We have made a terrible mistake! For most of this century we have wrongly defined soul wounds as psychological disorders and delegated their treatment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-crabb/we-have-made-a-terrible-mistake-for-most-of-this-century-we-have/) [Larry Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-crabb/) > [“Recent research has shown that lack of basic security impairs mental as well as physical health, triggers various psychological disorders and reduces short-term intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/recent-research-has-shown-that-lack-of-basic-security-impairs-mental/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [The elegant study... is consistent with the themes of modern cognitive neuroscience . Every aspect of thought and emotion is rooted in brain structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-elegant-study-is-consistent-with-the-themes-of-modern-cognitive/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [It goes back to the if identity becomes your achievement, what do you do, this is what happens? And I do think it leads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/it-goes-back-to-the-if-identity-becomes-your-achievement-what-do-you/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [There are all kinds of psychological disorders in the West that don't exist in Asia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/there-are-all-kinds-of-psychological-disorders-in-the-west-that-don-t/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [“Many empaths are diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, CFS, lupus, and various autoimmune diseases, as well as psychological disorders such as agoraphobia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aletheia-luna/many-empaths-are-diagnosed-with-chronic-illnesses-such-as/) [Aletheia Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aletheia-luna/) > [Much of the left's hate speech bears greater similarity to a psychological disorder than to standard political discourse. The hatred is blinding, producing logical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/much-of-the-left-s-hate-speech-bears-greater-similarity-to-a/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Economists suffer from a deep psychological disorder that I call 'physics envy'. We wish that 99 percent of economic behavior could be captured by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lo/economists-suffer-from-a-deep-psychological-disorder-that-i-call/) [Andrew Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lo/) > [“He wished he understood where they come from: all the terrorists, religious revolutionists and hate-criminals. Did terrorizing entire communities of people help them sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thisuri-wanniarachchi/he-wished-he-understood-where-they-come-from-all-the-terrorists/) [Thisuri Wanniarachchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thisuri-wanniarachchi/) > [“Schizophrenia is without a doubt the most dreaded psychological disorder. If depression is the common cold of psychological disorders, schizophrenia is the cancer.” The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-sellers/schizophrenia-is-without-a-doubt-the-most-dreaded-psychological/) [Heather Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-sellers/) ## More by Bessel A. van der Kolk > [“While trauma keeps us dumbfounded, the path out of it is paved with words, carefully assembled, piece by piece, until the whole story can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/while-trauma-keeps-us-dumbfounded-the-path-out-of-it-is-paved-with/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“. I was often surprised by the dispassionate way patients’ symptoms were discussed and by how much time was spent on trying to manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/i-was-often-surprised-by-the-dispassionate-way-patients-symptoms-were/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“In April 2013, a few weeks before DSM-V was formally released, NIMH director Thomas Insel announced that his agency could no longer support DSM’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/in-april-2013-a-few-weeks-before-dsm-v-was-formally-released-nimh/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“The brain-disease model takes control over people’s fate out of their own hands and puts doctors and insurance companies in charge of fixing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-brain-disease-model-takes-control-over-people-s-fate-out-of-their/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“It was early in my career, and I had been seeing Mary, a shy, lonely, and physically collapsed young woman, for about three months in weekly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/it-was-early-in-my-career-and-i-had-been-seeing-mary-a-shy-lonely-and/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/beneath-the-surface-of-the-protective-parts-of-trauma-survivors-there/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“trauma produces actual physiological changes, including a recalibration of the brain’s alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity, and alterations in the system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/trauma-produces-actual-physiological-changes-including-a/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“The brain-disease model takes control over people’s fate out of their own hands and puts doctors and insurance companies in charge of fixing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-brain-disease-model-takes-control-over-people-s-fate-out-of-their-2/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [ “The ACE study group concluded: “Although widely understood to be harmful to health, each adaptation \[such as smoking, drinking, drugs, obesity\] is notably difficult… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-ace-study-group-concluded-although-widely-understood-to-be/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“Like so many survivors of childhood abuse, Marilyn exemplified the power of the life force, the will to live and to own one's life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/like-so-many-survivors-of-childhood-abuse-marilyn-exemplified-the/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“The internal system of an abuse victim differs from the non-abuse system with regard to the consistent absence of the effective leadership, the extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-internal-system-of-an-abuse-victim-differs-from-the-non-abuse/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“As long as you keep secrets and suppress information, you are fundamentally at war with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/as-long-as-you-keep-secrets-and-suppress-information-you-are/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“... stress hormones are meant to give us the strength and endurance to respond to extraordinary conditions. People who actively do something to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/stress-hormones-are-meant-to-give-us-the-strength-and-endurance-to/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“As long as you keep secrets and suppress information, you are fundamentally at war with yourself…The critical issue is allowing yourself to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/as-long-as-you-keep-secrets-and-suppress-information-you-are-2/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“When you have a persistent sense of heartbreak and gutwrench, the physical sensations become intolerable and we will do anything to make those feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/when-you-have-a-persistent-sense-of-heartbreak-and-gutwrench-the/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) [Explore all 29 Bessel A. van der Kolk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) ## More Minimization quotes > [“As the incidence and fear of rape on college campuses have increased, the term rape has been generalized to mean 'misuse; diminish the effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-c-eble/as-the-incidence-and-fear-of-rape-on-college-campuses-have-increased/) Connie C. Eble > [“Mind Your Language in the Presence of Patriachs Q. When is rape not rape? A. When it is your father or stepfather.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-caroline-taylor/mind-your-language-in-the-presence-of-patriachs-q-when-is-rape-not/) S. Caroline Taylor > [“It is indeed the truth of the traumatic experience that forms the center of its psychopathology; it is not a pathology of falsehood or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-caruth/it-is-indeed-the-truth-of-the-traumatic-experience-that-forms-the/) Cathy Caruth > [“Along with the trust issues, one of the hardest parts to deal with is the feeling of not being believed or supported, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/along-with-the-trust-issues-one-of-the-hardest-parts-to-deal-with-is/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [Minimization is what happens when we take the "world is flat" idea too far...and act as if people everywhere are the same (and thereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/minimization-is-what-happens-when-we-take-the-world-is-flat-idea-too/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [“They like to use those fancy words. They don't like to say “raped,'” he said. “They say “misdeed,' “inappropriate touching,' “mistake.' That's insulting. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-bailey-jr/they-like-to-use-those-fancy-words-they-don-t-like-to-say-raped-he/) [Charles L. Bailey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-bailey-jr/) > [“The human brain can protect us from seeing and feeling what it believes may be too uncomfortable for us to tolerate. It can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bandy-x-lee/the-human-brain-can-protect-us-from-seeing-and-feeling-what-it/) [Bandy X Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bandy-x-lee/) > [“The experience of chronic abuse carries within it the gross mislabeling of things. Perpetrators are really "nice daddies." Victims are "evil and seductive" (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-langberg/the-experience-of-chronic-abuse-carries-within-it-the-gross/) [Diane Langberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-langberg/) > [“Carla's description was typical of survivors of chronic childhood abuse. Almost always, they deny or minimize the abusive memories. They have to: it's too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/carla-s-description-was-typical-of-survivors-of-chronic-childhood/) [David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/) > [“Rape is so particularly traumatic and so meaningful in so many ways, that there’s something about using the word in other contexts that diminishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brindley/rape-is-so-particularly-traumatic-and-so-meaningful-in-so-many-ways/) Sandra Brindley > [“The scientific study of suffering inevitably raises questions of causation, and with these, issues of blame and responsibility. Historically, doctors have highlighted predisposing vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-scientific-study-of-suffering-inevitably-raises-questions-of/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“She's terrified that all these sensations and images are coming out of her — but I think she's even more terrified to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-calof/she-s-terrified-that-all-these-sensations-and-images-are-coming-out/) [David L. Calof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-calof/) > [“The capacity of sex offenders for denial, rationalization, and minimization of their deviant behavior is confirmed by Salter's (1995) finding that the population she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-l-schwartz/the-capacity-of-sex-offenders-for-denial-rationalization-and/) Harvey L. Schwartz [Browse all 14 Minimization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core issue in trauma is reality.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bessel A. van der Kolk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-disorders-the-core-issue-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Minimization" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-disorders-the-core-issue-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/bessel-a-van-der-kolk-21299_minimization_unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-diso_629269.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unlike other forms of psychological disorders, the core issue in trauma is reality.” — Bessel A. van der Kolk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bessel A. van der Kolk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Unlike other forms of psychological disorders,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-disorders-the-core-issue-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/unlike-other-forms-of-psychological-disorders-the-core-issue-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```