"I think therefore I am" -> "I feel therefore I am"

"I think therefore I am" was the famous quote by French philosopher René Descartes. Descartes was looking for something that could not be doubted, and he found it in the act of thinking. His reasoning was:

• We might be deceived by our senses, our memories could be false, and the physical world could be an illusion.

• However, the mere act of thinking, doubting, or reasoning cannot be doubted because thinking requires a thinker.

• Therefore, "I" must exist as a thinking being, even if everything else is uncertain.

This led to Descartes' famous mind-body dualism, the idea that the mind (the realm of thought) and the body (the physical realm) are distinct substances. According to Descartes, the mind is non-material and the source of consciousness, while the body is a material object in the physical world.

Bessel van der Kolk, a psychiatrist renowned for his work on trauma, argues that the body and emotions play a crucial role in shaping our sense of self, often independently of conscious thought. In The Body Keeps the Score, he emphasizes that trauma is not just something experienced in the mind but also in the body. This viewpoint fundamentally challenges Descartes' mind-body dualism, suggesting that the mind and body are not separate but deeply interconnected.

Descartes’ statement implies that conscious, rational thought is the core proof of existence, reducing the body’s role to something secondary. However, Van der Kolk’s work on trauma shows that the body is central to our experience of the self, often in ways that bypass or override rational thinking:

• Trauma is stored in the body: In the book, Van der Kolk explains how traumatic experiences can be stored as bodily memories. People may re-experience trauma through bodily sensations (such as chronic pain, muscle tension, or flashbacks) even when they are not consciously aware of the trauma. This challenges the idea that rational thought alone defines existence because much of what makes us "us" resides in the body, below the level of conscious awareness.

• Somatic experiences shape the self: Van der Kolk argues that our bodies constantly shape our feelings, identity, and sense of self. For example, someone with PTSD might feel fragmented or detached from their body, altering their sense of "being." This suggests that our existence is not just based on thinking but also on how we inhabit and experience our bodies.

• Embodied cognition: Van der Kolk’s findings align with the modern view of embodied cognition, which argues that our thoughts and mental states are deeply influenced by bodily sensations, movements, and emotions. For example, someone feeling anxious may have a racing heart and tight chest, and this bodily experience can influence their thoughts. The idea that thinking alone defines existence ignores how much bodily experiences shape thought and vice versa.

• Trauma therapies: In his book, Van der Kolk advocates for somatic therapies (such as yoga, EMDR, and bodywork) that integrate the body and emotions, showing that healing from trauma often requires addressing both the body and the mind. This challenges the notion that the mind can be treated as separate from the body in understanding human existence and experience.

In contrast to Descartes, who prioritizes the thinking mind, Van der Kolk’s work suggests "I feel, therefore I am" might be a more accurate expression of human experience, especially for trauma survivors.