Trauma Healing
Everyone is talking about trauma. Because it is pervasive in our society. It is pervasive in the human experience. Essentially, it is a natural experience for a human being to undergo stressful situations. There could be mental, emotional, spiritual or physical stressors and they are all interconnected. Many times emotional charge is trapped in the body when a physical trauma happens whether it’s an abuse or an injury. The limitation is that in our society, we have forgotten how to help one another feel our feelings and shake out the physical manifestations of emotional pain.
Anatomy of Emotion
There is an anatomy to emotion. It is a flow of energy that has a sensory component. Many people come into the therapy office complaining of symptoms with a mental health label such as anxiety or depression. When I ask them what it feels like, and urge them to share the sensory experience, they can be more specific by saying "it’s a tightness in my chest or it’s a shallow breath or a clenching of my stomach". These are all normal stress responses but because people have the misconception that being human should be comfortable at all times, they have a lot of fear that comes up when there is discomfort in the body. In actuality, these sensations are normal parts of the human emotional experience, and if they are allowed to move through and flow, they will naturally discharge. This is the miracle of life that heals itself.
Survival Mode
The fight or flight mechanism that is also built into the human nervous system is a natural and healthy response when we are stressed or under threat. Certain natural chemicals and hormones are released into the bloodstream. If the system goes into a fight mode, then adrenaline rushes forward and activates the heart rate and agitation in the muscles, so that the person is ready to fight off the threat or run as fast as they possibly can. If the response is freeze, then the opposite happens. just like a deer in headlights the human system has a shut down mode which would have the person tune out the external threats, so that they can survive in the most basic way.
In the animal world, studies have shown that when an animal goes into this survival mechanism, once the threat has passed, the animal does some instinctual shaking to return to normal. They don’t need to be concerned with the frontal cortex coming back online to do any problem solving. They are simply living by instinct.
Humans on the other hand, many times, go to coping mechanisms that get in the way of completing that stress cycle. It could be drugs, or alcohol, food, work, or one of many other compulsive habits. Trauma is when this emotional stress gets trapped in the human body and brain and not released.
In the animal world, studies have shown that when an animal goes into this survival mechanism, once the threat has passed, the animal does some instinctual shaking to return to normal. They don’t need to be concerned with the frontal cortex coming back online to do any problem solving. They are simply living by instinct.
Humans on the other hand, many times, go to coping mechanisms that get in the way of completing that stress cycle. It could be drugs, or alcohol, food, work, or one of many other compulsive habits. Trauma is when this emotional stress gets trapped in the human body and brain and not released.
The Brain
Trauma, as well as emotion and deep personality patterns, are established in the deeper brain. These have come to be known as the reptilian brain and the mammalian brain. But this is referring to the brainstem and the mid brain. These areas of the brain are responsible for breath, heartbeat and survival.
The frontal cortex is the seat of analysis and rational thinking, as well as problem-solving and communication. When a person is trapped in the deeper brains' survival mechanism, the body goes into a sympathetic fight or flight response. This makes it hard to access that frontal cortex for communication and problem-solving. In order to work through and resolve the survival mechanisms that are trapped in the deeper brain and body, healers of all different modalities help people access the parasympathetic nervous system and allow these emotions and memories to be processed through the system. This can be done using various body oriented approaches but the process can feel very emotionally vulnerable. Having a trained practitioner who is comfortable helping slow down, contain, and experience the sometimes intense sensations that arise within the process is very valuable. Having a practitioner who is able to help pace the work, and observe the neurological responses that are happening as the trauma is being processed helps integrate the experience little by little. Changes can be rapid and profound when the practitioner is well attuned to the client. This means that they are connected, engaged and active in the process.
The frontal cortex is the seat of analysis and rational thinking, as well as problem-solving and communication. When a person is trapped in the deeper brains' survival mechanism, the body goes into a sympathetic fight or flight response. This makes it hard to access that frontal cortex for communication and problem-solving. In order to work through and resolve the survival mechanisms that are trapped in the deeper brain and body, healers of all different modalities help people access the parasympathetic nervous system and allow these emotions and memories to be processed through the system. This can be done using various body oriented approaches but the process can feel very emotionally vulnerable. Having a trained practitioner who is comfortable helping slow down, contain, and experience the sometimes intense sensations that arise within the process is very valuable. Having a practitioner who is able to help pace the work, and observe the neurological responses that are happening as the trauma is being processed helps integrate the experience little by little. Changes can be rapid and profound when the practitioner is well attuned to the client. This means that they are connected, engaged and active in the process.
Case Example
I’d like to share a case example of working with D, a 31yr old female client with a history of trauma. The extent and nature of her trauma is not important as I want to share the process of her healing. We began the therapy by establishing a relationship weekly over the course of a month and I was getting to know more about her and her day-to-day current life as well as her resources and supports. She wanted to work on reducing flashbacks that were plaguing her a few times a week.
During the first trauma processing session we started out by establishing a sense of calm in her body. She noticed that the soles of her feet were warm and roooted down on the floor. I asked her to stay connected with that sense of ground as we explored what else was coming up. She imagined one moment of the flashback as a picture and held that in her mind as she began to do the emotional processing. During the session, she identified a mix of emotions that came up with the memory. It started with a sense of anger, and she felt heat rising in her body. As the anger began to fade away, there was a deeper layer of sadness underneath, and when I asked her about it, she said, she kept thinking that life was just so unfair. She saw herself as a young girl sitting on her bed crying. I asked her to connect with that younger part of herself. She could see her younger self and even imagined sitting next to her on the bed as an adult and asked her what she needed. It was very clear that she needed warmth and comfort. I suggested that she imagine her young self in a place in nature that was very soothing for her. The first image that came to her was being at the beach, and she felt the warm sand under her and heard the crashing of the waves. This allowed her to connect with a sense of calm and the support from the natural environment.
This session was the first in a series spent allowing the feelings to arise from within the difficult memories. As we held space for these in the container of therapy over the course of the next month, D’s flashbacks abated. As therapy continued we moved into working on relational patterns that had arisen from the trapped trauma and helped her gain a sense of trust in herself.
During the first trauma processing session we started out by establishing a sense of calm in her body. She noticed that the soles of her feet were warm and roooted down on the floor. I asked her to stay connected with that sense of ground as we explored what else was coming up. She imagined one moment of the flashback as a picture and held that in her mind as she began to do the emotional processing. During the session, she identified a mix of emotions that came up with the memory. It started with a sense of anger, and she felt heat rising in her body. As the anger began to fade away, there was a deeper layer of sadness underneath, and when I asked her about it, she said, she kept thinking that life was just so unfair. She saw herself as a young girl sitting on her bed crying. I asked her to connect with that younger part of herself. She could see her younger self and even imagined sitting next to her on the bed as an adult and asked her what she needed. It was very clear that she needed warmth and comfort. I suggested that she imagine her young self in a place in nature that was very soothing for her. The first image that came to her was being at the beach, and she felt the warm sand under her and heard the crashing of the waves. This allowed her to connect with a sense of calm and the support from the natural environment.
This session was the first in a series spent allowing the feelings to arise from within the difficult memories. As we held space for these in the container of therapy over the course of the next month, D’s flashbacks abated. As therapy continued we moved into working on relational patterns that had arisen from the trapped trauma and helped her gain a sense of trust in herself.
Trauma Healing is Possible
Trauma work may seem daunting but for those living under it’s oppressive hand, suffering is daily. We will not be able to go back and undo what happened but just like having a physical injury in the past, it doesn’t have to limit your movement in the present. Making time for going into the deep brain-body and allowing feelings to emerge in Somatic Psychotherapy opens up the possibility of a life that is fulfilling and unburdened.
