Somatic Experiencing to Help Heal Trauma

The body and mind are far more closely intertwined than many people even realize. This is why it is often said that if you take proper care of your physical health, your mental health will likely benefit and vice versa. However, some may experience a type of disconnect between their body and mind and be unaware of how their mental struggles may be physically affecting them. The good news is that there are modern and holistic treatments, such as somatic experiencing, that can help.

In many cases, the effects of trauma are often thought of as a mental experience. However, the truth is that trauma can affect the body physically as well. In particular, it can make it more difficult for someone to regulate their nervous system. This may be why an individual dealing with suppressed trauma may also find themselves dealing with built-up tension and even unexplained muscle pain.

While traditional treatment methods like talk therapy may be effective in helping individuals work through their trauma on a mental level, it may do little to help them address the physical symptoms. This is where somatic therapy, sometimes referred to as somatic experiencing, can help. It can be utilized in conjunction with traditional therapies to maximize their effectiveness.

Somatic Experiencing to Help Heal Trauma

This type of therapy allows an individual to better understand how their mind and body are connected. It allows for an individual to identify ways that their body responds to trauma through physical sensations. The better the individual is able to understand how trauma is manifesting in their body on a physical level, the better able they will be to regulate it. From that point, they can then also learn to release the trapped trauma that is being held within their body.

At our facility, Profound Treatment, in Los Angeles, California, we aim to empower our clients by teaching them to recognize the tools they possess within themselves. Somatic therapy is a great way to do this because it helps increase one’s awareness of their own ability to regulate their emotions. It will also allow them to build better resilience and coping strategies that they can use to manage their body’s response to stress and trauma. This will, in turn, promote better balance and overall healing.

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic experiencing is a body-centered approach to healing that focuses on the connection of the mind and body. This treatment helps an individual become more in tune with physical sensations that may be attributed to stored energy from traumatic experiences. Some of the main aspects of this type of therapy include tuning into bodily sensations and learning to regulate the nervous system. This is done by slowly working through and processing traumatic memories.

Trauma is a very complex and delicate issue. In many cases, it involves memories that a person has suppressed over a long period of time. Getting to the root cause of trauma and working through the emotions associated with it is essential in order to experience lasting healing. Nevertheless, many people avoid doing this because they may be overwhelmed by the thought of reliving those painful memories.

With somatic therapy, addressing these traumatic memories is not something you have to go through on your own. It is something that you work through alongside a therapist who will guide you each step of the way. The therapist will also teach you about valuable techniques to better deal with these memories and the physical and mental sensations attributed to them.

Some techniques that are commonly incorporated into somatic therapy include breathwork, grounding, movement, and mindfulness. The physical release of tension, as well as the safe exploration of emotions, are also important parts of this treatment. Overall, the goal is to help the individual find full-body relief from trauma, anxiety, and stress. In addition, it is intended to equip them with effective ways to handle the strain of these things in the future.

Origins of Somatic Experiencing

So, where exactly did this concept come from? Somatic experiencing has origins rooted in both psychological and physiological research. This treatment method is most often attributed to the work of Dr. Peter Levine, who was interested in developing a deeper understanding of the relationship between psychological processes and the nervous system.

He began by conducting a study on animals and took special note of how certain species respond to and recover from perceived threats. For example, after an animal is being chased by a predator and the threat of danger is gone, it responds physically. In many cases, this involves physically shaking off the stress and returning to a sense of calm. Dr. Levine found this physical response interesting and wondered why humans don’t seem to have a comparable way of recovering from stress.

As he considered this topic further, he theorized that humans likely have become used to suppressing their natural responses. After all, you don’t see people shaking off their anxiety as they encounter stress in their day-to-day lives. Nevertheless, Dr. Levine believed that learning to adopt some sort of similar physical response could possibly help a person to release the trauma and stress that they’re storing internally regularly.

As Dr. Levine continued to study the mind-body connection, he saw the significant toll that trauma has on the nervous system. As a result, many people experience a sense of dysregulation and unbalance. While there are many different types of therapies aimed at addressing the cognitive or emotional sides of trauma, the physical aspect is often left out. Through somatic experiencing, Dr. Levine worked towards developing a therapeutic method that is more focused on the body’s role in overall healing.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Trauma Interfering With Everyday Life?

In many cases, people experience trauma when they are young and unable to effectively cope with it. Thus, the only way they may know how to deal with it is by burying it as deep as they can and trying to ignore it. This can go on for years, and while they may not be aware of it, unaddressed childhood trauma can lead to significant issues in adulthood. Perhaps you’re currently struggling with some unaddressed trauma that could be impacting you more than you realize. It is important to be able to recognize some of the signs and symptoms that trauma could be affecting your daily life.

Trauma can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, physically, behaviorally, and emotionally. When unaddressed, it can even make it difficult for one to function normally. If you experience any of the following symptoms regularly, you may need to consider reaching out for professional help.

Intrusive Thoughts or Flashbacks to a Traumatic Experience

Traumatic flashbacks or intrusive thoughts related to past trauma can be common experiences of those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can often come about completely without warning and can disrupt daily life. These experiences can vary from being less intense to extremely severe and debilitating. Sometimes, it can be difficult for an individual to identify what factors may trigger these deeply unsettling experiences.

Some trauma flashbacks may feel incredibly vivid. In fact, some people who experience these may feel as if they are actually reliving the trauma all over again. This can be incredibly distressing. They may experience the same physical sensations, emotions, or even the pain that they felt during the original incident.

Other times, someone may experience what is called a partial flashback. It may include only some aspects of the sounds, smells, or feelings associated with the past traumatic event. For example, the sound of a car backfiring or a firework going off may remind a veteran of the military of what it was like to be in battle. Another example could be the sight or sound of an ambulance passing in traffic, reminding someone of a serious accident they were involved in.

These experiences can be associated with severe fear and disorientation. They may also include physical symptoms like a racing heart, rapid breathing, tremors, or shaking.  The duration of these experiences can vary anywhere from just a minute or two to several hours or even longer.

Intrusive thoughts related to trauma are somewhat different but can be just as distressing and unpredictable. They may involve disturbing or graphic images from the traumatic experience. These can be triggered by smells, sounds, or even a particular location. Intrusive thoughts can be greatly repetitive, distressing, and unwanted.

Experiencing Sadness, Anxiety, or Feelings of Fear

Some of the most common symptoms a person may experience in connection to persisting trauma could be intense sadness and fear. It is also common to experience severe anxiety. These feelings could be associated with the trauma directly or even the side effects of the trauma. For example, someone may live in constant fear over the anticipation of not knowing when they’re going to experience their next intrusive thought or flashback.

It is normal to experience emotions like sadness and anxiety from time to time. However, when they become a daily occurrence and start to interfere with your happiness and quality of life, they become a problem.

Difficulty Forming Healthy or Lasting Relationships

Trauma can impact far more areas of life than just mental and physical health. It can impact your personal life and your relationships with others as well. Some people who are dealing with unaddressed trauma may experience problems such as difficulty trusting others, attachment issues, low self-esteem, and fear of intimacy. All of these things can make it more difficult to form and maintain healthy and lasting relationships.

Consider, for example, someone who has experienced sexual trauma through past abuse. They may want to experience a healthy relationship but struggle to trust a new partner. Others may struggle more with the physical aspect of a relationship than the emotional side. For example, they may have a fear of or lack of desire for intimacy due to unresolved emotions associated with past trauma.

Using Substances to Cope With Difficult Thoughts and Feelings

Unfortunately, one of the most common ways that many people tend to cope with unaddressed trauma and difficult thoughts and feelings is through substance abuse. It can be tempting to turn to alcohol or drugs as a “quick fix” to find relief from these painful or uncomfortable emotions. However, this does not address the root of the problem and can often make it worse. When the effects of these substances wear off, the problem will still be there.

When It’s Time to Seek Help For Trauma

Recognizing when it is time to seek professional help with trauma is important for lasting healing and recovery. Still, many choose to put this off for a long time. They may be convinced that they can handle the issues they’re dealing with on their own. Or they may be worried about how they will be perceived if they reach out for help.

If this is something that you’re experiencing, rest assured that you’re not alone. Many people have dealt with this issue before and have found relief with proper treatment. You, too, can experience relief.

How Does Somatic Experiencing Differ From Other Therapies That Address Trauma?

The primary difference between somatic experiencing and other types of therapies that address trauma is that there is more of a focus on the physical aspect. Other therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), are more centered around the cognitive and emotional part of trauma.

Techniques of Somatic Experiencing

Some of the key aspects of somatic therapy include sensation, behavior, imagery, affect, and meaning. These each play an important role in the therapeutic process.

Sensation

As part of the somatic experiencing process, an individual is encouraged to tune into the different physical sensations going on in their body. This could include things like pain, tension, tingling or tightness. The goal is to become more aware of how the body is holding onto trauma. Eventually, the individual will then learn how to release that tension.

Behavior

The behavior aspect refers to how an individual responds to either internal or external stimuli that may be influenced by trauma. These could be things that the person may not even be aware of, such as their posture or certain repetitive behaviors. The goal is to make the individual more aware of these things and to understand why they behave in these ways as a response to trauma. Ideally, this will eventually allow them to develop more mindful or effective responses.

Imagery

The imagery aspect of this treatment involves mental images or visualizations that a person may have that are connected to past traumatic memories. When an individual is experiencing these distressing visualizations, they can learn how to consciously focus on a different image instead. For example, they can try to visualize a safe space or a memory that makes them feel happy.

Affect

The affect aspect of this type of therapy refers to the emotions a person associates with different experiences. Ideally, this will allow the person to better understand these emotions and identify the physical sensations that may be associated with them. For example, when someone is in a stressful situation and feels anxious, they may notice their chest feels tight. Once the individual recognizes these things, they can learn how to address them by doing things like deep breathing or practicing mindfulness.

Meaning

Finally, the meaning aspect of somatic therapy involves how a person views their experiences. It may also involve what beliefs or narratives they hold about them. Additionally, this refers to how someone allows the things they experience to influence the way they understand themselves.

Trauma can lead to things like self-doubt, a lack of trust, and troubled relationships. However, somatic therapy allows the individual to take back control by empowering themselves and finding a new sense of purpose in life.

How to Get Started With Somatic Experiencing at Profound Treatment

If you’re ready to get started with somatic experiencing today, our team at Profound Treatment can help. Located in Los Angeles, California, our facility offers a comfortable and supportive environment to promote healing. Through somatic therapy, we can help you build resilience, increase mind and body awareness, and enjoy full and lasting healing.

Struggling with a mental health disorder can impact many aspects of your life. It can be especially frustrating if you’ve sought treatment before and haven’t seen the results you were hoping for. The good news is that new holistic treatment methods offer alternative ways to treat these conditions. Holistic methods such as somatic therapy may provide a more whole-person approach to healing. At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we offer a variety of therapeutic services that meet your needs. We can help you start the process of achieving better mental health today. Give us a call at (310) 340-2609 to learn more about the types of treatment we provide.