When we experience a stressful event, our mind and body are both involved in processing the information gathered from the experience. We may spend time thinking through what happened to us, maybe even to the point of fixation. We also may note the way our body has reacted to the stressor, e.g. headache, tense shoulders, fidgeting etc. Both of these facets of ourselves play an important role in the way we interact with the world.
When it comes to the body, there are certain indicators that help us know what we are experiencing. For example, when we are scared, we may feel our heart beat quicken or our skin crawl. Thanks to our autonomic nervous system, our body is able to respond to various stimuli in a way that is meant to help us survive and even thrive in the social environments in which we live.
When we experience something traumatic or distressing, our body reacts whether we are aware of it or not. The physical sensations that we felt during a traumatic event may continue to occur when we are reminded of the event, when something similar to the event happens again or even seemingly out of nowhere. This is our body’s nervous system reacting to the perceived threat, preparing to take some sort of action.
A persistent experience with a sensation that is consistently triggered may indicate a need for attention. When we experience an event that is difficult to process, we may find ourselves stuck in the processing of the trauma. All too often, however, we lose connection to our body in a way that negatively impacts us mentally and emotionally. We occasionally have a tendency to forget that our body is tightly intertwined with the other facets of ourselves and this negligence only serves to further keep us from gaining more self-awareness.
Somatic Experiencing is a form of trauma therapy that can be very valuable in helping the body work through stored trauma. This form of therapy focuses on the body’s experience with different emotions and thoughts. By focusing on an event, we can see how the body responds and gain new insight into how the event impacted us. It may seem so simple, but by merely taking a look at how our body feels in regards to a thought can help us further process our experiences.
If you are interested in learning more about Somatic Experiencing, check out the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute’s website at traumaheals.org. If you are interested in making an appointment with a therapist trained in Somatic Experiencing, reach out to us using the information on our “Contact Us” page.
Kaitlyn Thompson is a Licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist in the Houston area. She specializes in treating trauma and working with couples. She also has had experience working with at-risk students in schools, refugees and crime victims. Additionally, Kaitlyn is a youth leader at her church in Pearland and loves to work with teenagers.
