Somatic experiencing is a specific therapy type geared toward the treatment of trauma. Trauma lives in the body as much as it does the mind. To somatize means to take what is emotional or mental and make it physical. Increasingly, we are becoming aware that we take on physically what we do not cope with mentally. Stress lives not just in our muscles, our digestive systems, cardiac systems, organs, and tissues. Stress lives in our molecules, causing genetic inflammation and contributing to a host of diseases. Trauma is a form of stress, which is why PTSD is post-traumatic stress disorder. Somatic experiencing helps relieve the physical trauma, accessing memories, thoughts, and feelings through the body rather than through the mind. The therapy was inspired by one doctor’s study of tigers in the wild and how resilient animals are despite constant gore and traumatic experiences. Animals complete the cycle of their trauma physically. Humans, on the other hand, tend to freeze, fight, flight, and engage in other reactions that halt the natural process, thus storing the incomplete experiences in the body. Somatic experiencing is best done with a trained and licensed therapy professional. After many sessions, there are tools from somatic experiencing you can use in your everyday life.
Mindful Observation: How often do you pay attention to where you are? Someone who struggles with hypervigilance is hyper aware, but may not be fully mindful of their surroundings. Orientation is a tool for becoming settled in your environment. Throughout the day, you can distract or deter troubling thoughts and focus on your environment instead. Rather than be entirely focused on your body on your mind, you can force your attention outward.
Mindful Noting: Noting is a mindfulness technique focused on paying attention and becoming aware. In mindful meditation it is easy to want to attack or get rid of thoughts that interrupts the focus on the breath. Rather than create stress during a stress relieving process, you are encouraged to just note what is happening. Was that a thought or a feeling? Was that a physical sensation or an outside disturbance? Outside of meditation, you can still note your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Rather than reacting to them and being distracted by them, you can be present with them and just take note of what they are, then move on. You’ll help relax your body from stress and move the thoughts through a process instead of getting stuck.
Specializing in the residential treatment of trauma and related issues like addictions, behavioral, or mental health issues, The Guest House Ocala is the right choice for you or your loved one. Private and remote, our beautiful estate is the separation from daily life you need to focus on healing mind, body, and spirit.
Call us today for information on life at the estate andour customized programs of care: 1-855-483-7800