Somatic experiencing is a therapeutic approach that helps resolve trauma. Sometimes, when subjected to trauma, your body becomes stuck in the experience. As a result, you don’t fully work through the steps needed to recover. Much like grief, there’s a process your body must undergo to heal from trauma fully. If you become wedged in this process, you may experience negative side effects. It’s through somatic experiencing that a skilled therapist can help reset your body’s response, allowing the process to work through to the end. When done effectively, this type of mindfulness meditation therapy program alleviates the unwanted sensations of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Somatic experiencing therapy at Bayview Recovery Center in Tacoma offers this type of treatment for clients suffering from past trauma.

More About Somatic Experiencing in Tacoma, WA

A therapist trained in somatic experiencing spends time noticing your physical reactions. While they listen to your story, they’re also noticing how your body responds to the retelling. For example, they locate areas of physical tension, notice if your body awkwardly moves, and focus on your breathing habits. All of this gives your therapist valuable information on how your body is currently handling stress.

During a session, your therapist may ask you to notice how the chair or the floor feels beneath you. He or she may ask you to focus on how your arms or hands are feeling at the moment. If you point out unwanted sensations such as heat or vibration, they may help you simply to feel them without reacting to them.

In this type of mindfulness training, your focus turns inward, and your therapist helps you put words to the way your body feels. By becoming aware of how your body is currently handling your stress, you are often better able to manage it.

How Does Somatic Experiencing in Tacoma, WA Help With Trauma?

This type of therapy has helped many people. Some reported improved vision. Others reported being able to actually “feel” their legs for the first time in years. Stress can settle in odd places and manifest in strange ways in your body. Through the use of mindfulness training, you can discover where these areas are and to release the pent-up energy that’s lingering. This treatment bases itself on the fight-or-flight response that exists within the animal kingdom. Experts note that when an animal becomes stressed, it must have time to work its way down from that stress. If it’s unable to do that, it may die. Humans need that same time to de-stress and come down from the adrenaline high of trauma. If they’re unable to get it, they may become stuck in the healing process. When this happens, PTSD becomes a factor.

The Lingering Effects of Trauma

Many things may cause trauma:

• Domestic violence
• Sexual or non-sexual assault
• Witnessing a violent act
• War or terrorism
• Car accidents
• Natural or un-natural disasters

If you’ve experienced trauma at some point in your life, it may still be taking a toll. The unwanted feelings that accompany unresolved trauma may include sadness, depression, sleep disruption, shallow breathing, anxiety, fear, and rage. You may feel as though you hate others or hate yourself. You may not understand why you have the urge to cry one moment and the urge to fight someone next. In short, getting stuck in the stages of trauma resolution can make life pretty miserable. If this describes you, or if it sounds like something your loved one may be experiencing, give Bayview Recovery a call today. Our mindfulness and meditation therapy may be exactly what you need to get your life back on track. Call us today at 855.478.3650.