An In-Depth Look at Somatic Experiencing

The mind-body connection is stronger than we think. When a person experiences a traumatic event, both their mind and body are affected. Trauma can have a lasting impact on a person, even years after the event. It can also contribute to other conditions, such as mental health disorders and addiction. When seeking treatment for these disorders, it is crucial to heal the trauma that played a role in their development. One way to work towards healing trauma is somatic experiencing.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is a person’s response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms their ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. Many people who experience an accident, sexual violence, physical violence, natural disaster, and more may suffer from trauma. However, there is no definitive answer as to what may be traumatizing for a person; everybody experiences events differently. When a person undergoes trauma, they typically experience long-term reactions that may include:

• Unpredictable emotions
• Helplessness
• Confusion
• Flashbacks
• Strained relationships
• Headaches or nausea

There are different types of trauma, including:

• Acute trauma: results from a single event
• Chronic trauma: results from repeated and prolonged exposure to events (i.e., child abuse or domestic violence)
• Complex trauma: results from exposure to multiple traumatic events
• Secondary trauma: a person may develop trauma symptoms from close contact with another person who has experienced a traumatic event

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic experiencing is a specific approach to therapy developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine. It is based on the idea that traumatic experiences can lead to dysfunction in the nervous system, which can “block” trauma processing. Somatic experiencing is an intersection of physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics. The practice of somatic experiencing has been clinically applied for more than four decades. Somatic experiencing aims to release traumatic shock, which is crucial in healing trauma in individuals who experience mental health disorders or addiction. This therapeutic approach provides a framework for assessing a person who may be “stuck” in the freeze response, then applies clinical tools to resolve the fixated psychological state.

The Freeze Response

Most people have heard of the body’s fight or flight response. When a person encounters a threat, their body naturally either flees from the danger or fights against it. However, the body also has a third response: freeze. When a person’s body recognizes they are not equipped to fight or flee, they will freeze. The freeze response is like “playing dead,” making an individual less of a target to the perceived danger. The approach of somatic experiencing is significantly based on the idea of the body’s freeze response. When a person’s reaction to danger is to freeze, they can get “stuck” in this response. The body builds up energy for the fight or flight response, but when this energy is not used, it becomes trapped in the body. This residual energy can prevent a person from completely recovering from the experience.

How Somatic Experiencing Works

Somatic experiencing allows a person to access and address trauma that lingers in the body. This process enables individuals to work through the complex trauma symptoms, such as anger, guilt, and shame. Somatic experiencing uses a body-first approach to address symptoms. The idea behind this practice is that freeing the stored up energy in the body from a traumatic event can also help heal the emotions behind it.

The Four Stages of Somatic Experiencing

The primary goal of somatic experiencing is to uncover the bodily sensations associated with trauma. This is done through four stages: #1. Recognizing bodily sensations: When starting the process of somatic experiencing, individuals will start by learning more about the autonomic nervous system and the freeze response and how both play a role in trauma. From there, a therapist will begin increasing awareness of bodily sensations and physical symptoms. #2. Resourcing: Resourcing in somatic experiencing can help individuals recognize their strength and resilience. This process involves recalling positive memories of people, places, or things when feeling distressed or triggered. The goal of resourcing is to help individuals feel calm while going through trauma sensations and memories. #3. Titration: The next stage of somatic experiencing is titration, where individuals will slowly begin to revisit trauma and related sensations. The process of recalling trauma is slowed down, so individuals are capable of handling distressing memories. As the individual recalls the trauma, a therapist will track any responses or bodily sensations experienced. #4. Pendulation: The body’s responses to recalling trauma, such as crying or shaking, are a discharge of energy trapped in the body. When this release happens, a therapist will guide the individual to a calmer state through resourcing or other techniques. This “swinging” back into a normal state is known as pendulation. When you go through a traumatic event, the body naturally fights, flees, or freezes. When residual energy from the freeze response gets trapped in the body, you become incapable of fully processing the event. Unfortunately, the distressing symptoms of trauma can lead to mental health disorders and addiction. However, somatic experiencing can help you release that energy, allowing you to heal your trauma through the four steps of recognizing bodily sensations, resourcing, titration, and pendulation. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we can assist you in healing your trauma to recover from mental health disorders and addiction. Our goal is to connect you with various traditional and non-traditional recovery methods to help you navigate your personal rehabilitation journey. We create a fully individualized plan that best suits your needs in recovery, and our staff is here to walk alongside you. With West Coast Recovery Centers, you are never alone. Call us today at (760) 492-6509.