There’s no denying that the lasting impact of trauma can wreak havoc on your mental well-being. However, studies have also shown that the body can hold onto trauma, causing everything from aches and pains to digestive issues, and more.

Storing trauma in the body is especially common for those who might have experienced something traumatic early in life. Childhood trauma is difficult, and many children try to “repress” or forget about what happened to them as a form of self-preservation. So, as an adult, you might not fully remember what you experienced.

However, your body doesn’t forget.

So, it only makes sense to heal trauma through the body, as well. Let’s take a closer look at somatic therapy and how it can help you truly start to overcome the effects of trauma, no matter when it occurred.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection as a way to holistically heal trauma. It helps to increase body awareness so you can become more in tune with how (and where) your trauma might be stored.

Through things like breathwork exercises, gentle movement, and more, you’ll start to release the trauma that’s been stored in the body for so long and find relief from the negative toll it has taken on your quality of life.

How Does It Work?

Somatic therapy works by allowing tension to be released through various movements and strategies. Again, some of the most common are breathing exercises and gentle movement. Even somatic techniques like mindfulness can help, as they allow you to stay grounded in the present while recognizing how trauma might be stored in your body.

As you focus on the way your body responds, you’ll actually be able to regulate your nervous system. This encourages feelings of safety and security, and can bring you to a mentally calm state that will make the rest of your healing journey a bit easier.

Somatic therapy is meant to have lasting results. You’ll feel more connected and aware of your body and the sensations you feel each day. That helps to build resilience and can make you more mindful as you move forward.

What Are the Benefits?

It’s not always easy for someone who has been through a traumatic event to open up about their experience. If something happened to you as a child, you might not remember the details. Or you might have forgotten most of it as a way to protect yourself.

That’s one of the greatest benefits of somatic therapy. It allows you to heal from trauma while releasing stored tension. But, you’re also releasing negative emotions at the same time.

Greater self-awareness can help you understand your emotions on a deeper level. When you are able to understand and even label what you’re feeling, it becomes easier to regulate your emotions in healthy, more effective ways.

Of course, somatic therapy helps to alleviate physical symptoms, too. If you’ve been struggling with pain, tension, digestive issues, sleep problems, or a combination of these issues, the release of trauma from the body is likely to help you find relief.

Somatic therapy doesn’t cause the memories of your traumatic experiences to go away. However, it does help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences. You’ll learn quickly that your trauma doesn't define you as you move forward in life. Feeling better physically can have a positive impact on your mental health, making it easy to see the close connection between mind and body.

If you want to learn more or you’re ready to set up a consultation, don’t hesitate to contact me today.