Like other types of trauma therapy, such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), somatic experiencing uses bodily awareness to help people heal from trauma. Specifically, this treatment involves slowly revisiting traumatic memories and noticing the physical sensations that accompany them.

SE therapists believe that negative trauma symptoms, such as anxiety, hypervigilance, and aggression, result from denying the body the opportunity to process a traumatic experience fully. It also involves gradually releasing compressed fight or flight energy, a process called titration.

Improved Sleep

Somatic Experiencing Therapy Ottawa is body psychotherapy believed to help people heal from trauma. It is still a relatively new therapy, and further research is needed, but it seems to be a promising treatment for trauma victims. This therapy is thought to help relieve stress and trauma symptoms by teaching people to become more aware of their bodily sensations and emotions.

The autonomic nervous system is triggered when you face a threat, which governs the fight, flight or freezes instinct. It is believed that negative trauma symptoms, such as PTSD, result from the ANS being thwarted from fully processing a threat.

A therapist trained in SE in Ottawa may use techniques like pendulation, which involves balancing regulated and dysregulated parts of the body. They may also utilize titration, gradually releasing compressed fight-or-flight energy to allow the body to regulate itself.

Increased Self-Esteem

Somatic experiencing is an alternative approach to trauma therapy. It is based on the observation that prey animals, whose lives are routinely threatened by predators in the wild, can recover readily by physically releasing the energy they accumulate during stressful events.

Unresolved trauma can significantly contribute to mental health issues like PTSD and physical ailments such as chronic stress, insomnia, and low immune system function. Fortunately, a bodily therapist can help you learn to release the tension and stress that builds up in your body, which can be very helpful for those suffering from trauma and PTSD.

Somatic Experiencing Therapy is still relatively new, and further research is needed, but it is a promising treatment for traumatic symptoms. An excellent bodily therapist can help you track sensations throughout your body and learn to tolerate complex physical feelings and emotions as you slowly process trauma. They may use breathing exercises, dance, massage, or unique therapies that they tailor to your specific needs.

Reduced Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common problems people experience. Various things, including stress, relationships, and medical issues, can cause it. It is essential to address anxiety, as it can lead to serious health issues if left untreated. This can include autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc.

Somatic experience can help reduce anxiety. It is a form of therapy that involves paying attention to the body’s sensations. It also focuses on the breath and is designed to promote mindfulness. It can also help patients build better relationships with others.

A doctor observed that prey animals, often threatened with death in the wild, recover from trauma by physically releasing energy. He believed that humans could do the same. This process can help alleviate many symptoms associated with trauma and chronic pain. It can also improve a person’s ability to regulate their emotions.

Improved Physical Health

During sessions of somatic experiencing, a certified therapist can help you become more aware of sensations in your body. They may ask you to notice a tightening in your stomach or a dark feeling in your chest and encourage you to relax. During this process, you’ll learn about a theory called pendulation, which describes the balance between regulated and dysregulated parts of your nervous system.

When you’re in a state of trauma, the fight-or-flight response is stuck on high alert, leaving you on a constant high-stress level. This can lead to mental and physical health issues, including mood, sleep, and immune system disorders.

An actual or perceived life threat, such as an accident, invasive medical procedures, sexual assault, or emotional abuse, can cause trauma. It can also result from cumulative stressors, such as work-related stress, war, racial discrimination, oppression, natural disasters, or loss. The somatic experiencing approach allows unfinished instinctual motor responses to complete and thwarted survival energy to discharge safely.