Somatic Experiencing

Somatics refer to the way mental, emotional, physical, energetic and spiritual experiences manifest as feedback within the body. Emotional distress often translates into physical symptoms, for example tight, sore muscles due to stress, a feeling of unease in the stomach when anxious, or a racing heart. Negative emotions are an inherent part of the human experience and can manifest physically. However, these feelings do not need to linger or escalate into more severe conditions.

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Trauma refers to experiences that are profoundly distressing or unsettling. When someone is traumatized, they often experience their life as if the traumatic event is still occurring, leading to a static and unchanging perspective, where every new experience is influenced by past events. Embodiment involves the process of fully engaging with one’s physical self, allowing thoughts, actions, emotions, and intentions to manifest harmoniously through the body. It encompasses the awareness of one’s vitality and physical sensations while navigating through life, maintaining an internal presence amidst external experiences.

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Trauma is retained within the body through somatic memory, leading to alterations in the biological stress response. Intense emotions experienced during the traumatic event can trigger long-term conditioned responses to reminders of that event, which are linked to chronic changes in the physiological stress response typical of PTSD. Trauma impacts both physiological processes and stress responses, causing individuals to relive traumatic memories repeatedly in their body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

 

A person suffering from PTSD may engage in therapy for years, processing their emotions, yet still experience visual flashbacks and physical sensations whenever triggered. This is where somatic therapy can be beneficial, as it addresses the memory stored in both the brain and the body.

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The body itself retains memories beyond just the brain; cellular memory indicates that memories are not solely stored in the brain, muscles, or organs, but also at the cellular level. Each cell is capable of perceiving, listening, remembering, and responding. Traumatic memories, particularly those with a strong emotional charge, are often stored in a state-dependent manner as implicit somatic memories. These memories manifest as sensations, emotional responses, behaviors, or images that are challenging or impossible to articulate and may remain forgotten for extended periods. However, they can be recalled vividly and quickly when triggered by the appropriate state or stimulus.

 

When external stimuli evoke a bodily state that aligns with the original memory encoding, it can lead to state-dependent recall, which may occur involuntarily and can be particularly distressing in the case of traumatic memories. Stored trauma and PTSD can elicit trigger responses that result in emotional, physiological, and uncomfortable reactions, leading to overreactions and heightened states. Individuals may not consciously recognize their trauma or possess explicit traumatic memories, yet they can still activate negative emotions and behaviors, particularly in relationships. This lack of awareness can perpetuate cycles of behavior based on triggers from unresolved trauma, continuing until the root cause of the trauma is addressed and healed.

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Somatic Symptoms in Depression include things like fatigue, diminished energy levels, and physical discomfort; according to Hans-Peter Kapfhammer's paper on somatic symptoms in depression, both painful and non-painful somatic symptoms are utilized to define clinical states of depressive mood.

 

The DSM (which diagnoses illness and disease) fails to adequately categorize these as mental and behavioral health disorders. Somatic symptoms often serve as the primary means of reporting depression, which may lead to underrecognition by primary care providers. Individuals may experience bodily pain, neck discomfort, and joint soreness without feeling sadness or having functional difficulties, which can result in missed diagnoses of depression. It is important to note that while someone may exhibit somatic symptoms alongside depression, others may experience these symptoms without any depressive disorder. An integrated holistic approach is necessary to consider the individual as a whole, encompassing mind, body, heart, spirit, and familial and genetic influences.

 

Integrative somatic practitioners utilize a variety of tools and techniques from multiple modalities to assist clients in achieving mind-body wellness, enhancing emotional health, and building resilience by addressing and releasing somatic symptoms and unresolved negative trauma and emotions. A holistic perspective emphasizes the importance of considering mental and social factors in addition to physical symptoms, adhering to the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

 

The interconnectedness of the mind, body, heart, and spirit, as well as the interrelation of all physical systems, necessitates a balanced approach. Wellness embodies wholeness, harmony, and balance within the individual, achieved through intentional effort. This healing methodology prioritizes illness prevention, life extension, and overall life optimization. Achieving wellness requires daily intentionality, encompassing time, energy, thoughts, actions, habits, and choices that contribute to overall well-being.

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Somatic techniques such as grounding, a self-soothing technique, can be beneficial during challenging days or when experiencing significant stress, overwhelming emotions, or heightened anxiety. It assists in anchoring you to the present moment, helping you reconnect with reality and maintain focus while calming your mind.

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Radiant Souls empowers clients to discover their path to whole person balance and wellbeing.