Saturday 4 May 2019

Discovering Somatic Trauma Release For PTSD

By Dorothy Watson


Most often, individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seek out help from a psychiatrist or psychologist. While this is the case, there are other programs which can be of assistance. In one case, Somatic Trauma Release is an approach which focuses primarily on healing the body in order to heal the mind.

Developed by Peter A. Levine, the Somatic Experiencing method related to traumatic experiences has become extremely successful. For, the approach releases a brief momentary shock, a practice which has found to be key in overcoming and transforming the wounds of early development attachment, PTSD and other traumatic experiences.

Levine participated in research programs in the 1970s which looked at anxiety in the animal world. The research led to the development of the method. Since that time, the method has repeatedly proved successful when dealing with overwhelmed nervous systems in humans. As a result, a number of neurologists and mental health providers are now using the method on a regular basis.

Upon receiving doctoral degrees in psychology and biophysics, Dr. Levine founded an Institute focused on the Somatic Experiencing method. Since that time, Levine has been treating stress and trauma clients for over forty years. Still, the doctor remains most well known for developing the Somatic Experiencing method.

The method works to assess the blockages in a person when in fight or flight mode or frozen in a state of fear. In doing so, a Somatic Experiencing practitioner uses a number of clinical tools to break through the blockages and release emotions. In addition, the approach also provides effective and useful skills found in multiple areas of the mental and physical health fields.

As with all healing methods, there is science behind this type of healing process. For, individuals in the scientific community have now realized that stress can be brought on suddenly or after a long period in which an individual has accumulated stressors. In either case, the stressors have the ability to disrupt an individual's normal way of life. Whereas, by exploring different methods, individuals can often recover rather quickly and get back to life as usual.

Stressors include a wide variety of emotions and events and can be brought on by birth defects, conflicts, phobias, physical or sexual assault, invasive medical procedures, accidents, neglect, natural disasters and war. When this is the case, the stressors can have a negative aspect on mental and physical health. Whereas, if individuals can learn to live life as it were before the event which created the trauma, many can return to happier and healthier lives.

Ultimately, the method developed by Dr. Levine, works to complete self-protective motor responses and the release of blocked survival instincts trapped in the body. As such, Somatic Experiencing addresses the root cause of various aspects of trauma. In doing so, clients are gently guided to develop an increased tolerance when reacting to suppressed emotions and bodily reactions and sensations.




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