I remembered Kimmydawn had a thread around here about somatic memories so I went looking and here it is - that is if my copy/pasting works. LOL sometimes it does sometimes it doesn't.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
#395252 - 09/30/06 07:25 am Edit Reply Quote
I've been reading some on this, and find Levine's theory (fight/flight - need for discharge) fascinating and probably applicable to me, as well as the mind/body/spirit work. In an attempt in bringing those closer together, with a clearer understanding of each, for a person who has physiologically been changed by trauma/abuse, I find it very appealing.
The approach doesn't appear one that could as painful for the survivor as some other types of therapies while working through, and attempting to heal from, trauma.
Has anyone participated in this? Does anyone have anything they'd like to share about this particular therapy?
It's personally opening me up to the idea of a more complete healing.
Thanks for any discussion!
KD
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Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships.
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Evangelista
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Re: Somatic Experiencing Therapy [Re: kimmydawn]
#395267 - 09/30/06 07:55 am Edit Reply Quote
Hi KD,
I am working with a Trauma Specialist who does somatic therapy, bedside my regular T. Although I have not been working with him long,just a few months, it is very very different from Talk Therapy...but is good for me due to the dissociation, because he is helping me to identify and release the trauma that the "Body Remembers" when my own memories are blocked, until we search from the body inward on what is occurring..it is very amazing therapy..although vey uncomfortable at times because you are dealing with the body responses...the amazing part is actually experiencing the somatic event, and having it dissappear as you work with the emotional energy behind it ..I can only speak of "wow" stuff when discussing it...
Eva
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Evangelista
“emotion and feelings may not be intruders in the bastion of reason at all: they may be enmeshed in its networks, for worse and for better.”
Antonio Damasio “Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain”
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wanttoheal
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Re: Somatic Experiencing Therapy [Re: kimmydawn]
#395364 - 09/30/06 09:57 am Edit Reply Quote
It sounds like an interesting therapy KD, especially if not as painful as others. I hope it works out great for you. You deserve it.
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Perna
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lat. 39.43, long. -76.36 Re: Somatic Experiencing Therapy [Re: wanttoheal]
#395396 - 09/30/06 10:49 am Edit Reply Quote
Really interesting "column" by a psychiatrist about Levine's work:
http://www.lightconnectiononline.com/colums.html
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myself
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Re: Somatic Experiencing Therapy [Re: kimmydawn]
#395726 - 09/30/06 06:07 pm Edit Reply Quote
Kimmy got to tell you, you had me there. I had NO idea of what this was so I went looking and found out that without knowing the name this is some of what I have been doing. Its basically connecting mentally to what you are physically feeling by focusing on breathing, how tight my muscles feel and purposely relaxing them. through out the day instead of dissociating take time away from whatever is going on by my going into the bathroom and using my grounding techniqees and noticing where in my body I am tight and upset and purposely taking time to use my relaxation techniques to focus on that area.
Nancy J napeir does alot of this "check in with yourself type work that I have been doing for 5 years now. In fact one of my favorite Nancy J Napier activites is her walking meditations of remaining aware of what your feet are feeling as you walk. you can find more on Nancy J Napiers stuff at
http://www.nancyjnapier.com
Amazing what you do without knowing that there is a foot long lable for what you do. I just call it "awareness therapy" because it is focusing on my being aware of my body and what is going on around me. LOL so cool thanks for posting this thread.
Sorry if I missed any spelling mistakes I cant seem to spell even simple words today.
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Edited by myself (09/30/06 06:15 pm)
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kimmydawn
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ohio, us Re: Somatic Experiencing Therapy [Re: myself]
#395727 - 09/30/06 06:13 pm Edit Reply Quote
Thank you so much everyone for giving your expereinces! Perna, thank you for the link!!! I gave more information than the repetitive stuff I'd been reading so far. Thank you!
I realize as well that my t and I touched on this at the end with fabulous results. He didn't name it as such, but we worked a bit on different approaches.
I really find this theory and work fascinating because I honestly believe it to be the last leg in my healing...getting to know all of me...mind/body/spirit and something I'll work on for the rest of my life.
My goal? To be able to sit with myself comfortably. I kinda like myself.
KD
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Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships.
Charles Simic
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