Physical sensations such as tingling, warmth or a sense of energy may occur. Some people experience muscle twitching or shaking as tension is released. These sensations are often temporary and can indicate that your body is working through and letting go of past stress or trauma.
A somatic release can feel different for everyone, but it often involves a sense of physical or emotional release, relaxation, or relief. Some individuals may experience shaking, trembling, or other physical movements as part of a somatic release, while others may simply feel a sense of calm or peace.
What Does a Session Look Like? First, the practitioner or therapist will do a pre-interview to learn about your trauma and overall health history and answer any questions about your expectations. They will then ask questions centered around assessing how your body is responding to your trauma and stress.
Physical sensations such as tingling, warmth or a sense of energy may occur. Some people experience muscle twitching or shaking as tension is released. These sensations are often temporary and can indicate that your body is working through and letting go of past stress or trauma.
Somatic therapy should be done with a therapist, but there are some somatic experiencing exercises you can do on your own. Doing things like breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation can help a person find some relief throughout their everyday life, along with seeing a somatic therapist.
Trauma is not physically held in the muscles or bones — instead, the need to protect oneself from perceived threats is stored in the memory and emotional centers of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. This activates the body whenever a situation reminds the person of the traumatic event(s).
That feeling is what psychologists refer to as catharsis, a powerful release that can be a tool for processing your emotions and alleviating psychological distress.
Physical Symptoms of Negative Energy
Prolonged exposure to stress and negativity can lead to physical symptoms, including: Muscle tension and tightness – A constant state of stress can make you feel physically rigid or tense. Headaches – Mental strain and emotional stress often trigger headaches or migraines.
If possible, do not schedule any intense physical activity or other activities that require a high level of energy or for you to over-‐exert yourself after a session, especially if feeling fatigue. Give yourself permission to rest and not override your body's needs. Mindful movements if possible.
Crying or Laughing: Unexpected bouts of crying or laughter can be a physical sign your body is releasing trauma. These emotional releases are natural and therapeutic. Mood Swings: Fluctuations in mood, such as feeling elated one moment and sad the next, can indicate that deep-seated emotions are being processed.
Deep somatic pain originates from structures deeper within your body, such as your joints, bones, tendons, and muscles. 4 Like visceral pain, deep somatic pain is usually dull and aching. For example, if you bump your knee, the pain that you experience is localized to your knee.
Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect. Most responses are normal in that they affect most survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective, and self-limited.
The psoas muscle, which is located in the lower back and connects to the hip joint, is particularly susceptible to holding onto tension and trauma. When you experience a traumatic event, your body may instinctively contract and tighten the psoas muscle as a way of protecting itself.
In short, yes. People with alexithymia feel all of the normal human emotions in their bodies. While someone with alexithymia may struggle to recognize and express their feelings to others, they still feel them physiologically.
Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
A person who hides their pain behind a smile is called an “eccedentesiast.”
Symptoms of facial aging and trauma can range from wrinkled, drooping skin to injuries that cause pain and interfere with sight, smell, speech and breathing. Symptoms of aging skin can include: Fine lines and wrinkles.
A study conducted by a Columbia University has discovered that traumatic childhood experiences can cause stomach or gut problems which may manifest in adulthood as mental or emotional issues. As a psychotherapist, I often see clients who feel grief, anger, sadness and anxiety in the gut or stomach.
These include symptoms such as gastrointestinal disorders, body pain (eg, arms, back, and headaches), cardiopulmonary effects (eg, chest pain and dizziness), and fatigue (eg, sleep disturbances and lack of energy). In adults, the overall prevalence of somatic symptoms is estimated at 10% to 25%.
However, there's another kind of detox that targets not just physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being—somatic detox. This approach focuses on releasing accumulated tension, stress, and trauma stored in the body, leading to profound healing and renewal.
Trauma can dysregulate the nervous system, leading to chronic stress or anxiety. Through gentle, attuned touch, somatic therapy helps regulate the nervous system, shifting it from a state of fight-or-flight to one of rest-and-digest, promoting overall well-being.