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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 6:09:11
Anyone had somatic experiencing therapy? Interested in comments on the process and if/how it helped. Cecilia
Posted by lovelorn on December 4, 2007, at 14:13:23
In reply to Somatic Experiencing, posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 6:09:11
To be sure, I looked up the word somatic in the websters.com:
>of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as distinguished from the germplasm or the psyche
so I am thinking you are looking for experiences that involved some kind of bodily reaction or expression. Thinking back on my past year of therapy, I can't say anything too disinguishing other than I have noticed at some sessions I would have different body postures, mostly at the beginning when I would cry (if I cried) in session, there was an anger there and I remember a few times twisting and crunching the kleenex in my fist. The foster mother I lived with for many years after being taken out of my home from my real mother (before I could remember) was cruel and abusive and I've always had a deep mistrust of getting close to women and certainly did not like the idea I was crying and exposing some things to a woman. In the beginning I had to keep in mind that this lady was here to help me, not hurt me. So, sometimes there was that body reaction of anger. Probably not what you were thinking about, but I am not sure what kind of body reactions there could arise while in therapy. I think there are probably many posture / body reactions we have in therapy depending on the state of mind we are in. I expect a good T picks up on those reactions.
Will be interesting to see if any one else can point something out.
Posted by lovelorn on December 4, 2007, at 14:19:21
In reply to Somatic Experiencing, posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 6:09:11
..just wanted to add after thinking a bit more that, if anything, I get kind of somatic experiences after particularly hard sessions where we've explored and gone deep in certain emotions a day or two after where I experience weakness in body to where it seems I can barely move or feel like I will just drop from the mental processing and keeping it together of it all.
Posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 17:28:54
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing » Cecilia, posted by lovelorn on December 4, 2007, at 14:19:21
I guess I wasn't clear in my post-somatic experiencing is a particular type of therapy for trauma-Peter Levine has written a book about it called "Waking the Tiger". Just wondered if anyone had done this particular type of therapy and if it helped. Cecilia
Posted by lovelorn on December 4, 2007, at 19:01:46
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing » lovelorn, posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 17:28:54
Oops. I was way off. lol. I've not heard of that kind of therapy. I may do a web search on it.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on December 4, 2007, at 23:06:40
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing » Cecilia, posted by lovelorn on December 4, 2007, at 19:01:46
I spent a while in orgone therapy
and a bit of time with a bioenergetics therapist
if you want to shed your shell you might to be ready for periods of feeling unprotected
somatics is becoming a critical issue thoughwe are a society that is touch-deprived
ashley montagu wrote a great book many years ago
Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin
Posted by Daisym on December 5, 2007, at 2:08:37
In reply to Somatic Experiencing, posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 6:09:11
Peter Levine's "stuff" was part of my training program for infants and young children. We trained to observe their somatic responses, as well as their caregivers, to assess for non-verbal communication between the pairs. It was really amazing.
In my own therapy, if we are working on a young age, or there is something nonverbal happening, my therapist will ask me what is happening in my body and to focus on it as much as I can tolerate it. The idea is that trauma is stored in the body in all different ways and needs to be accessed and released if possible. It is sometimes AWFUL to focus on these feelings, I want to escape desperately. Like today - my shoes felt too tight. Now what was that about? We have a way to return safely to breathing - it works to concentrate on his breathing in order to calm myself.
There are a couple of good books - we use "The Body Remembers" - and I know a few people who are doing holding therapy. It is a very intimate and scary thing to work on - you needs lots of support around this.
Posted by Wittgenstein on December 5, 2007, at 5:48:57
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing, posted by Daisym on December 5, 2007, at 2:08:37
This is the first time I've heard of this type of therapy.
This question comes to mind: when it comes to pre-verbal/non-verbal trauma, are there other ways to work on them? Can healing be achieved through traditional talking therapy?
I have big problems with touch (I guess I'm not the only one here). It can trigger panic and fear in me. At best I tolerate it. I think this stems from something that happened to me when I was very small but I don't know where to start in regard to working on this - it's just too difficult and inaccessible - I remember it in third person, as an onlooker rather than any experience of it. I journaled something vaguely once, which my T read, but haven't been able to bring it up with him. In fact this whole topic of my aversion to touch has been tidily avoided so far. It's a strange thing - it's not as if I don't wish I could enjoy touch and feel safe with it (on some level I want touch but on other levels no way) - I have the feeling someone else wrote something like this on a topic not so long ago.
Witti
Posted by antigua3 on December 5, 2007, at 6:25:42
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing, posted by Wittgenstein on December 5, 2007, at 5:48:57
That's a really great start; you should be proud. As Daisy said, the feelings are stored in our body and by concentrating on where you feel them, your T can help you. Pre-verbally is tough, I know, because I have those feelings too, but even being able to write about them third person is a start. Since they are pre-verbal, you just have to go with the feelings themselves, which is a truly difficult thing to do. You don't have to necessarily "figure them all out," but by letting them go, you will discover the amount of energy that is freed up to let you concentrate on other things.
We all feel them in different parts of the body and knowing where that is is a huge beginning. Touch doesn't have to be a part of it--it isn't for me because I don't like to be touched during the times I'm opening up about the feelings.
Free association can help--just saying whatever comes into your mind when you describe the feelings, no matter how awful or stupid you may think those things are. A good T can pick up on this and help you find words to express how you're feeling. (I don't mean to imply that your free association thoughts ARE stupid; it's just sometimes we don't know what's important and the littlest thing or word can open things up.)
I've been working on this a long time, and it's tough, but you're making progress.
best of luck to you,
antigua
Posted by rskontos on December 5, 2007, at 8:36:13
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing, posted by elanor roosevelt on December 4, 2007, at 23:06:40
What type of experience is this type of therapy? And why is is a critical issue?
From what I read of his book's blurb on various site I agree with the "Levine points those with deep psychological scars may have dissociated the memory from their minds and are living in a numbed, tnesed body awaiting its release so the body can retun to wholeness and optimum mental and physical health. The author asserts that psychological wounds are reversible and that healing comes when the physical and mental letting go occurs, similar to the way a tiger experiences the coming and going of threat, tensing in response to danger, and the threat passes, the tiger's muscles shake, twitch and let go right then an dthere the fear related energy is forever out of mind and body, Truma is stored energy that must be released". I wonder why we can't let go of it like a tiger. I mean I know we aren't like a tiger but it must be so nice to be able to let go like that and not carry around those threats all the time. But his part of the numbed tensed body is what I relate to....I have done that. But if the therapy involves touch I would not be able to do it now. I am so not into that. Guess I need it as I didn't get it as a child and dissociated so much all the time my memories of childhood are locked away from me. It is also interesting to hear what therapies believe you need to get to these locked memories and which so no you dont. What does this therapy system think. Just wondering. Thanks for any information anyone has. rk
Posted by Daisym on December 6, 2007, at 1:26:18
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing, would like more info ple, posted by rskontos on December 5, 2007, at 8:36:13
My therapist does not touch me. As much as I want to be held, I'd run for cover if he ever tried.
The somatic part is you with you. YOU try to stay present with your body and be aware of things. Is there tightness in your chest? Is your throat tight? are your hands clenched? What is your breathing like? Do you feel tension or excitement in your vagina?
You begin to learn how to consciously relax muscles that are on auto-pilot. That flight/fight mechanism kicks in and our bodies tense up when fear is present. Because of the way our brain works, memories, even those we recognize as "old" can cause fear.
Other ways to access preverbal experiences, especially trauma, include art, and dance or movement therapies. It is the expression of the feelings, not the details of what "really" happened that is important. Banging on a drum can be a great way to express rage or frustration without even knowing why you are mad or frustrated.
Posted by antigua3 on December 6, 2007, at 11:50:56
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing » Wittgenstein, posted by antigua3 on December 5, 2007, at 6:25:42
I owe you an apology. You know what you're doing, and what things mean, so I shouldn't have responded like a school teacher. I'm sorry.
antigua
Posted by Wittgenstein on December 6, 2007, at 17:08:53
In reply to Re: Somatic Experiencing » Wittgenstein, posted by antigua3 on December 5, 2007, at 6:25:42
Antigua, no, I should be the one saying sorry as your post meant a lot to me yet I didn't reply until now. It gave me hope and made me feel better. I tend to always think I'm doing badly at things so it's nice to try and see things from the positive.
I see an analyst so free association (or saying whatever comes to mind) is one of the tools we use - again I don't think I'm that good at it - of course it's not easy just letting go and letting whatever come out. Gradually I'm opening up just a little more. Things like this take a lot of time. The important thing is to realise that things can change and that there is hope - so thank you for your post.
Good luck too, Antigua.
Witti
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