top of page
Writer's pictureCJ Gereau

Trauma Treatment in Somatic Therapy

Let's talk about trauma, typical treatment, and affect and sensation tolerance...

A traumatic event happens in your life. If you have never had therapy before, this trauma could be bringing up unaddressed traumas and events from various stages of your life (ie, the scared or overwhelming feeling from your parent's divorce/fighting) so stabilizing (finding ground) in all the emotions is not only tricky, it may be impossible.

Many people immediately turn to a Dr or psychiatrist to help. That psychiatrist may prescribe a fast-acting medication (ie, Ativan) to help the feeling of overwhelm. This treatment can be highly relieving at the moment.

Our bodies often don't realize the trauma/danger has passed. The challenge becomes that the body is seeking a way to move out of the trauma state, typically by completing the action of flight/flight/freeze, until it feels a sense of safety and all clear. The medication suppresses the hyper response of the body (again, flight/flight/freeze). While this creates relief, it inhibits the body's attempt to complete the action that would cause relief from being stuck in the trauma state. (The same holds true for self medicating with alcohol, drugs, etc).

When trauma treatment involves fast-acting medication (or self-medication) to relieve the emotional and physical overwhelm without therapy to support the integration and release of trauma, it increases the likelihood of PTSD.

There is undoubtedly a time and place for medications, and often, when a psychiatrist and therapist can collaborate, a treatment plan can include both stabilization with the support of medication as well as somatic interventions to support helping the physical trauma state stabilize.

Integration and peace are possible when we understand our body's sensations from trauma, anxiety, stress, etc., and build tolerance for those emotions and feelings.



0 views0 comments

コメント


bottom of page