“Healing comes from within. By allowing ourselves to feel, we can free ourselves from the past and live fully in the present.”
-Anonymous
Releasing Trauma: An Introduction to Somatic Memory
Let’s explore the world of somatic memory and its role on our mental, emotional and physical health. Understanding somatic memory and its connection to holistic wellness has been game-changer for so many people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, digestive upset, and even chronic pain, to name a few. If you’ve ever experienced unwanted and inexplicable somatic symptoms such as these, then this is for you. So let’s dive into it!
What is Somatic Memory?
Somatic memory is our body’s way of storing physical sensations from past experiences. It has served as a survival mechanism throughout human evolution. Imagine our ancestors encountering dangerous situations like predator attacks or environmental hazards. The body’s ability to remember the physical sensations associated with these threats—like a rapid heartbeat or tense muscles—helped them react faster in similar future situations. This kind of memory kept them on high alert and ready to respond which increased their chances of survival.
But somatic memory isn’t just about danger. It also helps us learn from positive experiences. For example, the physical joy of nurturing relationships or successful hunts reinforced behaviors that promoted social bonding and resource acquisition, both essential for thriving communities. Today these memories can show up in a plethora of symptoms and that’s why understanding somatic memory is so pivotal to holistic healing.
The Science Bit: Understanding the Bi-Directional Relationship
It’s important to understand the relationship between somatic memory and our somatic symptoms. Our bodies and minds are in a constant dance, influencing each other in a bi-directional flow. This intricate interplay means that what we feel emotionally can manifest physically, and vice versa. For the purposes of this blog, let’s use stress, anxiety, and depression as our somatic teachers so we can get an idea of how these symptoms show up in the body. Remember, understanding this connection is imperative in order for us better manage and transform our somatic symptoms into opportunities for growth and healing.
#1. The Stress Spiral
The star of the show when it comes to stress is our neuroendocrine system, which includes the HPA axis and the autonomic nervous system. These systems are like the control centers for your body’s stress response. They decide how we process and store stress and trauma. When you’re stressed, the HPA axis gets fired up. It triggers a cascade of hormones to be released, including cortisol, our main stress hormone. Cortisol is great for getting ready to tackle immediate challenges, but if stress sticks around for too long, it keeps those cortisol levels high. Over time, this can alter brain areas like the hippocampus and amygdala, which are key for memory and emotional regulation. And boom – you’ve got somatic memory.
BUT, this memory doesn’t just stay in your head. The somatic memory embeds itself in your muscles, nerves, and organs because they’re all innervated by the nervous system. You see, the nervous system connects your brain to your body which transmits signals that can store and reactivate stress responses in various tissues. As your body holds onto those stress sensations, it creates a feedback loop where stress and physical discomfort reinforce each other. It’s yet another powerful reason to regulate your nervous system from somatic healing techniques.
#2: The Anxiety Avalanche
Similarly, anxiety ramps up our autonomic nervous system, especially the part that controls our “fight or flight” response. This cranks out adrenaline and noradrenaline, making your heart race, your blood pressure rise, and your muscles tense up. These changes get locked into your body as somatic memories. So, when something triggers these memories, your body reacts like it’s facing the original threat, even if it’s just a minor stressor. This then perpetuates the cycle of anxiety and can end up a part of our everyday lives. Over time, this loop can make your body more sensitive to stressors, further entrenching the anxiety response and making it more challenging to break free.
Last, but not least, #3: The Depression Downpour
On the flip side, depression disrupts your HPA axis and neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Long-term stress can make your HPA axis underactive in depression, lowering cortisol production and interfering with your ability to handle stress. This causes physical symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sleep problems, which become, you guessed it, somatic memories. When these get triggered, they can make depressive episodes worse, reinforcing both the physical and emotional struggles.
So, how do we break this cycle?
That’s where somatic healing can have a profound affect on transforming somatic symptoms. Somatic healing involves techniques and practices that help you reconnect with your body, regulate your nervous system, and release stored tension and trauma. It’s a holistic wellness approach that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your health.
Why Somatic Healing Works
Releasing Stored Trauma: Somatic techniques, such as breathwork, various forms of yoga, and energy clearing modalities, can help you process and release trauma stored in your body. By gently bringing awareness to physical sensations and allowing your body to complete the stress response cycle, you can release the tension and reset your nervous system.
Mind-Body Connection: Practices like intuitive yoga, somatic dance, and mindfulness meditation enhance the mind-body connection. These activities encourage you to focus on your breath and bodily sensations, open your intuition and listen to its guidance. This promotes relaxation, roundedness, and clarity to navigate your somatic memories.
Stress Regulation: Somatic healing helps regulate the autonomic nervous system. Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback methods like heart rate variability can lower cortisol levels and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming both the body and mind.
Holistic Wellness: Somatic healing is a holistic solution that considers your overall well-being. It integrates physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health, ensuring that you address all aspects of your health and wellness from an inside out, outside in approach
Embracing Holistic Solutions
Incorporating somatic healing into your daily routine can transform all aspects of your life, from your mental, emotional, and physical health to your relationships, your career, your finances, all of it! By addressing the physical manifestations of emotional pain and reconnecting with your body, you can break the cycle of unwanted somatic memory and find lasting relief.
Remember, holistic wellness is about treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. So, give yourself the gift of somatic healing and start your journey towards a healthier, happier you. This approach not only alleviates physical discomfort but also empowers you to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and ease.
