Can trauma haunt the body the same way it haunts memories?
According to Stephen Porges, PhD, not only does the body remember a traumatic experience, but it can actually get stuck in the trauma response mode.
So even when life becomes safe, the body still perceives danger and its defenses stay engaged.
Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Stephen shares a little background along with his own personal experience with this phenomenon – check it out, it’s just 4 minutes.
You can learn more about polyvagal theory in our course Why the Vagal System Holds the Key to the Treatment of Trauma.
Have you or someone you work with ever felt immobilized by fear without understanding the reason for it? How did you overcome it? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
What an interesting and potentially useful application of the polyvagal techniques.
I applaud your efforts to assist those caught in the terror of the “Freeze”.
good post like it
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Best post for me.
Thanks for sharing this amazing information dear.
Thank you to Ruth and all contributing to this series, an excelled way of sharing and teaching the latest of what science has to offer to therapist and sufferers.
I am benefiting greatly from this series, and would like more on the polyvagal theory which is still quite opaque to me -what are the implications for therapeutical practice, what can still be developed for clinicians trying to help patients?
I am particularly interested now in helping witnesses at criminal trials, where the shock and trauma, (sometimes thought long – overcame) immobilises the person in the witness box and freezes their responses in cross examination, often jeopardising their credibility and ability to state their case (unfortunately for the victim, the justice system is not well informed about the neuroception and how it can serve the victim contrary to their interests).
What is available in the way of “First aid” -fast release from the freeze stage of stress response?
Cool! That’s a clever way of lonikog at it!
I agree completely, Netsanet, that reasoning alone is not sufficient to address situations like the one Stephen mentions. Obviously, we cannot just tell ourselves not to panic. There are levels of the mind that are below the level of our conscious awareness, along with interactions between our thoughts, our emotions and our body’s physiology involved.
I would also consider adding Ki Gong and EFT to Ann’s suggestions above, as effective ways to resolve disruptions below our conscious awareness that may be contributing to disease and disability. They are both effective and easy to learn, and virtually risk free.
Stephen’s work seems very promising in helping us to understand these complex, but very important questions.
Chuck
Tried many alternative therapies to help chronic anxiety/trauma and non of them were very effective including eft, I would say a best they work by the placebo effect (not to be scoffed at )and at worst delusional,and damn right dishonest and people like advocating eft highlights a big problem in the therapy/p development field not being accountable for your claims and actions.
I find that when patients presenting with trauma issues learn that there is a physiological response involved, and further learn how it works and that it is an unconscious process, it can come as a great relief to them–I’ve gotten responses like, “Oh, you mean I’m not just “crazy”, there is a real, physical explanation for my feelling and my responses?” and this sense of relief can put them in a frame of mind to learn that there are real ways to help them cope with this. I look forward to hearing the full presentation on this subject.
I agree that trauma can get stuck in the body. I got my initial trauma incident by being attacked in public, no body came to my aid, I was in massive shock, and felt my body ‘disappear’, all the while my mind was working furiously.
Now I get upset when people in authority misbehave, or abuse their power, whither towards me or others isn’t important. It is my mind that processes all the awful feelings, but my body ‘lets me down’ in that I get so so so tired and exhausted that I can’t do anything much all that day, and maybe longer. I am not able to instruct my body to just get on with the rest of the day.
So far the only thing that has helped me is Yoga Nidra (a deep body relaxation technique) combined with lots of breathing (counting breaths etc)….. having done this practice every day for a year, I am starting to ‘befriend’ my body again. Also I do physical exercise daily too – this helps me to link my mind with my body (forge a body-mind connection).
I am glad to be able to listen to this series on trauma. It is good to know why I react like this, as I would always have seen myself as an adaptive, resilient person – but I’m not when my body is stuck permanently in the past.
Hi,
i’ve had PTSD, and specialize in treating it – in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Pakistan as well as U.S. and other countries. Yogic breathing techniques in the Art Of Kiving Course 1, and EMDR are the best things I’ve seen to address the neurological “stuckness” of the memories.
More than 30% of women are assaulted, but only 5% seek self-defense training. Be in that 5%, take “Model Mugging” or “Impact”. Obtain the skills tp orotect yourself, it helps overcome the pain, and more ensures personal safety, increasing self-confidence.
Best Regards,
Ann Godwin, M.S.
Crystal clear explanation. Got that cognitive approaches aren’t usually sufficient in trauma work – the body has to be calmed. Looking forward to to the full interview. Love & gratitude to all involved in this informative series.