Yoga and meditation, journaling, breathwork–all such simple tasks, but they make all the difference for our wellbeing. In recent months, there has been a shift in the way individuals are taking control of their mental wellbeing and processing emotions and trauma they have experienced. Rather than prioritizing therapies such as psychotherapy, or ‘talk therapy,’ individuals are becoming more interested in practices that target nervous system regulation and healing. Also known as somatic healing or therapy, this shift can be greatly beneficial for those working through a healing journey.
Somatic healing is a therapy approach that is body-centered and works to release stored trauma, stress, or emotions within the body. It operates on the belief that trauma becomes trapped within our bodies, causing tension, and needs to be released in order to properly heal ourselves. Much of our trauma, stress, or emotions holds a place in our body and prevents us from being able to fully move on from our pasts. With somatic techniques, we can better release this stored tension in order to calm our nervous system and regulate our minds in ways that cognitive, talk-based therapies cannot fully tackle.
Bottom-up techniques are common within nervous system regulation and somatic healing exercises. Popular techniques include breathwork, grounding techniques, somatic movement, body scanning, and mindfulness. Within each of these realms of somatic healing are further exercises that help calm our nervous systems down. The list of possible exercises to try can be overwhelming, but the simplest of exercises can create major change within our nervous systems. Take breathwork, for example. A common technique is deep-belly breathing, where you place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. You will inhale for a count of four, and exhale for a count of four as well, focusing on making sure your stomach is expanding rather than your chest. Doing this technique allows your nervous system to feel in control of your own breathing, and helps to calm the system down overall.
Somatic healing has always been around, but the attention towards this method of healing has become increasingly higher in recent years. For many individuals dealing with mental health struggles, the first option made available is usually a form of psychotherapy. While this may work for some people, many are starting to realize that talk-therapy does not accurately address or heal trauma in the body. Due to the focus of nervous system regulation and targeting the fight-or-flight response within the body that somatic therapy offers, individuals have noticed the beneficial effects of this process. Individuals are finding that somatic exercises help to release the tension caused by trauma, and are better understanding the connection between the mind and the body within emotions. Understanding the mind-body connections promotes self-regulation and a deeper sense of healing.
Accessibility is also much greater for somatic exercises due to many of them being possible to be done at home. Social media has offered us an outlet for somatic healing, as creators make content regarding the practice and show their audiences how to accurately work on these techniques. There is also a large number of books, websites, and videos available for individuals, decreasing the cost of therapy. Working with a professional can be expensive and inaccessible for individuals, and having techniques for a lower price-tag promotes more individuals to start their own healing journeys.
Talking can be beneficial, but our bodies need the same care we try to give our brains. While working on releasing the tension from our bodies, we can release the tension preventing us from becoming our most healed, happy selves. Healing is scary, but somatic exercises help calm the fears we held before.
