Somatic Experiencing: Building Safety Through the B0dy
Have you ever experienced a physical sensation in your body that defies verbal explanation? I’d invite to recall a time when this was true for you. The reality is that long before we can cognitively process a stressful event, our nervous system has already mobilized into action, preparing us to fight, flee, freeze, or, in overwhelming situations, shut down and collapse
Somatic practices invite us to become curious and compassion about these responses without trying to force change. Rather than asking, "How do I stop feeling this way?" they encourage a different question: "What story is my body trying to communicate?"
What Is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach developed by Peter Levine that focuses on helping people notice the physical sensations associated with stress and trauma. The goal is not to relive traumatic experiences, but to support the nervous system in gradually moving toward greater flexibility and regulation amongst its many parts
Many people find that gentle body awareness practices help them recognize early signs of stress, recover more readily after challenging experiences, and reconnect with a sense of safety and security.
Understanding Nervous System Responses
Our nervous system continually evaluates whether we are safe. Depending on the situation, we may experience varying degrees of protective responses:
Mobilization (fight or flight): increased energy, faster heart rate, muscle tension, or an urge to act.
Immobilization (freeze): feeling stuck, unable to move or decide, often while remaining alert.
Collapse or shutdown: profound exhaustion, numbness, disconnection, or a sense of "giving up" when the nervous system perceives overwhelming threat.
These responses should be viewed as adaptive survival strategies rather than personal failures.
In my own experience, I’ve learned to attend to the parts of my system that use these protective responses. The first step was simply noticing what physical feelings were cued in me when parts mobilized in response to different external stimuli. Once I attuned to them more deeply, I was able to learn more about their respective stories, the ones that had started very early on in my life. Some of these involved a deep sense of grief, one that defied logical understanding and explanation. Through working with a Somatic Experiencing therapist, I was able to access this grief and release it in a way that made sense for my system. Part of this practice involved allowing my body to move in the ways that it needed to (e.g. curling up into a fetal position) and giving permission to parts to express themselves however they wanted, often through tears. I learned that some of the grief I was holding came to me from other sources (i.e. legacy/cultural burdens) and that I could release this energy too through somatic practices. This is an ongoing journey, and I highly recommend connecting with a Somatic Experiencing or IFS therapist, or both for guidance along the way. My hope is that your system will be able to release the energy it has been carrying for so long, and open up a newfound sense of freedom.
Notes
Peter Levine Healing Trauma
Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash