How to release trauma from the nervous system
By Orit Krug | June 18th, 2020
Knowing how to release trauma from the nervous system is largely dependent upon the level and severity of the threat your system perceives it is under.
When you have trauma stored in your nervous system, and you are triggered, your system automatically reacts in one of four ways: fight, flight, freeze, or shut down.
When this occurs it’s a good indication that you need to release the trauma from your system.
Doing so, however, involves rewiring your nervous system to start responding differently when the subconscious memories of your trauma are triggered.
Learn how to change your instinctive reactions
The complexity is that each nervous system reaction is essentially a survival response. The way your nervous system responds (either fight, flight, freeze, or shut down) will depend on how severe a threat your system perceives you to be under.
For example: your partner gets frustrated with you, despite them being a loving and healthy partner, your nervous system may feel like this action is a HUGE threat because you grew up with a father who was unpredictable and violent. So, you tense up your muscles and you freeze. You cannot stay present and connected with your partner because your nervous system feels a threat or a fear in the moment.
Successfully release trauma from nervous system in a therapeutic relationship
Working with a dance movement therapist (also known as an Embodiment Coach) who can support you and has experience is really the only way you can successfully release trauma from your nervous system. This is because you need to gently and safely rewire your nervous system through connecting with your body and movement.
Teaching your system to respond differently when it perceives a threat is a process of practice and patience and requires a safe and secure therapeutic relationship to guide and facilitate the rewiring experience.
A dance movement therapist will help you to expand your comfort zone in a supportive environment so that when you feel afraid in your romantic relationship, your nervous system no longer hijacks your body. Instead you stay present, have control, and get to CHOOSE how to respond.
This can only occur after working through past experiences where your nervous system has responded as if under threat, with a dance movement therapist (also known as an Embodiment Coach) who helps you to stay present and connected in the moment of the interaction. This act of rewiring shows your nervous system that you can feel the fear, however instead of your system taking over in the moment, you can consciously create new ways of behaving.
You get to release the trauma from your nervous system with control and support.
Here’s the thing: releasing trauma isn’t difficult
It may have seemed hard, or arduous, because you’ve tried other types of therapies or you’ve tried to DIY your own course of treatment. However, working to rewire your nervous system in these ways isn’t the most effective, and it’s practically impossible to try to do it alone.
You can release your trauma in a way that is profound, enjoyable, and sustainable. It is completely possible.
To learn more about my specialized healing process through movement, and what it entails, and how it can help you…
Sign up for my online course (ranges from free to $20 USD) to begin a unique, body-based learning experience that will teach you:
- Science-backed education about how trauma is stored in your body and nervous system. You’ll gain an understanding why it has NOT been your fault you haven’t healed yet from past trauma.
- Gentle, guided body-based movement that is necessary for integrated healing. This is crucial if you want your mind’s intentions to match your body’s behaviors in relationships.
- An embodied approach to healing that has helped hundreds of clients break unhealthy relationship patterns and let in healthy, lasting love.
