The physiology of trauma
Trauma and chronic stress have a direct effect on the body and the automatic nervous system.
We can react in various ways from perceived threat and harm such as mobilisation responses like fighting or fleeing. These actions that are performed have us either confronting or hiding from the danger. These responses are fuelled by adrenalin and cortisol which power us up to move quickly, sending blood to our muscles, changing our heart rate, and blood pressure.
If these options do not help us to escape or survive, or if our brain does not see this as an advantage- we will immobilise, freeze, and play dead. This is a shut down method, or dissociation. The body decreases in oxygen, blood pressure and heart rate and we are flooded with body numbing endorphins so we can be shielded from pain.
The automatic nervous system functions as a built-in detective agency scanning for danger, threat, and safety. The ANS has three states, safe, calm, and connected, fight or flight and shut down. A healthy and regulated nervous system can move fluidly through these states. Chronic stress and trauma effects the nervous system by making changes to it. These changes are made to keep the body looking out for danger, this causes dysregulation and can cause chronic pain, illness, and inflammation in the body.
•••Rest, recovery, and co-regulation are ways to help bring about safety, attunement and presence and this regains flexibility to the nervous system.•••
As an energy healer I am interested in understanding you as a person, your story and how you have embodied your experiences. I want to help assist with the integration and release of the emotional energy that resides within you.
Slide 1- a video of how energy looks to me when held in the body. The colours are linked to the popular chakra theory but not exclusive. Energy has many colours and resides in many places not just "the chakras"
Slide 2- body mapping. Notice the ungrounded feet of the second image.
Slide 3- trauma and chronic stress without release changes the biology of us.
Slide 4- David Whyte poem. Integration.
