That trauma “lodges” in the body is a fact that few people know; the important corollary is that it can be forced out! Equally unknown by most. You did a fine job on this article!
Very clearly laid out, Linnea. These are important concepts for people to understand. I have found EFT tapping a really powerful somatic therapy for reaching both the mammalian and lizard brain and healing old wounds, and the best thing of all is the fact that it can be self-applied, so doesn’t require paying therapists: so many sexual abuse survivors are economically disadvantaged because of the long-term effects of trauma.
EFT (tapping) is a wonderful approach for calming the nervous system and for resourcing. I also love the fact that it’s free and can be done at home.
Another free and easy technique that can be very helpful for releasing trauma from the body is TRE (trauma releasing exercises). There are lots of YouTube instructions on how to do it.
Well done, Linnea, thank you, I appreciate this essay. It is thorough, well explained and very helpful. What a world we live in- sadly so many are suffering. May they find your work.
As a healer, I have done many of your recommendations and concur with your guidance-- healing does take time and healing happens. I am starting an art therapy class on Wildlands, and am starting to have them in person, and am co-hosting a retreat this fall, too. I wrote about a traumatic experience in Wildlands (part of it is for paid subscribers).
Thank you, Robin. Deep healing requires approaching the problem from many different angles. Sure, therapy helps, as does writing, process art, and spending time in nature. It’s one of the reasons I love your publication Wildlands.
I am not a survivor of sexual trauma but I have friends and relatives who are. Thank you for helping me understand more about them. It will help me be more supportive.
Thank you Karen. Your search to understand is the best offering you can give to your loved ones who have been experienced sexual trauma. Thank you for your openness and willingness to learn. This is a precious gift. 🙏💜🙏
Thank you so much Petra and thank you for subscribing! I deeply appreciate your support.
This essay is a rewrite of a three part blog from several years ago. Helping people understand and recover from sexual trauma is one of my passion projects.
This was very clear Linnea and I appreciate the dive into the three brains. Makes more sense why somatic work is so important. And the reenactment in order to complete the experience.
Thank you, Julie! I’m very glad that the three brains explanation made sense. Working from top down (mind-centered) as well as bottom up (body-centered) makes the healing process more complete.
Thank you for your clarity in this piece and for the reassuring advice for trauma survivors. I especially love the part about speaking to the three different brains. I've never heard that before.
Thank you Laura! The triune brain theory is a little oversimplified and so neuroscientists are not a big fan, but I find it to be incredibly helpful for understanding the way that we need to approach trauma healing from different angles. Top down (mind centered) and bottom up (body-centered) approaches meet in the middle to offer a more complete healing process.
That trauma “lodges” in the body is a fact that few people know; the important corollary is that it can be forced out! Equally unknown by most. You did a fine job on this article!
Very clearly laid out, Linnea. These are important concepts for people to understand. I have found EFT tapping a really powerful somatic therapy for reaching both the mammalian and lizard brain and healing old wounds, and the best thing of all is the fact that it can be self-applied, so doesn’t require paying therapists: so many sexual abuse survivors are economically disadvantaged because of the long-term effects of trauma.
Thank you Ros for that reminder!
EFT (tapping) is a wonderful approach for calming the nervous system and for resourcing. I also love the fact that it’s free and can be done at home.
Another free and easy technique that can be very helpful for releasing trauma from the body is TRE (trauma releasing exercises). There are lots of YouTube instructions on how to do it.
Well done, Linnea, thank you, I appreciate this essay. It is thorough, well explained and very helpful. What a world we live in- sadly so many are suffering. May they find your work.
As a healer, I have done many of your recommendations and concur with your guidance-- healing does take time and healing happens. I am starting an art therapy class on Wildlands, and am starting to have them in person, and am co-hosting a retreat this fall, too. I wrote about a traumatic experience in Wildlands (part of it is for paid subscribers).
Thank you, Robin. Deep healing requires approaching the problem from many different angles. Sure, therapy helps, as does writing, process art, and spending time in nature. It’s one of the reasons I love your publication Wildlands.
Many thanks, that's wonderful-- All Blessings to you, Linnea.
As always, I appreciate you, your work and your support. XX
I am not a survivor of sexual trauma but I have friends and relatives who are. Thank you for helping me understand more about them. It will help me be more supportive.
Thank you Karen. Your search to understand is the best offering you can give to your loved ones who have been experienced sexual trauma. Thank you for your openness and willingness to learn. This is a precious gift. 🙏💜🙏
You’re welcome. I look forward to learning more from you.
And I from you 💜
Thank you for sharing this important information. I look forward to reading more of your words.
Thank you so much Petra and thank you for subscribing! I deeply appreciate your support.
This essay is a rewrite of a three part blog from several years ago. Helping people understand and recover from sexual trauma is one of my passion projects.
This was very clear Linnea and I appreciate the dive into the three brains. Makes more sense why somatic work is so important. And the reenactment in order to complete the experience.
Thank you, Julie! I’m very glad that the three brains explanation made sense. Working from top down (mind-centered) as well as bottom up (body-centered) makes the healing process more complete.
Thank you for your clarity in this piece and for the reassuring advice for trauma survivors. I especially love the part about speaking to the three different brains. I've never heard that before.
Thank you Laura! The triune brain theory is a little oversimplified and so neuroscientists are not a big fan, but I find it to be incredibly helpful for understanding the way that we need to approach trauma healing from different angles. Top down (mind centered) and bottom up (body-centered) approaches meet in the middle to offer a more complete healing process.