Somatics
Anyone here know about somatics? Somatic experiencing etc? Or anyone studying it or a listener that gets it?
@berrycheesecake90 I'm not sure what that is, but I hope you find some helpful insights and support here ❤️🥰
@fossilfellow Tysm 😊 Somatics or Somatic Experiencing, is a form of therapy that does a bottom up approach rather than top down approach (like talktherapy and cbt) and it is very helpful for PTSD and CPTSD. Tho the therapy itself can be expensive but there info online and from other therapists, some therapists have alr trained in somatics that are in different therapies, but its abt the vagus nerve, crainal nerves, spinal nerves i think even and the brain-tummy connection, and its usually abt ur nervous system. In a way it might be similar to yoga but even more low exercise needed and just understanding ur body and what its saying, what it needs, how to connect to urself body and mind.
@berrycheesecake90 This is very informative, thank you so much for explaining! 💜🥰
I read this after I did the main reply... Now you are talking my language 😊 See my thread... Who knew?... Also look into HRV biofeedback... I can talk to you about proper meditation, which actually rewirer our Autonomic Nervous System to desensitize our triggers etc... by the way, Yoga means to reconnect (it's not just postures) and help the correct energy flow in the body etc etc etc...
There is an awful lot to somatic... Is there anything in particular you would like to know?
(Maybe look at my thread called... Who knew?... I recently replied to someone there and mentioned a book.)
Just to bring a few other things all together... Hopefully you saw my first ever reply to you about food is medicine, and you recently gave me a heart/upvote about low tones... Music is medicine too, the ear is also connected to the vagus nerve... I told you there is a lot 🤭 but it's all great, actually works, and fully reconnects to the whole body, because the thinking brain actually shuts down under stress (that's neuroscience).
Just read your profile bio 💖 ... Somatic means to do with the body... Yoga means to reconnect, but not just to the body, but to the universe... It's not just spiritual, it's Quantum physics 😊
@SilverTabbyCat63 well im not sure abt yoga, is not rlly for me im deff more leaning towards somatics so
😊 Don't be fooled by modern western yoga which is all perfect poses... that's just not yoga, which is completely somatic and holistic... I work from 1 psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, 5 physiologists including Arielle Schwartz, all involved with neuroscience, focus on somatics and 3 (that's 50% of them) admit to suffering trauma. All advocate Trauma Informed yoga... So if you can find someone (teacher/class) Trauma Informed, who knows Bessel van der Kolk's and Arielle Schwartz's work check in out, it should be relatively inexpensive. Yoga is also bilateral which is also important... And a highly recommended, compatible top down approach would be IFS, Richard Schwartz (same name, not related) and another one of the 6 professionals I mentioned above. This multi but joined up approach is really the way forward for all of us...
PS... again, don't be fooled by people trying to sell you the word Somatics!?... It's just an adjective meaning to do with the body... I'm sure you have heard of psychosomatic?... Which is also probably incorrect, because 80+% of the vagus nerve is sending information from the body to the brain... We only have 5 external senses and way more internal senses, therefore the brain is reacting to the body and senses. We don't smile because we feel happy, the brain senses the smile and so can then feel happy... Somatic before Cognition (this is neuroscience, evolution etc).
Again dont like that word makes me uncomfy
Maybe I should have explained 'bilateral'... it just means two sides, which refers to both the body and the two sides (hemispheres) of the brain.
Yeh i heard of bilateral
Just seen your thread My Situation... believe me, I know toxic environments and racing thoughts... Above I mentioned I could help with real/authentic meditation, which is also backed up by neuroscience... Don't use apps, guided meditation or background sounds etc, because they draw you out / external... Just use silence and go internal... Below (hopefully) are 2 YouTube links... The first is ok from Yoga, but really important on what to expect and the science. The second is from the BBC showing the science. There is also a link to the BBC website, because that video is the first of four...
I just checked the videos, two really important things to add... Breathe into the belly, not the chest (chest is stress breathing)... When the mind wanders, don't get upset with yourself or engage with the thoughts, just observe... like just observe children misbehaving, they will settle by just observing them... Good luck and please ask me more...
This (the videos) is meditation good basics and foundation, I can help more with further and individual needs.
I see, im not rlly comfy with the ‘fooled’ word it is kinda triggering as listed in my bio so , i believe u mean that western yoga is probably altered which i heard but i dont like harsh words like those as they trigger me by alot
Apologies, thank you for telling me, I certainly did not intend to do that. Yes, I only saw your additions to your bio more recently... Yes, as I was saying yoga is not just postures, that is just a small part of yoga... I was also thinking that if you are comfortable, but definitely at a trauma informed class (only), you might feel comfortable being with others who understand...
I would like to add that the list of medical professionals I mentioned above is growing. Importantly most now publicly talk about their childhood trauma. And advocate Yoga, and both trauma and Yoga definitely apply to the 3 core names I mention above. I should also mention in Bessel's book, he says that he trained as a Yoga teacher after understanding how important it is.
I just noticed a typing mistake... I said 1 psychiatrist, and it was meant to say 5 psychologists.
@berrycheesecake90
My therapist has shown my some somatic exercises to do to help with my ptsd. They have been helpful.
@berrycheesecake90 Somatic actually a kind of psychological disorders type, in which due to psychological distresses a person feels real pain in body part , without any biological evidence
Please read what I have written about...
Ill be back to this soon im on a bit of a break from forums
My comment about reading was for the listener... I understand about needing a break, me too... Sorry I've written a lot, but it's all here now and evidence and experience based, unlike a lot of stuff written on this site and the internet generally... Please do also ask me if you have any questions... Enjoy your break and good luck, take care...
@SilverTabbyCat63 Ah i see
I have delved deeper into Somatic Experiencing (SE) now... I was actually already aware of and using some of this, without actually knowing the term SE, so I can agree with a lot of it... However personally I did struggle with some things and it can be fairly common for others to struggle with SE too. Now I know why... and that is being dissociated. Therefore if anyone with (or possible) dissociation, the therapist will have to be aware and trained in this.
Thankfully there are various safe grounding techniques, many of which I have been intuitively using.
@SilverTabbyCat63 i see, thanks, is it ok if i ask u questions abt somatic stuff instead? ik we planned on support like explaining stuff and all but idk how comfy i am with that, but are u alright with me asking any questions regarding somatic symptoms and somatic stuff instead if ever needed?
Yes, of course... And you have several options of being able to talk with me now, but maybe in one place and more private would be nicer/easier for both of us 😊
You mentioned the word symptoms, I might be able to give you something important to help (generally) now... Hopefully you have heard of fascia (don't worry if you haven't)? If you do 3 little Google searches, you will see (in the useful AI Overview) how important fascia is and related to everything we have mentioned... So, take care and the 3 searches (in this order) are... Fascia... Fascia sensory... Keeping facsia healthy...