Trauma Is Not a Disease,
but a Dis-Ease

Trauma can be quite a strong word for some and is often associated with a heavy traumatic experience such as a rape or a war experience. The fact is that we have all experienced trauma in one way or another. It is not to be understood as a disease, or as a uncurbable faith but as a discomfort. I like Peter Levin’s definition from his book “Walking the tiger” very much:

“Trauma evokes a biological response that needs to remain fluid and adaptive, not stuck and maladaptive. A maladaptive response is not necessarily a disease, but a dis-ease—a discomfort that can range from mild uneasiness to downright debilitation. The potential for fluidity still exists in maladaptation and must be tapped for the restoration of ease and full functioning.

Contrary to popular belief, trauma can be healed. Not only can it be healed, but in many cases, it can be healed without long hours of therapy; without the painful reliving of memories; and without a continuing reliance on medication. 

We must realize that it is neither necessary nor possible to change past events. Old trauma symptoms are examples of bound-up energy and lost lessons. The past doesn’t matter when we learn how to be present; every moment becomes new and creative. 

We have only to heal our present symptoms and proceed. A healing moment ripples forward and back, out and about.”  – Peter Levin

In the animalistic world (which is also ours), animals shake off after experiencing a traumatic situation. This means that the resulting experience has no chance to imprint itself on their nervous system. This is what the “remaining fluid” in Levin’s text refers to. Since most of us no longer have this natural reflex, we store a whole range of experiences in our bodies. 

The good news is that we can get things flowing again and thus remove the experience from our nervous system. This is not to say that an experience did not happen or to devalue a traumatic event. Rather, it is to show that there is a way of self-healing no matter what. 

How do you get stored imprints moving?

Somatic therapy

First, I strongly recommend working with a qualified therapist. Ideally someone who is specialized in the nervous system and is trauma sensitive (including on a physical level, not “just” talk therapy). I always recommend looking for someone who has training in the field of Somatic Experience or Bodynamics. It is the quality of healing and restoring the system while in contact with another human being that leaves a long-lasting effect. 

Breathwork

Conscious Connected Breathing, as well as gentler techniques, are very effective in getting ‘things’ moving and out of the body. Again, I recommend looking for someone who has a lot of experience and is trauma sensitive. Deep abdominal breathing is very powerful and can go too deep or bring the breather into a catharsis (reliving a traumatic event). This, as Levin says, is not necessary. Trauma healing happens in the present moment, in your body and not reliving the past or detached from it. Breathwork, if done properly, will certainly bring you deeper into contact with yourself and help you release. 

Shake

There are trauma release techniques or meditations that use movement to allow the body to release. This can be shaking where you actually move your body, as in an active meditation according to Osho. It can also be holding certain postures for a longer period of time until your body begins to shake on its own. This trembling, which you may know from holding an exercise in the gym for a long time, can be very liberating. Especially when it happens with the right guidance and support.

Please contact me or talk to your health consultant, if you wish to work with your past on a deeper level.