On trauma as stored vibrational charge and reflections on dealing with it

Traumatic injury is actually stored as vibrational charge and sensation within our bodies. It is not just a mental construct which is what a lot of people assume when they offer you pat solutions for anxiety or trauma. Peter Levine is, to my mind, one of the foremost explicators of trauma and its impact on the body psyche. His work involves allowing traumatised people a way of making friends with the intense bodily sensations and repressed emotions trauma or invalidation can leave stored inside of us. The feeling of being unsafe can be overpowering if we were violated in subtle or not so subtle ways. Some of us may not even be aware of the rage we carry in the spirit or soul as a result of these abuses and when they start to emerge it can be scary for all involved.

Ideally such traumatic injury needs to be ‘unpacked’ slowly over time and what is most essential is the creating of a ‘sense of safety’ or refuge, either with a loved one/therapist and then inside the self. For those of us never contained in childhood its not enough to try to work through trauma alone, we need help from someone who wont shame us further or deepen our confusion. Peter Levine also recommends a strategy of what he calls ‘pendulation’ where by we only enter our trauma in small doses while pendulating to more positive, joyous, hopeful and life giving memories. I would highly recommend a reading of his two excellent books if you don’t know of them Waking the Tiger an In An Unspoken Voice.

Trauma, especially acute bodily trauma is by its very nature fear inducing and completely overwhelming. Those never subject to this kind of trauma or abuse HAVE NOT A CLUE IN HELL of what it is like to live with, so if you suffer from trauma or abuse or neglect be mindful of who you share your history with if you don’t what to be hurt further..That said please keep seeking validation and someone who understands. The absolute worst kind of trauma is the one whereby we are told we shouldn’t be reacting the way we did. This lack of insight and empathy is common in narcissistically shut down or abusive/neglectful families.

Negotiating our feelings and stored emotional charge coming out of trauma is very important which is why self soothing activities that promote relaxation, movement and joy are so important in recovery. The worst effect of invalidation trauma or major body impacts of shock is that they drive us into collapse or freeze states which where in the trauma just revolves around endlessly within us in a negative feedback loop. Feelings of unsafety and fear keep us in lock down. They stymie opportunities to reach out to more loving sources of support, connection and engagement. A poor therapist or invalidating group can be damaging to us in my experience, especially if our abandonment needs force us to surrender our real selves in order to be loved and find the acceptance we always longed for but was so absent in childhood. A helpful therapist or group will validate the underlying reasons for your reactions or behaviour and not shame you further while encouraging you to take control of your own triggers or reactions OVER TIME. Expecting this type of emotional maturity or containment before the complex early feelings have been negotiated will block the process of true healing and may force feelings back within the body that so urgently need to be liberated over time.

Related :

https://wordpress.com/posts/emergingfromthedarknight.wordpress.com?s=peter+levine

https://emergingfromthedarknight.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/trauma-and-the-bodymind-the-importance-of-understanding-and-making-peace-with-feelings-and-sensations/