WHAT IS TRAUMA?
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When people hear of the word “trauma” they think of a severe scenario that is extremely distressful. However, trauma is not necessarily that, but rather an experience that has dysregulated our nervous system. Therefore, it doesn’t have to be major, for many things in our lives can cause dysregulation- it is not so much about the event as it is how we PROCESSED it, thus what could have caused trauma is different for everyone and its severity.
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Now, our bodies hold memories in 3 areas: our immune system via memory T-cells maintaining information about previous attacks by foreign antigens, muscle memory (which also includes fascia) and DNA/cellular memory. Interestingly enough, our senses come into play when we react to something that has us recall a trauma, for it stimulates our nervous system via the memory it holds. This is why verbal therapy alone isn’t enough to clear stored trauma. Somatic methods are needed to help regulate the nervous system and manipulate our senses into not over reacting and increasing a stress response every time our bodies recall the traumatic event.
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In fact, Dr. Peter Levine, author of the book Waking the Tiger, writes how after a hunt, female lions wrestle with each other to help their bodies “use up” the stress hormones that come from the act of hunting. That over production of adrenaline in one’s system must be processed or it will get stored.  Unfortunately, our society doesn’t recognize the importance of “letting things out” and forces us to “hold it in” causing us to keep those stress hormones bottled up, failing to release the excess energy, and dysregulate our nervous system.
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Look at children for instance. When they are upset, they usually get physical, stomp, hit, or wave their hands all around. This isn’t to get attention, it is to RELEASE emotion.
So how to release trauma even if it has occurred?
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My 2 best tips is to figure out your triggers FIRST. You won’t be able to detect what your trauma is if you don’t know what makes you react. Second is to start practicing methods of emotional expression in moments of distress, whether it be dancing, myofascial release, tapping- whatever, let it out.