What is somatic experiencing and can it help treat chronic fatigue?

Have you ever felt like an emotion just got stuck in your throat or your chest?

At the level of the nervous system, this could actually be the case, as the way we process emotion is richly connected to the muscles, fibres and sinews in our bodies. This is why stress causes stomaches and anger can lead to symptoms like chronic headaches.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a therapeutic model which addresses emotions and trauma not on the rational level or words and thoughts, but on a “somatic level” – or the level of our physiology.

Developed by NASA stress expert Dr. Peter A. Levine, this holistic model of healing is gaining widespread recognition for helping to treat intractable psychoneurological issues, including Chronic Fatigue.

While Chronic Fatigue and similar conditions are not psychological, they could be described as being affected by a complex mixture of psychological, neurological and physical factors. Somatic Experiencing helps to address the psychological and neurological aspects of the condition, which may in turn help the body to better process physical stressors. This was the case with my own recovery, which I’ll also discuss in this post.

Understanding Somatic Experiencing

At its core, Somatic Experiencing is founded on the premise that traumatic experiences can leave imprints in the body, leading to a dysregulated nervous system. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on verbal processing, SE emphasizes the importance of bodily sensations and movements in releasing stored trauma energy.

My experience with Somatic Experiencing

I started to use this technique before I even knew the term for it, as it was included in various mind-body healing courses I took. I have since learnt about the impressive body of work that underpins the approach, spearheaded by Peter Levine in his book “Waking the Tiger”.

The outcomes for me were absolutely incredible. The more I practised, the more I could feel trapped emotion literally shaking its way out of my body.

It was an emotionally taxing period, as I had to confront some of my most uncomfortable feelings, but by doing this I began to notice the last vestiges of my chronic fatigue disappearing.

The idea that emotions are trapped in your body would have seemed nonsensical to me before I got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but the condition literally forced me to evaluate every available treatment modality. This meant stepping outside my preexisting beliefs about what made sense and what didn’t.

One of the most powerful emotions I tapped into was anger. The funny thing was that I didn’t actually realise I was angry. In fact, I’m a extremely calm person, but when I focused on various events from my childhood, the anger started erupting.

Importantly, I didn’t just stay in the anger, but used this technique to release the trapped survival stress in my body, literally as if I was running or fighting the objects of my aggression. 

I also used Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help release these emotions.

Principles of Somatic Experiencing

• Resourcing: SE begins by establishing a sense of safety and stability, often referred to as “resourcing.” This involves developing internal and external resources to support yourself during the therapeutic process.
• Titration: Rather than overwhelming you with the intensity of traumatic memories, SE employs the concept of “titration.” This involves breaking down the traumatic experience into smaller, more manageable components, allowing for gradual processing without re-traumatization.
• Pendulation: Central to Somatic Experiencing is the idea of “pendulation,” which involves oscillating between sensations of safety and activation. By attuning to the body’s natural rhythm, you can learn to regulate your nervous system and integrate challenging experiences.
• Completing the Survival Responses: In SE, trauma is viewed as incomplete survival responses frozen in the body. Through guided somatic exploration, you are supported in completing these instinctual responses, thus discharging trapped energy and restoring equilibrium.

Techniques Used in Somatic Experiencing

• Tracking Sensations: Therapists help clients develop awareness of bodily sensations associated with trauma, such as tension, numbness, or discomfort.
• Grounding Exercises: Grounding techniques are employed to anchor clients in the present moment, fostering a sense of safety and stability amidst intense emotions or memories.
• Somatic Resourcing: This involves accessing positive sensations or memories to counterbalance the overwhelming effects of trauma, promoting a sense of empowerment and resilience.
• Gentle Movement: Encouraging gentle movements or gestures can help release stored tension and activate the body’s innate capacity for self-regulation.

Although these techniques may seem somewhat intangible, they are profoundly powerful and can work very quickly. I noticed an impact after just one session.

The Impact of Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing has garnered attention for its effectiveness in treating various forms of trauma, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), childhood trauma, chronic stress, and chronic fatigue. Research suggests that SE can lead to significant improvements in symptoms such as hyperarousal, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation.

From the perspective of this website, one critical thing to note is that reducing this hyperarousal can take the autonomic nervous system out of “fight, flight or freeze” mode, associated with being the causative factor in chronic fatigue and similar conditions.

Somatic Experiencing transcends the traditional dichotomy of mind and body, recognizing them as interconnected aspects of human experience. By addressing trauma on a somatic level, SE facilitates profound healing and integration, empowering you to reclaim agency over your life.

Conclusion

SE paves the way for profound shifts in consciousness and well-being. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of trauma and resilience, Somatic Experiencing stands as a testament to the incredible nature of the mind-body connection.

To learn more about how Somatic Experiencing can be used to treat chronic conditions such as Chronic Fatigue, visit my course page.