Sometimes, trauma can accumulate in our bodies at the cellular level. What it implies to an individual is the focus of somatic therapy, a more modern form of mental health treatment. The majority of people might not be aware of somatic therapy. What is the main idea? is a question that many people have.
The focus of the treatment is on the body and how emotions show themselves there. Traumatic events or unresolved emotional problems may become “trapped” inside our body, which accumulates and transmits emotions and experiences, according to somatic therapies.
Therefore, who can benefit greatly from somatic therapy? In order to relieve pain and other stress-related symptoms like difficulties concentrating or sleep disturbance, somatic therapy aims to drain the energy of distressing emotions, which often manifest in the body in incapacitating ways.
Numerous diseases and circumstances that could trigger these types of emotions may be alleviated by somatic therapy. These include issues with intimacy and trust, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and self-esteem.
It is important to keep in mind that anxiety can lead to stiff muscles, especially in the neck, jaws, shoulders, and back. Severe pain, stiffness, discomfort, and trouble performing daily duties can be the outcome. When we are experiencing ongoing anxiety or anguish, it feels like we are in control. The body is always failing and we never feel better, yet it’s not a panic attack.
How are talk therapies different from somatic therapy? Traditional talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), help people identify problematic thoughts and behavior patterns and work to change them by concentrating only on the mind and not the body.
Somatic therapy often differs because the body acts as the basis for recovery. This kind of therapy fosters an awareness of body sensations in addition to educating people to feel safe in their bodies as they explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on conscious thought and challenges thoughts connected to work and activities to help people become less sensitive to unpleasant experiences. Somatic therapy focuses more on releasing stress than on making people less sensitive to it.
Mindfulness meditation, which some experts consider to be somatic in origin, differs significantly from somatic therapy. Make sure you have finished your homework before going to a somatic therapy session.