Somatic Experienceing

[Thomas]

In my last session, my T started me on "somatic experiencing", a bodywork system championed by Peter A. Levine.  It is supposed to help "thaw" frozen responses the body made when it couldn't practice either "fight or flight".  It seemed helpful, at least in the sense of relaxing me.  I just wanted to see if it has halped anyone else here with either BP or depression & anxiety.

Tommy

[ncc1701]

Heya Tommy,

No, never heard of it actually (out of the loop this time!!)

It sounds very interesting though.

Can you give us a brief outline of what you do?

I start soon with a new psych and therapist and am looking for things to ask them about.

Thanks!

--ncc--

[revlow]

I know nothing about this, but I did find this site: Foundation for Human Enrichment. According to this site, Peter A. Levine is the President of the Foundation for Human Enrichment. Didn't learn much about what the actual process is, but I also didn't spend much time at the site. Maybe you can find something there.

[sepia]

I'm moving this particular thread to the therapy forum, since bodywork is one of the topics covered.  (Frankly, we need more discussion on the topic.)  This thread also addresses multiple disorders, not just BP.  I hope all interested BPers will follow this discussion there. 

[Thomas]

a nutshell version, from my journal notes (after removing certain identifying information):

The second part of our session, my therapist had me sit and relax, being aware of my posture, where my body contacted the chair and the floor, and where my arms contacted my legs, etc. I was to concentrate on where I felt the most relaxed. It was my forearms. As I concentrated on that, I observed what else I felt, a tightness moving up into my stomach/diaphragm and then my lower chest. I felt the tightness move around my shoulders neck and arms, always comparing it to the relaxation of my forearms. My therapist asked if the feeling had a shape. I said it was an inverted triangle going from my lower chest to about my navel. Eventually, my neck twitched a bit and my therapist said to just let it happen. After a while, I started opening and closing my hands. My therapist said to let it happen, it is my body releasing tension, but slow the movement way down. I was very slowly clenching and unclenching my fists. Afterwards, I felt more relaxed and felt an incredibly strong urge to say,

[Steve@3AM]

Tommy -

Thanks for the thread to this post.

And lmnop -

Thanks for moving the thread to the Therapy forum. I'm looking for a t-doc but hadn't paid attention to this forum. I think it will help.

Steve