I just completed another six-day Somatic Experiencing® training as part of the final year of my professional program, and I left feeling completely renewed, not only with new tools to support others, but with deep healing in my own body.
This training focused on how to help people with complex trauma, the kind of trauma that doesn’t just show up as one symptom, but as a whole cluster of challenges in body, mind, and emotions.
Why Trauma Affects the Body
When something overwhelming happens and our body doesn’t get to fully process it, our nervous system can get “stuck” in survival mode. Instead of turning off once the threat has passed, the system keeps running in the background.
This is why trauma often shows up as physical symptoms like:
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Migraines
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Digestive troubles (IBS, stomach issues)
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Chronic fatigue
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Fibromyalgia and body pain
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Autoimmune issues
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Asthma or breathing difficulties
In Western medicine, these are sometimes called “syndromal patterns”—clusters of symptoms that don’t respond well to traditional treatments.
When the Nervous System Gets Pulled in Two Directions
Imagine driving with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake at the same time. That’s what it’s like when trauma lives in the body.
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The sympathetic system (gas pedal) revs us up into fight or flight.
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The dorsal vagal system (brake pedal) can push us into freeze or collapse.
When both are stuck “on,” our bodies become drained, tense, and unable to fully heal.
The Missing Piece: Safety and Connection
Thanks to the work of Dr. Stephen Porges (Polyvagal Theory), we now know there’s another branch of the nervous system: the ventral vagal system.
This part of us allows us to:
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Relax and rest deeply
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Feel safe in our own skin
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Connect with others with ease
Healing happens when our nervous system learns how to spend more time here—able to shift smoothly between activation and rest.
How Somatic Experiencing® Helps
Somatic Experiencing doesn’t push or force the body to change. Instead, it gives the nervous system space to complete unfinished survival responses and release the stuck energy of trauma.
Over time, this helps the body reset its natural rhythm, which can also support things like:
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Stronger immunity
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Less inflammation
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Better energy and vitality
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More resilience in daily life
In short: when your nervous system learns to regulate, your whole body has the chance to heal.
My Personal Shift
During this training, my own nervous system went through a profound reboot. Old pain and areas of numbness in my body fully released. My immune system felt stronger, and I could sense my energy flowing in ways it hadn’t for years.
I truly feel new again. And that’s the gift I want to share with others—because healing isn’t just possible, it’s something your body is always reaching for when given the right support.
An Invitation
If you’ve been living with symptoms that don’t resolve, or if you’ve been told “it’s all in your head,” please know: it’s not your fault, and you don’t have to stay stuck.
Your body holds incredible wisdom. With gentle support, your nervous system can learn to find balance again—and when it does, healing ripples out through every system in your body.
✨ Here’s to a new year, a new rhythm, and new possibilities for your health and well-being.
