Did you ever think of your body as having a voice? During my lifetime , particularly in relation to trauma a growing ‘body of people’ have followed the ‘somatic trend’ re understanding and working with our bodies.
Of course there has been, practically forever, an interest or even an obsession with the body beautiful, people have, in all cultures, dressed up the body decorated the body and the jury is still out as to weather they look beautiful or not.
Understanding and working with ones body is not just about making up oneself dressing in a variety of ways, eating , not eating, dieting, drinking, dancing, or whatever takes your fancy, It is about what the body has to say about physiological, psychological, physical and mental health for the body is according to biblical reference, fearfully and wonderfully made.Psalm 139:14
Have you ever realised that every cell in your body has a memory, and often holds traumatic events, but modern life does not give us much time for marvelling at how we are made, or listening to our body speak. Of course there is a general learning creeping into our conversations about doing what your body wants, but it is surface stuff.
Levine 2010 a noted psychologist, scientist and author, in his book ‘The Unspoken Voice’ tells his own story about being hit by a car as he stepped of the sidewalk. A Paramedic came to help him whilst they were waiting on the ambulance his training meant he wanted to restrict the patient’s movements but Levine although he felt almost outside his body was able to ask him to step back. He describes the actions and movements of his body , he was of course shaking but refused to be restricted or given any medication as he wished his body to talk to him from an instinctual place.Thereafter he describes how lying quietly his body internally travelled through his arms and other body parts while a competent paramedic sat with him he continued to shake and tremble and this process restored his equilibrium allowing his vital signs to return to normal.
Key facts in his experience were the behaviour of the paramedic in the ambulance and the behaviour of a doctor who had sat quietly with him until the ambulance came. He was aware of their gentle unobtrusive presence and even of a smell of perfume.
Our mysterious and wonderfully made body has an instinctual and archaic ability to heal but medical treatment has , in the past, controlled our shaking when traumatised and medicated us when according to Levine we need to allow the body to speak work and heal in the presence of a competent gentleness.
We need to see that whilst our backward journey during this pandemic has released the darkness of the shadow if we allow our instincts reign in relation to trauma we can heal ourselves.
Let’s learn from the animals again I watched the meercats the other day and following a traumatic killing of members of one group by another those left stayed close allowing each other to shake and cry then they cuddled each other and went about their day.
I have observed a mixture of stuff on line re developing PTSD during the pandemic some did not seem all that sensible everyone is possibly experiencing trauma and stress but will not necessarily go on to develop PTSD.
Here are some reminders or tips
1 Don’t rush your bath or shower use the time in there to touch and feel your body for the mysterious thing that it is.
2 Use meditation, active imagination, quietness and observation to hear your body speak.
3 Quietly come alongside those who need support be where you are needed not where you think you should be!
4 Deepen your listening so that you can respond instinctively to yours and others needs.
HEAR THE BODY SPEAK IT HAS THE ANSWERS.
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 