You may be one of this people who have heard repeatedly that ‘you worry too much’, ‘stop worrying about everything and just relax’,’you should let it go’, or ‘you take everything so seriously’ and that ‘everything is in your head’. Does it sound familiar?
It would be indeed very nice that just by simply saying to ourselves ‘don’t worry be happy’ with your best intentions to achieve this, as I am sure you have done it already, you would be able to free yourself from all this stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, it is not that easy for you and, even while sleeping, stress and anxiety maybe your companion, along with insomnia.
The real truth is that stressful experiences often cause very deep muscle contractions designed to provide protection to the body to help it survive the stressful or traumatic event. This mechanism is also called the “fight-or-flight” response because it evolved as a survival mechanism, enabling people and other mammals to react quickly to life-threatening situations.
The carefully orchestrated yet near-instantaneous sequence of hormonal changes and physiological responses helps someone to fight the threat off or flee to safety. Unfortunately, the body can also overreact to stressors that are not life-threatening, such as traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties.
It is essential to release this chronic tension pattern after the stressful event has ended to help preventing the development of physical pain and muscular constrictions.
Once the stressful event is over and our organism feels safe, the body’s nervous system is designed to literally shake out deep muscular tension patterns and help the body return to its normal relaxed state.
However, due to our overemphasis on the ‘thinking mind’, we have suppressed or inhibit this shaking mechanism so that it no longer has the opportunity to naturally reduce muscular tension and return our bodies to a healthy, relaxed state
According to Stephen Porges, PhD, not only does the body remember a stressful experience, but it can actually get stuck in the stress response mode. So even when the threat is gone, the body and the nervous system still perceives danger and its defenses stay engaged.
HOW CAN I STOP MY BODY TO BE IN DEFENSE MODE?
Fortunately, thanks to advances in body-mind medicine and neuroscience, there are several approaches that can be used to invite the body and the nervous system to return or a stay of calm (homeostasis). From yoga to breathing techniques, mindfulness meditation to more specific trauma and stress releasing techniques such Tension&Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®) of Dr. David Berceli and Somatic Experience® (SE™) from Dr. Peter Levine.
While SE™ it is body-mind framework for therapeutical 1-2-1 interventions, TRE® has been developed as a self-help tool to help individuals to autonomously learn to discharge stress and to self-regulate its autonomous nervous system thanks to an innovate series of physical exercises. TRE® can be learnt in private and in group sessions. Once mastered, it will become an important self-help tool that you can practice on your own as well as in a group to release symptoms from your stress, anxiety, trauma and tensions trapped in your body.
In Brussels, Belgium, Auyantitude provides you with a unique TRE® 8-week programme that takes you through a step-by-step progressive TRE® pathway, you will be able to become comfortable and confident with this natural, no talking and powerful life-changing practice. It is designed to encourage your organism to naturally build resilience and gain back control of your well-being. Through this programme, you will have a great opportunity for you to learn how to release symptoms from your stress, anxiety, trauma and tensions trapped in your body.
