Unlocking Trauma Healing: How the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System are Part of the Recovery Process
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Our curriculum is accredited for continuing education by prestigious organizations like the APA and Board of Nurses, ensuring practitioners receive top-notch training and credentials.
Contact us at info@aurainstitute.org or (424) 400-3048 to begin your journey as a certified trauma practitioner and make a positive impact in trauma care.
Unlocking Trauma Healing: A Deep Dive into the Role of The Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System
The Core of Trauma Recovery: Understanding How the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System are Integral
Unlocking the secrets of trauma healing involves exploring the intricate workings of the human body. Particularly crucial in this context, the somatic and autonomic nervous system are integral to the recovery process. They play a fundamental role in helping individuals regain control, develop resilience, and rebuild their lives post trauma.
Key Points Covered in the Article
- Understanding the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System
- The Relationship Between Trauma and the Nervous System
- How the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System Facilitate Recovery
- Common techniques and therapies that utilize these systems in treatment
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System
Understanding the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System
The somatic nervous system, often known as the voluntary nervous system, controls skeletal muscles as well as external sensory organs. Meanwhile, the autonomic nervous system, frequently referred to as the involuntary nervous system, works behind the scenes – regulating essential functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupil response, and more.
Although they are different, both the somatic and autonomic nervous system are part of our greater nervous system – interconnecting, communicating, and collaborating to ensure our body functions optimally.
The Relationship Between Trauma and the Nervous System
In the face of trauma, the body's response is activated through the nervous system – typically resulting in a fight, flight, or freeze response. This is the body's way of protecting itself from danger.
Over time, for those who have experienced prolonged or severe trauma, these reactions can become chronic – leading to various trauma-related disorders and health complications. Restoring balance within the somatic and autonomic nervous system is therefore crucial in trauma healing and recovery.
How the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System Facilitate Recovery
Research and clinical experience have revealed that healing from trauma isn't only a psychological process but also a deeply physical one. Body-focused techniques, such as Somatic Experiencing, Yoga, Meditation, and more, have proven effective in trauma therapy.
These practices serve to regulate the functioning of the somatic and autonomic nervous system, helping individuals regain control over their stress reactions and improve their overall wellbeing.
Common Techniques and Therapies
There are a multitude of techniques that healthcare professionals employ to integrate the understanding of these neural systems into treatment. Practices such as Somatic Experiencing, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Biofeedback have been found efficacious in treating trauma symptoms.
By bringing trauma recovery into the physical realm, these techniques complement psychological therapy – fostering greater self-awareness, resilience, and self-agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Somatic Nervous System?
The somatic nervous system is often known as the voluntary nervous system because it controls skeletal muscles and some external sensory organs.
What is the Autonomic Nervous System?
The autonomic nervous system controls the 'automatic' functions of the body that we typically don't consciously control – like heart rate, digestion, and pupil response.
How do the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems impact Trauma Recovery?
These systems regulate our body’s responses to stressful situations, including trauma. Restoration of balance within these systems is crucial to trauma healing as they help individuals regain control over their stress reactions.
What are some therapies that work with these systems?
Some common therapies include Somatic Experiencing, Yoga, Meditation, EMDR, and Biofeedback. These techniques help regulate the functions of the nervous system and foster greater self-awareness, resilience, and self-agency.
By integrating an understanding of the somatic and autonomic nervous system into trauma recovery, we are able to delve deeper into the healing process – acknowledging that trauma affects us not only psychologically, but also physically. By working with both these aspects in tandem, we stand a better chance of unlocking the path to holistic wellness and recovery.
Ready to start your career as a trauma informed care practitioner? Contact us at info@aurainstitute.org or (424) 400-3048 to begin your journey as a certified trauma practitioner and make a positive impact in trauma care.