Each client has a unique, perhaps virtually unbelievable, set of experiences, and an almost equally set of reactions to those experiences.
― Aphrodite Matsakis


Here is a simple Video explaining Trauma and the Nervous system from the Polyvagal Perspective.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding that trauma, and it's effects are unique to an individual is a key point in developing a more compassionate, empathic approach to treatment and recovery. An individual may not recognise that their symptoms have their roots in trauma, recall any traumatic events, feel that their experiences are not valid, or do not fall into a definition of trauma or a diagnosis Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By understanding that we are unique and our experiences are unique and all are equally valid, then this creates space for us to be more empathic to ourselves and others.

The Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release System, in working holistically and consciously with the body, looks at the individual and their symptoms as both unique and as part of a whole. Below is a list, by no mean comprehensive, of most frequent presenting concerns that can be supported to release:
 

• Anxiety

• Chronic fatigue

• Apnea

• Emotional Overwhelm

• Depression

• Inability to focus

• Chronic Physical and emotional pain

• Chronic Tensions.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Stress and stress related illnesses

• Trauma

• Difficulty in sleeping and other stress related symptoms.

• Sexuality Issues

• Hypervigilance

• Dissociation

• Addictions

 

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After trauma the world is experienced with a different nervous system. The survivor’s energy now becomes focused on suppressing inner chaos, at the expense of spontaneous involvement in their life.
— Bessel Van Der Kolk

 

The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, prolonged traumatic experiences and stress in adulthood, as well as shock trauma from various sources cannot be underestimated: It has a major effect on the quality of our life and how we experience it. We often feel frozen in time, in the trauma response, as if the traumatic event is still happening: We may experience many different symptoms from hypervigilance and anxiety, to depression and a loss of joy in life (you can read more on trauma here). Any trauma practice seeks to "unfreeze" us from this way of being and integrate the experience into our lives, allowing us to heal and move on. Traditionally talking therapies and medication have been used to alleviate symptoms. Importantly though, while alleviating symptoms may provide some relief, we need to deal with the Root Cause of trauma, not just the symptoms.

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The bodies of traumatized people portray "snapshots" of their unsuccessful attempts to defend themselves in the face of threat and injury. Trauma is a highly activated incomplete biological response to threat, frozen in time.

- Peter Levine

 

With the increased understanding of the trauma response, neurochemistry and biology of trauma, it's effects on the nervous system (via polyvagal theory) and the links between the body and mind, so the range of therapies available to support release from the symptoms of trauma has increased. The Biodynamic breath and Trauma Release System is a combination of elements from several types of therapy, with Breath-Work as it's primary component. Breathwork has been practiced by various cultures for thousand of years as a healing and transformative system, but modern science is now taking an interest in its uses for the management of many trauma and stress related issues. The Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release system is a somatic (body-based) practice (you can read more on healing trauma through the body here), and one advantage is that there is no need to re-activate the emotional response around trauma by reliving the story without releasing the energy created. 

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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. 
― Anais Nin

 

As humans we have a tendency to avoid uncomfortable feelings and develop coping strategies that reduce our ability to feel these. This often occurs in childhood as a survival mechanism to trauma or in response to adult trauma. While these strategies may have been successful to enable survival, as we have grown then they no longer serve. The defences we created to protect ourselves now create anxiety. This often manifests as chronic tensions within the body which provide a way of managing the energetic charge created by the experience of traumatic events. The body seeks a natural balance within (homeostasis) but unless there is a discharge of energy, this needs to be regulated by regulating our body (tension) or by regulating our environment. While a balance can be obtained, often maintaining this without discharge actually takes a lot of energy and effort: which reduces our ability both to feel and enjoy life (You can read more on this here).  In the Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release System we discharge the energy associated with trauma in an incremental fashion, reducing tension, releasing life force energy, and increasing the resilience of the nervous system to manage ongoing events and to release us from the Pain of past events.
 

To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment looks safe, inhibit the primitive defensive reactions to fight, flight or freeze.” 
― Stephen W. Porges
 

The Polyvagal theory has revolutionised our understanding of how the body and nervous system responds to threat. It is now seen as a nuanced system and not just a flight/fight or rest/digest. For those whose system is chronically activated in flight/fight or those who are locked into the most primitive "freeze" response the aim is to bring the nervous system into self-regulation and Rest/digest or Social Engagement the most evolutionary advanced aspect. Unfortunately, a disregulated nervous system can bring us into hypervigiilance or spiral us down into feelings of intense hopelessness and dissociation, and many of the symptoms we suffer from stem from this disregulated state. The Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release System, in discharging energy, looks to re-regulate the nervous system, if you like you empty the container so that any activation has space to be held.effectively without causing the nervous system to overwhelm.
 

 

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