I was talking to my friend yesterday - another somatic pracitioner - who used the term ‘nervous system overwhelm’ to describe… well, essentially, trauma.

Trauma is not in the event, but in the nervous system.
~ Peter Levine

I’ve noticed myself steering away from using the word ‘trauma’ when I talk about somatics. First, because we can get into weird hierarchies around “trauma” (aka trauma comparison, is my stuff really that bad when others have it much worse??).

Second, I got overwhelmed trying to explain trauma resolution theory in the language I was taught.

Third, after years of working as a social worker with people getting more re-traumatised by systems, ‘trauma’ just felt like too heavy of a thing I wanted to get away from. After my first year of Somatic Experiencing trauma training, a classmate asked, do any of you ever feel like you don’t want to do trauma work anymore? I was the only one who said… ME!!! (lol)

It was the me who was exhausted from years and years of my own nervous system getting blown out, and working beyond my actual nervous system capacity. I was still running high on the script of being a good person, trying to heal my own trauma by focusing on helping others instead.

Over-giving, over-caretaking, over-extending, over-functioning beyond my body’s capacity. Playing nice when I didn’t really mean it. Saying Yes when my body was bracing into a No. Booking in more activities than I had time for. Filling up my schedule until I couldn’t hear my own thoughts. Hiding from being truly known. Performing competence instead of being present.

I was already orienting to the philosophy of allowing joy and pleasure as the source of my work, but it still didn’t feel like my real life reality yet. I wanted to stop feeling so responsible for everyone else.

Years later and much integration later, the pressure has come off a whole lot in my system. I’m working way less hard (literally and also in my nervous system). I can open to states of relaxation and ease much sooner, I am moving into action much quicker, showing up imperfectly and taking more risks. I’m noticing a sharper honesty in my voice and it honestly feels good to trust that others can take care of themselves??

It takes time to re-shape our bodies, one piece at a time. Not re-shape as in make it flatter, prettier, thinner. Re-shape as in get the flow moving again. Freeing up trapped life force, by letting the freeze melt in our systems.

Many of us are walking around in some level of functional freeze. Another way to say it is, not all parts of us are present. Our sensual bodies can only take in a certain amount of stimuli before it begins to feel like a demand on our nervous system.

Somatic work is about lessening the demand on our nervous system.

We are taking the pressure off, taking the brakes off the pedal.

Gently, slowly, never all at once.

~

On the heels of this Full Moon in Gemini and upcoming Mars-Saturn square, get curious about where you can choose to do less.

Take one thing off your plate.

Or ten.

I DARE YOU.

Make space to momentarily be with the discomfort / relief of more wiggle room to take in more air into your lungs and move at the pace of your sexy animal body.

(slower than you think)

If you are one of the two people ready for your nervous system to WORK LESS HARD as we gallop towards the end of 2025, book in a complimentary curiosity chat.

Stay hydrated,
Rachel x