do you ever feel like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders is
weight of the world on your shoulders is
weight of the world on your shoulders is there something in your life that feels
there something in your life that feels
there something in your life that feels like a pain in the neck remember those
like a pain in the neck remember those
like a pain in the neck remember those times that you just had that gut feeling
times that you just had that gut feeling
times that you just had that gut feeling we all use phrases like this from time
we all use phrases like this from time
we all use phrases like this from time to time and as a massage therapist and
to time and as a massage therapist and
to time and as a massage therapist and body worker I hear phrases like this
body worker I hear phrases like this
body worker I hear phrases like this from clients it seems we tend to express
from clients it seems we tend to express
from clients it seems we tend to express our emotions as if they have some
our emotions as if they have some
our emotions as if they have some connection within our bodies they have
connection within our bodies they have
connection within our bodies they have led this has led me to ask another
led this has led me to ask another
led this has led me to ask another question do we hold strong emotions in
question do we hold strong emotions in
question do we hold strong emotions in our bodies and if so what does this mean
our bodies and if so what does this mean
our bodies and if so what does this mean for our well-being my career as a body
for our well-being my career as a body
for our well-being my career as a body worker is only one part of my interest
worker is only one part of my interest
worker is only one part of my interest in questions like this
what has led me to my own answers began
what has led me to my own answers began long ago the year was 1972 the little
long ago the year was 1972 the little
long ago the year was 1972 the little girl on the left that’s me and the young
girl on the left that’s me and the young
girl on the left that’s me and the young man on the right that’s my big brother
man on the right that’s my big brother
man on the right that’s my big brother we were literally worlds apart at this
we were literally worlds apart at this
we were literally worlds apart at this time I was here in our hometown of
time I was here in our hometown of
time I was here in our hometown of Austin Minnesota and he was thousands of
Austin Minnesota and he was thousands of
Austin Minnesota and he was thousands of miles away in Vietnam our life
miles away in Vietnam our life
miles away in Vietnam our life experiences were different than his was
experiences were different than his was
experiences were different than his was one of war time mine was one that would
one of war time mine was one that would
one of war time mine was one that would be the beginning of childhood sexual
be the beginning of childhood sexual
be the beginning of childhood sexual violation neither of us would begin to
violation neither of us would begin to
violation neither of us would begin to imagine the depths of the others
imagine the depths of the others
imagine the depths of the others experience as a child I would have no
experience as a child I would have no
experience as a child I would have no reference for what my brother would
reference for what my brother would
reference for what my brother would endure through his service in Vietnam
endure through his service in Vietnam
endure through his service in Vietnam and it would be a decade before my
and it would be a decade before my
and it would be a decade before my brother would know the secret that his
brother would know the secret that his
brother would know the secret that his little sister had to keep though our
little sister had to keep though our
little sister had to keep though our experiences were different in nature the
experiences were different in nature the
experiences were different in nature the persisting effects in our minds and
persisting effects in our minds and
persisting effects in our minds and bodies would prove to be remarkably very
bodies would prove to be remarkably very
bodies would prove to be remarkably very similar the effects I refer to can be
similar the effects I refer to can be
similar the effects I refer to can be considered a wound though not visible
considered a wound though not visible
considered a wound though not visible from the outside and very difficult to
from the outside and very difficult to
from the outside and very difficult to describe from the inside the wound of
describe from the inside the wound of
describe from the inside the wound of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD has been known by many as the invisible
has been known by many as the invisible
has been known by many as the invisible wound though my brother and I differed
wound though my brother and I differed
wound though my brother and I differed in age gender and circumstances we both
in age gender and circumstances we both
in age gender and circumstances we both were diagnosed later in adulthood with
were diagnosed later in adulthood with
were diagnosed later in adulthood with PTSD throughout my career that has been
PTSD throughout my career that has been
PTSD throughout my career that has been commonplace to also hear phrases like
commonplace to also hear phrases like
commonplace to also hear phrases like the mind-body connection the body has
the mind-body connection the body has
the mind-body connection the body has memory the body does not lie and your
memory the body does not lie and your
memory the body does not lie and your issues are in your tissues a phrase
issues are in your tissues a phrase
issues are in your tissues a phrase coined by John Barnes bodywork expert
coined by John Barnes bodywork expert
coined by John Barnes bodywork expert Barnes states that traumas from our past
Barnes states that traumas from our past
Barnes states that traumas from our past can become trapped in our tissues they
can become trapped in our tissues they
can become trapped in our tissues they then create a filter in our lives they
then create a filter in our lives they
then create a filter in our lives they become a rigid constricted habitual
become a rigid constricted habitual
become a rigid constricted habitual reaction from which we then view life
reaction from which we then view life
reaction from which we then view life after trauma holding strong emotions in
after trauma holding strong emotions in
after trauma holding strong emotions in our bodies is an understatement
our bodies is an understatement
our bodies is an understatement in fact with books written by trauma
in fact with books written by trauma
in fact with books written by trauma experts with titles like the body keeps
experts with titles like the body keeps
experts with titles like the body keeps the score and the body bears the burden
the score and the body bears the burden
the score and the body bears the burden a considerable amount of research does
a considerable amount of research does
a considerable amount of research does validate that trauma does affect our
validate that trauma does affect our
validate that trauma does affect our physical health high doses of stress
physical health high doses of stress
physical health high doses of stress affects brain development and the immune
affects brain development and the immune
affects brain development and the immune and hormonal systems trauma literally
and hormonal systems trauma literally
and hormonal systems trauma literally changes our physiology to clarify trauma
changes our physiology to clarify trauma
changes our physiology to clarify trauma can include one-time incidents like
can include one-time incidents like
can include one-time incidents like accidents and surgeries and deaths and
accidents and surgeries and deaths and
accidents and surgeries and deaths and it can include reoccurring occurrences
it can include reoccurring occurrences
it can include reoccurring occurrences and events like abuse neglect battering
and events like abuse neglect battering
and events like abuse neglect battering bullying oppression and combat and it
bullying oppression and combat and it
bullying oppression and combat and it can include secondary trauma which often
can include secondary trauma which often
can include secondary trauma which often occurs in individuals who are in helping
occurs in individuals who are in helping
occurs in individuals who are in helping professions who are assisting survivors
professions who are assisting survivors
professions who are assisting survivors and it definitely includes spouses
and it definitely includes spouses
and it definitely includes spouses partners children loved ones living with
partners children loved ones living with
partners children loved ones living with those who have PTSD trauma does not
those who have PTSD trauma does not
those who have PTSD trauma does not discriminate nor is it rare the National
discriminate nor is it rare the National
discriminate nor is it rare the National Center for PTSD estimates that 60% of
Center for PTSD estimates that 60% of
Center for PTSD estimates that 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least
men and 50% of women experience at least
men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives what that
one trauma in their lives what that
one trauma in their lives what that means is that over half of us here today
means is that over half of us here today
means is that over half of us here today potentially have or will experience
potentially have or will experience
potentially have or will experience trauma in our lifetimes and what
trauma in our lifetimes and what
trauma in our lifetimes and what determines our ability to overcome
determines our ability to overcome
determines our ability to overcome trauma varies greatly factors like the
trauma varies greatly factors like the
trauma varies greatly factors like the age at the time of the event whether the
age at the time of the event whether the
age at the time of the event whether the event was repetitive whether we knew the
event was repetitive whether we knew the
event was repetitive whether we knew the perpetrator and the climate of support
perpetrator and the climate of support
perpetrator and the climate of support after the event just to name a few in my
after the event just to name a few in my
after the event just to name a few in my experience though the perpetrator was
experience though the perpetrator was
experience though the perpetrator was not an immediate family member he was
not an immediate family member he was
not an immediate family member he was known to me I was around the age of nine
known to me I was around the age of nine
known to me I was around the age of nine and
and
and silenced for ten years and my brother’s
silenced for ten years and my brother’s
silenced for ten years and my brother’s experience politics of the war he was
experience politics of the war he was
experience politics of the war he was engaged in created an atmosphere of not
engaged in created an atmosphere of not
engaged in created an atmosphere of not only horrific wartime experience but
only horrific wartime experience but
only horrific wartime experience but lack of support once home these elements
lack of support once home these elements
lack of support once home these elements for us individually major decades of
for us individually major decades of
for us individually major decades of hellish emotional and physical symptoms
hellish emotional and physical symptoms
hellish emotional and physical symptoms stomach aches for me began also around
stomach aches for me began also around
stomach aches for me began also around the age of nine and continued into
the age of nine and continued into
the age of nine and continued into adulthood
adulthood
adulthood until the diagnosis of irritable bowel
until the diagnosis of irritable bowel
until the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome I also became anemic and
syndrome I also became anemic and
syndrome I also became anemic and chronically fatigued and my brother and
chronically fatigued and my brother and
chronically fatigued and my brother and I share symptoms like anxiety and
I share symptoms like anxiety and
I share symptoms like anxiety and depression nightmares and insomnia I’ve
depression nightmares and insomnia I’ve
depression nightmares and insomnia I’ve come to know that even when there are no
come to know that even when there are no
come to know that even when there are no words to express the experience even
words to express the experience even
words to express the experience even without specific memories the body still
without specific memories the body still
without specific memories the body still speaks volumes traumatic experiences can
speaks volumes traumatic experiences can
speaks volumes traumatic experiences can imprint themselves far beyond where
imprint themselves far beyond where
imprint themselves far beyond where language can reach several years ago I
language can reach several years ago I
language can reach several years ago I began reading various torment trauma
began reading various torment trauma
began reading various torment trauma experts methods about how they help
experts methods about how they help
experts methods about how they help survivors recover from trauma using body
survivors recover from trauma using body
survivors recover from trauma using body centered approaches not only impacting
centered approaches not only impacting
centered approaches not only impacting the brain trauma impacts our bodies at
the brain trauma impacts our bodies at
the brain trauma impacts our bodies at our core the nervous system wouldn’t it
our core the nervous system wouldn’t it
our core the nervous system wouldn’t it make sense to address it and treat it
make sense to address it and treat it
make sense to address it and treat it there too with body centered approaches
there too with body centered approaches
there too with body centered approaches our bodies are given the safety to
our bodies are given the safety to
our bodies are given the safety to complete the process of release that we
complete the process of release that we
complete the process of release that we were not able to at the time of the
were not able to at the time of the
were not able to at the time of the event
event
event it was just three short years ago that
it was just three short years ago that
it was just three short years ago that my body as one trauma expert might say
my body as one trauma expert might say
my body as one trauma expert might say presented its bill and I found myself in
presented its bill and I found myself in
presented its bill and I found myself in a major depressive episode called a
a major depressive episode called a
a major depressive episode called a breakdown for very good reason I now see
breakdown for very good reason I now see
breakdown for very good reason I now see that it can also be considered a
that it can also be considered a
that it can also be considered a breakthrough because of this there was a
breakthrough because of this there was a
breakthrough because of this there was a desperation in me to heal or die and it
desperation in me to heal or die and it
desperation in me to heal or die and it was then I was really able to receive
was then I was really able to receive
was then I was really able to receive what I needed and for me this has come
what I needed and for me this has come
what I needed and for me this has come in the forms of body centered
in the forms of body centered
in the forms of body centered approaches like breathwork and yoga and
approaches like breathwork and yoga and
approaches like breathwork and yoga and meditation and a technique called
meditation and a technique called
meditation and a technique called somatic experiencing the emotional
somatic experiencing the emotional
somatic experiencing the emotional freedom technique and an eye movement
freedom technique and an eye movement
freedom technique and an eye movement method called EMDR I believe that it’s
method called EMDR I believe that it’s
method called EMDR I believe that it’s never too late to get to the core but
never too late to get to the core but
never too late to get to the core but I’d be lying if I said that I don’t
I’d be lying if I said that I don’t
I’d be lying if I said that I don’t wonder what my life would be like if I
wonder what my life would be like if I
wonder what my life would be like if I had gotten to the core decades ago could
had gotten to the core decades ago could
had gotten to the core decades ago could much of the collateral damage of trauma
much of the collateral damage of trauma
much of the collateral damage of trauma been avoided
been avoided
been avoided substance abuse chaotic relationships
substance abuse chaotic relationships
substance abuse chaotic relationships financial hardship and continual
financial hardship and continual
financial hardship and continual self-loathing since we as survivors tend
self-loathing since we as survivors tend
self-loathing since we as survivors tend to redefine ourselves and our lives
to redefine ourselves and our lives
to redefine ourselves and our lives around the traumatic event I believe the
around the traumatic event I believe the
around the traumatic event I believe the earlier the intervention the better I
earlier the intervention the better I
earlier the intervention the better I understand the missed opportunity to
understand the missed opportunity to
understand the missed opportunity to connect the dots for me forty years ago
connect the dots for me forty years ago
connect the dots for me forty years ago but we know too much about trauma now to
but we know too much about trauma now to
but we know too much about trauma now to continue to address our well-being in a
continue to address our well-being in a
continue to address our well-being in a fragmented way with what we now know
fragmented way with what we now know
fragmented way with what we now know about trauma what if we listened deeply
about trauma what if we listened deeply
about trauma what if we listened deeply investigating the mind-body connection
investigating the mind-body connection
investigating the mind-body connection we can tune in to our own bodies and
we can tune in to our own bodies and
we can tune in to our own bodies and listen to our loved ones especially our
listen to our loved ones especially our
listen to our loved ones especially our children
of all trauma I believe we don’t have to
of all trauma I believe we don’t have to suffer for decades we can recognize
suffer for decades we can recognize
suffer for decades we can recognize sooner the crucial role of the body
sooner the crucial role of the body
sooner the crucial role of the body plays in recovery from trauma and we can
plays in recovery from trauma and we can
plays in recovery from trauma and we can do more than just cope and manage
do more than just cope and manage
do more than just cope and manage symptoms I have confidence that we will
symptoms I have confidence that we will
symptoms I have confidence that we will not only save lives but we’ll see each
not only save lives but we’ll see each
not only save lives but we’ll see each other thrive isn’t that what we would
other thrive isn’t that what we would
other thrive isn’t that what we would want for one another trauma is a life
want for one another trauma is a life
want for one another trauma is a life experience but it does not have to be a
experience but it does not have to be a
experience but it does not have to be a life sentence thank you
”
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