Tension, Thoughts and Trauma

An excerpt from the book by John Lewis:

“Still teaches that disease is the physiological effect of anatomical derangements (primary osteopathic lesions from trauma or strains or secondary lesions manifesting in the structure from environmental or other influences). Normalizing deranged anatomy restores normal physiology because of the complementary, spiritual, principle that nature constantly strives towards health. Every cell will maximize its potential for health only with an unimpeded blood circulation, so the role of the doctor is to free the arteries and veins and their controlling nerves by normalizing the body structure, often in extremely small, subtle ways. Find, fix it, and leave it alone. Nature will do the rest.”

“Still was not introducing a manual therapy for a narrow range of musculoskeletal complaints. He was presenting a new paradigm for health, a new philosophy that can be universally applied. We are not islands but parts of nature, parts of the whole, and nature’s laws are absolute and unchanging. ‘It is my hope and wish’, he wrote, ‘that every osteopath will go on and on in search for scientific facts as they relate to the human mechanism and health.’ Within the philosophy there are 4 principles, taught during Osteopathy courses: the body is a unit; the body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms; structure and function are reciprocally interrelated; rational treatment is based upon these principles.”

“The Native American view is ‘we are all related.’ Human beings have relationships with animals, insects, trees, plants, water, air, wind, the seasons, sun and sky, food, medical drugs and all else – and our health and happiness are affected positively or negatively by everything we interact with. Similarly in the human ecosystem, a microcosm of universal laws: every cell is in mutual dependence with every other; and the physiology of the whole organism is profoundly affected by thoughts, emotions, foods, medical drugs, and myriad other things. Nothing is isolated. To recognize these interconnections is to start to understand osteopathy. And perhaps we also need the Indian teaching that if we do not acknowledge the relationships between things we do not feel the need to respect things.”

Further information can be found in ‘Interface’ — a book by Paul Lee, DO.

Eckhart Tolle talks about compulsive thoughts and labelling being like an addiction.

Some people shop, some people drink, some smoke, some take recreational drugs and some over think to the point where it starts to have a physical effect on their lives and their relationships.

Sonia Choquette teaches us to name the ‘yappy dog’ in our heads, and to connect into a place in the body, where your true essence can shine. This can be given a name too.

There is a wealth of evidence to support the fact that if we connect into our body and breath, the thoughts in our head automatically go quiet – like pressing the off switch.

We get good at what we practise. If we practise continuous stories and thoughts in our head, that’s all we will know.

If we practise and get good at connecting into our bodies and the way we breathe, our minds go quiet, our tension eases, we live in and enjoy the present moment. Somatics helps us to do that as do the resources shown below.

Doesn’t that sound like a better way to spend your day?

Dr Peter Levine developed a protocol called Somatic Experiencing. It is a body-based therapeutic approach to healing trauma. His work centres around the idea that trauma is not just a psychological experience but also deeply impacts the body and nervous system.

Levine suggests that trauma occurs when an individual is overwhelmed by stress or danger and is unable to fully process the experience.

He describes how trauma affects the autonomic nervous system, particularly the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems. When someone experiences trauma, their body can get “stuck” in a hyper-aroused state (sympathetic overactivation) or a hypo-aroused state (parasympathetic shutdown, also known as “freeze”).

Trauma, then, is not just a mental or emotional issue but is stored in the nervous system and the body itself. It is thought that traditional talking therapies might not always be effective on its own (and sometimes make things worse by reliving the details of the trauma)—healing requires accessing and releasing the physiological and somatic aspects of trauma.

Somatic Experiencing focuses on helping individuals “tune into” their bodily sensations to process and release traumatic energy that is trapped in the body. By carefully tracking bodily sensations and noticing when tension, pain, or other stress responses arise, individuals can gradually process trauma in a gentle and controlled way. SE helps to restore a sense of self-regulation and safety in the body, allowing individuals to complete “unfinished” survival responses (like running, fighting, or fleeing) that were never fully expressed at the time of the trauma.

Similarly, Somatics movements helps us to re-educate the body and central nervous system to remember the connection to the body. If we can sense tension, discomfort, reduced movement and held emotions, we can use the movements to remember the potential and to move and live with ease.

Gabor Maté is a renowned physician and expert on trauma, addiction, and mental health. His work focuses on the deep connections between trauma, the body, and the mind, and how early experiences shape our physical and emotional well-being throughout life.

Maté defines trauma not as an event itself, but as the “internal emotional response” to an event. It’s about how overwhelming experiences, particularly in childhood, are handled by the individual. It is this emotional response that explains why two people can experience the same event but have different responses to it.

Trauma doesn’t have to be a violent or extreme event; it can be something as subtle as emotional neglect or chronic stress, especially in early childhood as this is the most critical period for emotional and psychological development. When a child’s emotional needs are not met, or they experience stress (even from a lack of secure attachment or consistent nurturing), this can shape their coping mechanisms and health later in life.

Maté emphasises that trauma, especially unresolved childhood trauma, has a direct impact on physical health. Chronic stress and emotional wounds can manifest as physical conditions like autoimmune diseases, cancer, heart disease, and mental health conditions. He highlights how disconnection from the body is a common result of trauma. People who have suffered from early trauma often disconnect from their bodies to cope, which can contribute to chronic pain, illness, and emotional dysregulation.

When someone is in a constant state of stress or fear (due to trauma), their nervous system remains activated, causing ongoing physiological effects like inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and weakened immune function. His and others research shows ‘the body keeps the score’ which is similar to what Bessel van der Kolk discusses in his work. Maté, however, focuses heavily on the somatic effects of trauma.

Somatics, Osteopathy, HeartMath Breathing techniques and Vitalfield work are all able to help the person to find a greater window of tolerance, to regulate, to ease the Vagal Tone and to overcome old traumatic patterns.

Therapies that support body work such as Havening, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), EMDR, Somatics, HeartMath Sensor technology all have evidence for their efficacy. It also addresses the cause rather than dumbing down the symptoms accompanied by potential side effects.