How Somatic Therapy Can Help Ease Defense Mechanisms
What exactly are defense mechanisms, and how might it benefit you to soften them?
3 min read
Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that individuals employ to cope with stress, anxiety, and emotional pain. While these mechanisms serve to protect the mind from overwhelming feelings, they can also hinder personal growth and contribute to various mental health issues.
Somatic therapy has emerged as a powerful tool in unraveling the complexities of defense mechanisms and fostering emotional resilience.
Somatic therapy emphasizes the integration of mind and body, recognizing that emotional and physical well-being are interconnected. By addressing both aspects simultaneously, individuals can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their defense mechanisms and develop strategies for healthier emotional expression.
Defense mechanisms are automatic psychological processes that safeguard an individual against threatening thoughts and emotions. Common defense mechanisms include denial, repression, projection, and rationalization. For example, a person too frightened to admit they had erred at work might insist that they had not done so (denial), or might blame a colleague for having made a similar error (projection). While these mechanisms may provide temporary relief, they often contribute to long-term emotional distress and interpersonal challenges.
“Many people come into therapy suffering from an inability to bypass their defense mechanisms long enough to process the emotions that the defenses are covering up.”
Stefan Allen-Hickey, a therapist at Downtown Somatic Therapy in Lower Manhattan, says that “many people come into therapy suffering from an inability to bypass their defense mechanisms long enough to process the emotions that the defenses are covering up. By paying close attention to the reactions in our bodies when we engage in various topics—maybe hunched shoulders, or tension in our jaw or stomach—we can start to finally contend with the feelings at the core of these reactions”.
Somatic therapy acknowledges that emotional experiences are stored not only in the brain but also in the body. This therapeutic approach explores the impact of trauma, stress, and suppressed emotions on the physical body and aims to release tension through various somatic techniques.
One of the primary goals of somatic therapy is to cultivate body awareness. By focusing on bodily sensations, individuals can gain insight into their emotional experiences. For example, a person may notice tension in their shoulders or a knot in their stomach when discussing a particular topic, signaling an emotional response. Through increased awareness, individuals can identify defense mechanisms as they arise and work towards healthier coping strategies. This could take the form, for example, of recognizing a tendency to laugh when something painful arises, and slowing down to pay attention to the physiological responses underneath the laugh.
Somatic therapy often incorporates breathwork and relaxation techniques to regulate the nervous system. Deep breathing exercises can help individuals move from a state of fight-or-flight to a calmer, more grounded state. By addressing the physiological aspects of stress, somatic therapy enables individuals to confront and manage defense mechanisms more effectively.
“By paying close attention to the reactions in our bodies when we engage in various topics we can start to finally contend with the feelings at the core of these reactions.”
Somatic therapy offers a transformative approach to understanding and alleviating defense mechanisms. By integrating the mind and body, individuals can unlock emotional resilience, leading to healthier coping mechanisms and improved overall well-being.
If you are interested in exploring how somatic therapy can improve your ability to process the feelings that defense mechanisms are blocking you from feeling, please reach out to one of our therapists at Downtown Somatic Therapy.