How to Handle Strong Emotions Somatically
Embodiment as the road to deeper healing
4 min read
Engaging with our bodies is an integral part of our overall well-being–especially considering some of the implications that occur when we feel a disconnection in ourselves. Our bodies possess an intelligence that often goes unrecognized and undervalued. By neglecting this connection, we make it significantly more challenging to tap into our intuition and truly feel clarity with ourselves at a deeper level.
Let’s look at some reasons why processing emotions somatically to get to embodiment can help us go deeper in therapy.
Equally as important, our bodies can provide insight into the discomfort we want to avoid when attempting to evade the processing of difficult emotions. This is why it is through the body and somatic therapies that most of clients find ourselves with a sustained feeling of reconnection to themselves.
In the recent New York Times article titled "Want to Fix Your Mind? Let Your Body Talk," featured in their Therapy Issue, the author opens with a captivating anecdote about a therapist addressing his feet. It may initially seem unconventional to establish a connection with our bodies, but perhaps what is truly extraordinary is how such a notion is deemed outlandish in the first place.
Somatic Experiencing International (SEI) and other embodiment-based therapies have gained tremendous interest in recent times. At Downtown Somatic Therapy, many of our therapists prioritize more somatic approaches due to the profound personal experiences our clients, our loved ones, and ourselves have had with somatic modalities.
“Working somatically entails centering our focus on the body and its innate wisdom during therapeutic sessions, enabling a more holistic approach to healing beyond the realms of the mind.”
Working somatically entails centering our focus on the body and its innate wisdom during therapeutic sessions, enabling a more holistic approach to healing beyond the realms of the mind. For anyone questioning why we would even need to go beyond the mind, just start to notice how much content we’re already aware of. While the mind remains important, many of us have been conditioned to detach from our bodies, through no fault of our own, suppressing our emotions and disregarding getting in touch with their physiological impacts.
Returning to presence with our bodies and emotions, especially when it goes against our learned habits, can be very challenging. The act of "being present" is often oversimplified, when in reality, it is far from easy. When our own internal dialogue constantly berates us, being present becomes an arduous task. In such instances, escaping this inner critic becomes the most enticing option available. A popular means of escape in a New York City might be distracting ourselves. with constantly doing something, and keeping a steady stream of always being busy.
It's not at all surprising that entering a state of embodiment is difficult when our inner voice relentlessly bullies us. For many of our clients, living without this vicious internal dialogue seems quite unimaginable. Consequently, tuning into ourselves becomes annoyingly uncomfortable—a new experience that requires the practice and the creation of safe conditions. It's tempting to avoid it altogether and cling to our tried-and-true coping mechanisms.
“We have been conditioned to control our natural emotions, leading to the development of physical holding patterns as we suppress and stifle our feelings.”
According to Stephanie Alirkan, a psychotherapist at Downtown Somatic Therapy, “We have been conditioned to control our natural emotions, leading to the development of physical holding patterns as we suppress and stifle our feelings. This is why it can be so liberating to slow down–-as well as scary– and truly tune into something so novel.”
While working with our minds is undoubtedly necessary, as in traditional talk therapy, solely focusing on the mind makes it challenging to nurture our relationships fully. We may feel a sense of absence—an absence of presence in ourselves. When we genuinely tune in, our most challenging emotions manifest as uncomfortable, and at times even painful, physical sensations. However, it is crucial to remember that our bodies exist not only to suffer, but also to experience joy and happiness.
Embodiment directs us toward the realization that our bodies and our lives are more fundamental than society often acknowledges. The wisdom of the body is profound. Therapeutic modalities like AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) affirm that our bodies naturally seek healing. The concept of "transformance" reminds us that this pursuit of healing is an inherent part of our human experience.
“Although it may be daunting that it may be accompanied by pain, difficult emotions can ultimately become a roadmap, guiding us away from undesirable paths of disconnecting and numbing.”
Although it may be daunting that it may be accompanied by pain, difficult emotions can ultimately become a roadmap, guiding us away from undesirable paths of disconnecting and numbing. Our own fear often prevents us from delving into our own personal embodiment–and yet, our bodies crave that unconditional love–from us, too.
Relational and somatic therapies like the ones many of our therapists practice, can create a secure context for exploring and processing these challenging emotions, allowing us to move forward with less hesitation. Reach out for a consultation with one of our therapists to begin this journey relationally.