When we experience an event or situation the body's normal and natural instinct is to survive.
The survival response to this experience is commonly referred to as the flight/fight/freeze/fawn response triggered by the limbic system made up of the 4 core responses to threats.
Depending on the person and the situation one of the four responses will determine the behavior of that individual. Now this is the natural and integral operation of our body's survival instinct and the priority of keeping us "safe" and away from perceived threats.
When we do not feel safe in the present moment to feel, express or process the event fully, the associated emotion is suppressed and will be stored in the body to process later in an emotionally safe environment.
This event or situation may be a large significant event, or it may seem small and insignificant, however if it is not felt, released and processed in the moment it will be stored in the body.
Emotions are energy in motion and the energy must go somewhere.... it doesn't disappear when we shut it down, push it away and run from it, which, is where things tend to start to go sideways.
When the body and nervous system feel "emotionally safe", often when you slow down and relax in calm quiet environment, your body attempts to naturally heal the trauma experienced. The uncomfortable feelings and sensations increase so, in an attempt to avoid the discomfort, stress cycle and coping mechanisms kick in resulting in over thinking, numbing, distraction/ avoidance and/or disassociation. the emotions are suppressed yet again, and the cycle continues. Often intensifying as you bounce from feeling uncomfortable, to thinking about how uncomfortable it is , to trying harder to avoid it, back to feeling worse and so on. Hence anxiety being a big feeling that most people experience.
This cycle will continue until the emotions are felt, released and processed. Keeping us in a state of survival response. Sometimes we become so good at suppressing the feelings we close ourselves off and it becomes a subconscious pattern we are no longer aware of, and it begins to unconsciously drive patterns of behavior and habits that we use to cope.
If left long enough this stored emotion (energy) will begin to manifest into illness and/or physical pain.
This is unresolved trauma.
Conscious connected breathwork is a style of breathwork that connects us to our body and our subconscious. The breath pattern and emotionally safe environment allows us to create the required response from the parasympathetic nervous system and resurface unresolved trauma that may be stored in the body.
You are then able to re-experience the event, feel the associated emotions, release the stored energy and integrate, Closing the trauma loop, where the body signals the limbic system that the threat is now over. Regulating the nervous system, out of the survival response that is driving your behaviors and completing the natural healing process.
During a session you may cry, yell and scream. Your body may respond physically with movement like shaking and shivers this is all normal and natural as the stored energy is released and a required part of healing.
As a side note to this is: your body will only allow you to process what you are ready for so while it may be uncomfortable you will be ok!
Unresolved trauma is a common driving force behind many of the behavior patterns you may feel are creating issues and challenges in your life.
As men, especially here in Australia, it's not uncommon to be brought up not feel your feelings, to toughen up, get on with it and suck it up, learning to suppress your emotions and invalidate them, as a result we have a culture of bottling up our problems and emotions and attempt to just get on with life.
Often leading to tendances of overworking and then washing down the day with a few too many after work drinks. I know for me this was my coping strategy, big hours and staying back for beers, neglecting the relationship with my wife and kids, neglecting my responsibilities as a father and not being the positive role model for them. All in an attempt to avoid the emotions and sensations of the resurfacing trauma.
This almost certainly results in putting strain on the romantic relationship and family dynamic as we are not present emotionally and physically. Ultimately leading us to the ongoing and worsening issues that can cause the breakdown of the romantic relationship and disconnection from our loved ones. Having an even deeper and further impact on our children, our partner and ourselves.
When we don't know how to feel our feelings, we become uncomfortable in them and from my experience it is also often then expressed in frustration and anger.
Overwhelm kicks in really quick in simple or overstimulating situations and we become reactive allowing our voices to raise and our fuse is short, before you know it you've blown your lid and your feeling guilty and shame creeps. Not to forget the turning to alcohol and drugs to numb the feelings and quiet the mind, only for it to wear off and you feel worse than you did before. So, the cycle continues on, and it gets passed down and down, all until someone is ready to face the trauma and break the cycle.
By facing out trauma, learning to feel our feelings and gaining the skillset to navigate the ongoing challenges and situations of this experience called life we open ourselves up to a deep connection with self. When we know how to deeply connect with ourselves, we can deeply connect with our partners, romantically and emotionally, we can connect with our children and guide them to do the same while nurturing our bonds and we can connect with our friends on a deeper level. It also gives you the ability to create new healthy strong bonds with others be that romantically or platonically depending on your situation.
A man who has faced his trauma is a strong and powerful man.
He is the true meaning of modern-day man.
Head over and book a free 1:1 intro consultation, where I can answer any questions or concerns you may have and find out how breathwork and working with me can help you.
Evolution of the Modern-Man program
Copyright © 2024 EVOLUTION BREATHWORK - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.