Somatic Experiencing Therapy and Chronic Feelings of Shame
About Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-based therapy that helps individuals regulate their nervous system and resolve the physical and emotional effects of trauma and chronic stress. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, it is based on the idea that the intense energies of trauma and stress can become stuck in the body and continue to influence a person’s sense of themselves and the world. A person can loosen the grip of the symptoms of trauma and related conditions by paying attention to and carefully releasing these sensations. Somatic Experiencing supports clients in addressing the underlying causes of shame, restoring a sense of choice and dignity.
Chronic Shame and How it Affects the Body
Chronic shame is characterized by feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and self-judgment. It’s roots may come from a number of factors, including trauma (including abuse and neglect), extensive criticism from others, and unrealistic expectations of oneself. Shame is a key component of internalized oppression, as well, and members of marginalized groups often struggle with reconciling shame even amidst their strength and resilience. Shame can make people question their right to belong, making it difficult to act with confidence, engage with others and to request or receive support. It sabotages creativity and can make us feel like impostors.
When a person is feeling shame, they may feel a tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, heat, and a racing heart rate. They might have a sense of sluggishness, heaviness, and a desire to hide or not be seen. A person deep in shame may find eye contact very unpleasant and may take on a collapsed or shrunken posture. On the other hand, some may feel rage when their shame is triggered or puff themselves up in false grandiosity – protecting the self from the perceived danger of being seen in the vulnerability of their shame. Carefully exploring these physical components of shame offers fresh opportunities when thinking and talking sometimes seem to fall short.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy for Treating Feelings of Chronic Shame
Somatic Experiencing approaches shame, its causes, and its triggers through the body and the nervous system. This is done through a skillful combination of body awareness, gentle movement, and visualization. By exploring the embodied aspects of shame, a person can find new ways to release its grip.
Additionally, Somatic Experiencing can help us be kinder to ourselves. When we cultivate a grounded relationship with our bodies, we hear our emotions and needs more clearly. This opens the door to more effective yet kinder approaches to self-regulation. We find a deeper sense of worth and inhibitions that don’t serve us begin to loosen. As our internal compass readjusts, our intuition wakes up and gives us a more accurate map of whose opinions actually matter to us. It gets easier to speak up when we need to. We begin to feel a more consistent sense of dignity and belonging.
If you struggle with feelings of chronic shame, contact us for a free consultation to find out how Somatic Experiencing Therapy can help you.
