Some people live with constant anxiety and apprehension as if this is their normal state of being. This is most common among people who have experienced childhood, cumulative experiences of menacing or perceived threat, or severe life shocks. Possibly the events were not a direct threat to the person themself, however, they felt unsafe for themselves or someone they very much relied on for their own safety. Watching or reading of shocking experiences regularly can have a similar effect.

How do I know I have embodied distress?

Bodily responses can include racing heart, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, shaking of limbs, feeling as if you might die and sometimes avoiding people and events regularly. It may just be a continuous inability to sleep deeply or constant waking and not knowing why. Regular experiences like this leave the muscles in a state of constant tightness which may cause chronic pain that cannot be medically diagnosed. You may be told to go home and relax as if relaxing is a physical button to be pushed with instant results.

I feel tired for no reason…

Embodied Psychotherapy is ideal for when we feel inexplicably tired, afraid or anxious for no apparent reason. When our life force/energy runs low, despite leading a healthy life, Somatic memories (with no conscious memory) become lodged within us in early years or after shocking experiences (eg. death of loved ones, parents divorcing, our divorce, domestic violence or hearing or/watching violence.)

I don’t know who I am any more…

Often, we compartmentalise ourselves into “working me”, “relationship me” and “public me”, losing track of who we are. We split ourselves into different parts, creating special parts to hide away different fears and shocks. Inviting those parts to share and be appreciated for the work they have done to keep us safe, allows them to relax and release the fear. It truly does work in reversing constant anxiety and related difficulties.

How long does it take?

These symptoms have developed over time and will not heal in one session. Be prepared to work for a few months to return to yourself, and then to introduce new behaviours (CBT) to avoid re-traumatising and recreate the contented life.

Most important is to know that your symptoms are forms of implicit memory for consciously forgotten events (self-protection) and are NOT signs of your character flaws.