Your Body Holds the Story
“Our body is part of us. It is us. It holds the scars of our life to date, the stories of our life so far; it contains the wisdom and energy of what we need today and tomorrow." - Melody Beattie
We all have a story. Most likely several.
We inherit stories. We tell ourselves stories. We weave together stories with others that form community and provide belonging and meaning. Stories build us. They can break us. The stories we tell ourselves can make us ill and they can make us well. We even create art, produce films, and write books—all some form of story.
Story is what makes us human, separating us from the animal kingdom. Story relies on memory and meaning. Our brains are designed to make meaning out of what we see and experience—a storyline—in order to help us sort and organize information. At the most primitive level, story helps us orient toward safety and to ensure our species will continue to carry on.
As a somatic therapist at my practice Calm Hearts Counseling in Mesa, Arizona, I maintain that our bodies hold the stories of our lives. Especially in the realm of trauma. Our bodies hold our life experiences and memories—the good, the bad, the ugly and in-between. The aim of somatic trauma therapy is to resolve this within us. Over a lifetime, we physically store the unfinished emotional business (hurts, wounds, secrets, unresolved circumstances) in our tissues—that’s right: the issues in our tissues (my favorite yoga saying). In this state, our bodies tend to feel heavy, tired, anxious or depressed. We can find ways to cope that aren’t always ideal (toxic productivity, over exercising, drinking, sugar addiction, so forth).
As you are reading this, I wonder if you can recall a story or secret that’s still alive for you—and in you—but you haven’t addressed.
Let’s pause to reflect:
When you bring this to mind, what do you notice happening in your body?
Do you notice tightness, heaviness, pain, stiffness, or aches?
When’s the first time you recall experiencing any of these sensations in your body? What was happening in your life at that time?
Our bodies are speaking to us, attempting to get our attention—all the time. Unfortunately, we tend to override those messages with productivity, busyness, food, pain killers and prescriptions, other distractions. It’s tempting to tell ourselves “This is normal, I guess” or “This is just part of growing older”—right? It doesn’t have to be.
What if you were willing explore what your body is trying to tell you? your body’s story?
From decades of doing mind-body practices I’ve discovered that by compassionately turning into the body about what it’s carrying (ie: trauma, emotions), and using gentle tools and practices, physical symptoms subside. It’s like looking under the hood of the car to see what’s needing attention and reconnection.
You likely know the phrase: The Body Keeps the Score. Integrative counseling and somatic therapy at Calm Hearts Counseling in Mesa, Arizona is one way to approach understanding that score. We partner with the body to explore what we’re holding on to physically and what’s getting in the way of our healing and well-being. We use Brainspotting, Somatic EMDR Therapy, EFT Tapping and more to help our minds and bodies heal—and ultimately, write a new story for mental health and well-being.
If you’re reading this and recognizing your body is not at its optimal, I encourage you to exercise a willingness to look outside of the box of conventional medicine or traditional talk therapy. Consider somatic therapies at Calm Hearts Counseling, for example, as an avenue for insight and change.
More reflection points:
Has your body been calling out to you for attention lately? How so?
If it had a message, what is it saying?
Now, take a gentle inhale….a gentle exhale. Great work!
At some point, we’ve got to reckon with the stories we carry inside. If you’re ready to do this with compassion and care, I’m here to help and to walk with you.
Christine Slomski is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mesa, Arizona. Her practice, Calm Hearts Counseling, specializes in addressing anxiety, trauma, grief, infertility & pregnancy loss, and women’s mental health using a whole-person approach to mental health. Aside from being an EFT Practitioner since 2006, Christine is an enthusiastic Brainspotting Practitioner, EMDR Therapist and Yoga Practitioner.
Hi, I’m Christine Slomski, a licensed counselor, Brainspotting Practitioner, EMDR Therapist, EFT Tapping Practitioner & Reproductive Trauma & Grief Specialist in Mesa, Arizona.
My mission to to help women come home to calm. I believe in your ability to heal and look forward to walking alongside you.
With heart,
Christine
Counseling services for Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale