Here is some hopeful news from trauma specialist Dr. Peter Levine from his book Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. “Trauma evokes a biological response that needs to remain fluid and adaptive, not stuck and maladaptive. A maladaptive response is not necessarily a disease, but a dis-ease–a discomfort that can range from mild uneasiness to downright debilitation. . . . If these trapped energies are not allowed to move, and trauma becomes chronic, it can take a great deal of time and/or energy to restore the person to equilibrium and health. . . . ”
“Drugs may be useful in buying time to help the traumatized individual stabilize. However, when they are used for prolonged periods to suppress the body’s own balancing response to stress, they interfere with healing. To complete its biological and meaningful course of action, the organism requires the spontaneous shaking and trembling that we see throughout the animal world. . . . ” (See previous post.)
“Contrary to popular belief, trauma can be healed. Not only can it be healed, but in many cases it can be healed without long hours of therapy; without the painful reliving of memories; and without a continuing reliance on medication. . . . We have only to heal our present symptoms and proceed. A healing moment ripples forward and back, out and about.”
Because many of you are not going to read Levine’s book, I copied the above quotes that I feel are important. I want to get the word out that trauma can be healed. As a survivor of infant surgery without anesthesia, I do not have to accept a life of limitation and frustration, coping constantly with post-traumatic stress (PTS). I can release myself from much of the tension and symptoms. Whether you choose to work as Dr. Levine suggests, or as Dr. Upledger discusses (see earlier post about cranio-sacral therapy), or as Jeurg Roffler teaches in Middendorf Breath Experience that helped me so much (see previous posts) or in some other way, help is available. One has to want it. One has to believe healing is possible. From my experience, it is.
Wendy, you encouraged me to read Dr Peter Levine’s “Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma” some years back and it became such an important book for me, enlarging my understanding of how trauma works and what I could do about it. Thanks for highlighting his book here and enabling all your readers to reflect on some of the key messages. Yes and yay! Healing is possible, and it can come through many different channels!
You are an inspiration to me because I know how much you’ve healed. Thanks for encouraging me and many others to become whole.