The Somatic Release Hype

Somatic Release. This concept has gained a lot of popularity these days and for good reason. There's a lot of science to back up all the hype. I'm here for it.

We've all heard of the fight or flight response - more accurately, fight, flight, or freeze. This is the very natural reaction our body has to perceived danger. The issue is that our brains do not differentiate between actual, real life, danger and what we've decided is danger. Let me explain.

A long time ago, danger could come at us in the form of a wild, ferocious, animal on the prowl in close proximity. We needed to run to safety or attack or freeze and hope beyond hoping that it didn't notice us. This is some serious shit! Nowadays, it's a lot less likely for us to be in life threatening circumstances regularly. Our cortisol kicks look a lot more like too many deadlines or more chores than hands to do them. However, both are seen as the same "danger" to our brain and therefore processed and stored identically.

Play this out with me: Lion chases you; you get to safety and then what do you do? You grasp your chest, let out a sigh of relief and gratitude for still being alive, hug your loved ones, maybe shake a little and cry... Basically, you release it.

Now this one: Your alarm doesn't go off. You spill your coffee. Your kids are fighting with you bc school is "boring." You're out of milk for cereal. You skip breakfast bc who has time. Traffffffiiccccccc! Your partner calls to remind you they will be late getting home but the kids still have 47 things you need to get them to. You finally get to work and have approximately three minutes before your meeting starts. What do you do next?

A. Fumble out my notes for the meeting, review them while fixing my hair, plastering on the smile, and making sure my background is suitable as the Zoom link loads...

B. Stop. Sit for a moment with my eyes closed and my hand on my heart while I breath and remind myself that I am safe and all is good.

If you answered A, congratulations on being honest!

You see, without taking the necessary actions to decompress this real or perceived danger that initiated the nervous system response, our body stores these stressors in our cells and tissues. For many of us, that means our belly or pelvic region but it can also mean between the shoulder blades or any other area of the body for that matter (hello lower back or neck pain, nice to see you again headache or jaw pain). And there it sits as we continue to pile on stressor after stressor, letting our cortisol levels rise higher and higher.

There is a lot of information out there about regulating the nervous system. It can be overwhelming and even intimidating. But it can also be as simple as this: BREATHE!

Pausing for even just a few minutes to focus solely on breathing brings us back down to earth. It grounds us and connects us to the true here and now where there are no lions chasing us. It gives us time to release that stress instead of storing it in our tissues. It gets us out of our heads and into our bodies. Breathing is something we literally have constant access to (thankfully). You don't have to bust out a meditation pillow and drop down into lotus in front of an altar. There needn't be any formal pomp and circumstance to it.

Here's how it can look:

• Begin while sitting in your car, at your desk, in the bathroom, or even standing. Maybe you just pause at the kitchen count facing away from the chaos for a moment.

• This step is optional but, personally, I like to start with a tip I got from a little known artist ;o) named T Swift and "shake it off." Seriously. I shake my arms and hands and sometimes even my legs and feet and picture flicking the ick off of me.

• Next, close your eyes and breathe normally. You do not have to find a special pattern or technique. Just breathe.

• Now, begin to feel into your body. Feel your heart beating, your chest rising and falling. Hear your breath, and simply observe. No need to change or judge or do anything but simply be here now. Notice as your heart rate slows, your shoulders soften, your jaw unclenches, your belly lets go, and you can access the peace of this exact moment.

• Remind yourself that you are safe. Embrace yourself (literally or figuratively) in a hug and express love and gratitude to yourself.

• When you are ready, simply open your eyes.

Take care of you!