Interview about Somatic Psychology

[Hope67]

I watched an interview entitled "Interview with somatic psychologist Dr Arielle Schwartz on Parts Work and how it integrates into the Biology". A link to that interview is here:

https://vimeo.com/646562391/4c66549277?share=copy

The person interviewing Dr Schwartz is Dr Aimie Apigian, MD.

I thought it was a really good talk, and I wrote a few notes.

My notes:
Self sabotaging - conflict.
Complex inner dynamics as we face our goals.
Where do they come from?
'Curiosity' - What's really going on?  What is the voice of the part that doesn't want to do it?
Parts = reflective of our past experiences.
Exiling them increases feeling inauthentic.
Rebel
Act out.

Dr Amie Apigian spoke of constant battle to keep them exiled.

Emotions held in a beachball and held under water.  Everything needs to come out.

Brene Brown - turn towards shame etc - enables creativity.

Vagus nerve: 80% body back to brain.
Below conscious awareness.
Stephen Porges - neuroception.

Goal: Increase awareness of the body.  Use conscious neuroception to discern what's happening.  Notice somatic symptoms. Pay attention.  Greater choice about how to respond.

Childhood trauma: Feeling powerless.  3rd ?function of vagus nerve kicks in: Collapse, it's all futile.
Goal - reclaim our ability to regulate.

Moving through the world associated with some kind of threat.
Rest and digest.

Yoga - learn to move the body and we learn to rest.

Healing practice - undo performance expectations.  Listening relationship with the body, rather than performance relationship.

Building tolerance to our emotions, sensations, and feelings.  Mindful curiosity.

Make agreements with parts who may feel differently about a particular thing.

Disowned parts can sabotage our health e.g. difficulty sleeping.  Can lead to food sensitivities.  Can excacerbate environmental sensitivities.  Unrealised trauma in their history.

We can talk to our bodies and our bodies respond.
So much wisdom and intelligence in our bodies.

Bodies love to be in synch.  Endogenous endorphins.  In tune/in synch with felt experience.

Requires time.
Slow down.
Tolerate vulnerability.

Slow down and listen.

Predictable route to safety and connection.  e.g. hand on heart and stomach.  Find out what dysregulates you and what brings you back  to safety and connection.

Slow down
Check in with body.
Check in with breath.

Trauma - something we felt in our senses but weren't able to process, as over-whelming.

Integrate those experiences and fold them back in.
Therapy = useful.

Meditation
Yoga
Walk in nature

Pockets of calm.

Mentioned pause/slow-down of Covid (effect)
Some people found this very uncomfortable (some enjoyed that slow-down)
Uncomfortable feelings came up, therefore focusing on pacing, building up tolerance.

Tipping point between stresses and trauma = when we begin to feel out of control/overwhelm.

*****

I found the talk helpful and thought provoking. 

Hope