Communication | Logotherapist | Existential Analysis | Client-centered integrative therapy
Trauma and Immobility Moments of Stillness Being Stuck in the Body and in the Situation Persons who have experienced trauma in the past that remains unresolved often find situations of forced immobility extremely challenging: These can be everyday situations that may seem simple to handle, such as: • falling asleep or waking up, when a person is in a kind of “in-between” state or half-sleep, where they can’t yet move physically but can already think and feel consciously • being in a meeting with many people • sitting in school, confined to a specific place with no ability to leave • visiting the dentist, needing to sit still and unable to leave • undergoing a medical examination or intervention that requires immobility, such as partial anesthesia • being in a car, next to another, in an uncomfortable environment, unable to get out • being stuck in traffic on the highway, unable to move forward • in an elevator or crowded public transportation, feeling unable to move because of the confined space • in the aeroplane in a confined space • being in a restaurant, sitting on a table ...... Persons describe this as if they were helplessly trapped in their bodies – the mind and body seem disconnected, in a way that is hard to explain. Each person experiences this individually: some want to flee but cannot, others feel frozen, and others feel the urge to fight and become aggressive. This separation is not abnormal; it’s an involuntary protective response of the body. Due to trauma, the nervous system remains in a constant state of "alert," and often the body reacts faster than the mind – it feels paralyzed or trapped before the mind realizes there is no immediate danger. There are ways to handle this situation and provide some relief. The first step out of immobility is to recognize and not judge the traumatized part within us and to offer it care and attention. What is held in the body can rarely be explained by the mind. Therefore, a form of first aid can be to try to move the body, touch it, exhale deeply, move the neck, perhaps clench fists, move toes – even the smallest movement of the eyes can help to calm the nervous system and ease tension somewhat. It may also help to connect yourself to a person you feel save in the room. Image Leonardo da Vinci | Anatomical Drawings from the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle Atlas of Anatomical Studies, Hamburger Kunsthalle 1979
