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Body scan
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When discussing trauma and abuse from my childhood, my psychologist would often employ this technique with me. Immediately proceeding my sharing of an upsetting event, she would have me close my eyes and ask me how I was feeling, and how and where that feeling was manifesting. For instance, when I was angry, I would feel my face get warmer, and my neck stiffen, and at times my hands would get really hot. Then she’d ask me to assign physical characteristics to this feeling; color, state (what is a gas, liquid, solid?). Then she’d ask me to imagine throwing it away or getting rid of it, and what that would look like. And lastly, she’d bring it home by saying that next time I felt like this, to remember how to recognize it and what to do with it.
In the beginning, I honestly thought it seemed insensible and even foolish. But it really did make a difference – I can talk about those same events now, almost with an air of indifference. I couldn’t explain it if you asked, but I would avoid discussing and suppress traumatic events from my childhood, but I no longer have a negative or painful reaction when I reflect on it.
It really impacted me, and I’m eternally grateful for it.
When discussing trauma and abuse from my childhood, my psychologist would often employ this technique with me. Immediately proceeding my sharing of an upsetting event, she would have me close my eyes and ask me how I was feeling, and how and where that feeling was manifesting. For instance, when I was angry, I would feel my face get warmer, and my neck stiffen, and at times my hands would get really hot. Then she’d ask me to assign physical characteristics to this feeling; color, state (what is a gas, liquid, solid?). Then she’d ask me to imagine throwing it away or getting rid of it, and what that would look like. And lastly, she’d bring it home by saying that next time I felt like this, to remember how to recognize it and what to do with it.
In the beginning, I honestly thought it seemed insensible and even foolish. But it really did make a difference – I can talk about those same events now, almost with an air of indifference. I couldn’t explain it if you asked, but I would avoid discussing and suppress traumatic events from my childhood, but I no longer have a negative or painful reaction when I reflect on it.
It really impacted me, and I’m eternally grateful for it.