Rage and Somatic Experience: How To Heal
Did you know that there is a strong correlation between repressed emotions and developing depression and anxiety?
When we have emotions bubbling up, we need to find a healthy way for them to be released or they begin causing us body pain, somatic symptoms such as headaches, backaches and muscle tension, or they contribute to a more agitated nervous system.
What’s important for us is to feel a whole range of emotions and feel them, embrace them and process them and let them go.
Yes I know, society often wants us not to feel “ugly” or “unsexy” feelings. Society wants us to feel happy and make the world a happy place. And some people feel uncomfortable with emotions which is why they don’t know how to express or hold space for big emotions.
Please note: I am not saying that rage fits where you or someone else is harmed, is ok. It is not. Harming someone is never ok. However, healthy anger and rage can get expressed without physical harm being done, and actually, expressing healthy rage often allows for people to be calmer, more mindful humans.
Did you know that all humans feel anger and rage in our bodies?
And did you know that healthy rage is part of healthy living? Intense feelings aren’t just kept for “moody” people. All humans feel lots of emotions and emotions let us know how we are doing, what needs to be changed and anything else that may be needing attention in our lives.
If I always get a headache before I visit auntie Debra, I may want to listen to my body’s cues and see what is causing the headache. If there is no medical reason, it’s possible that her onslaught of questions about my parenting may leave me feeling insecure and my body simply doesn’t feel safe going. I may need to bring a friend along or take a pause from visiting her.
Or, maybe my leg gets jumpy and I anxiously shake my legs a lot when I’m sitting in a meeting with my colleagues because I’m feeling like my voice isn’t being heard. I may want to see what I need to be able to help my body find calm.
Our bodies are always talking to us. Our job is to learn to listen in.
Somatic Experience therapy helps us listen in, process and find relief.
When we repress our intense emotions of anger, we end up feeling agitated, annoyed, anxious and irritable.
For more about PsychoSomatic Pain and its connection to repressed anxiety and anger, read this article with some research and findings. “6 Signs of Psychosomatic Pain”
And, if you want some tools right here right now, click on this blog called “ An Easy 6-Step Somatic Experience to Process Triggers”
Looking for some one on one counseling to help you heal? Working with a skillful therapist who knows how to work with the mind-body connection can help you properly move through emotions, memories, sensations and impulses that feel stuck or trapped in your mind or body.
Our therapists are trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR, somatic therapy, parts work/IFS, creative arts and narrative talk therapy. Reach out today for your free 15 minute consultation to get you started on your healing journey today.