Trauma, Somatic Experiencing and Peter A. Levine PhD

Peter uses his famous "Slinky" presentation to demonstrate the effects of trauma on the nervous system, and his philosophy of treating trauma; which involves slowly releasing (or titrating) this compressed fight-or-flight energy a bit at time to give the individual the ability to reintegrate it back into their nervous system.

[butterfly]

My mother is paranoid schizophrenic. I never attached as an infant. I have struggled my whole life with attachment issues. In 2013, I thought I was marrying my soulmate. It turns out he was a narcissistic sociopath and nearly destroyed me. My depression went from major depressive disorder to severe recurring. My major anxiety disorder went through the roof. I also have complex ptsd. I really struggle with trust issues. I try to find pleasure in life, but it is a challenge. I didn't start getting counseling until 1994 when I had my first mental breakdown. I have my adult children who I love and love me. I have my other mother who I met when I was 17. That was the first time I ever felt loved and she is still a big part of my life. I'm ready to take the necessary steps toward healing from trauma. I'm learning all that I can. Tonight I heard about Dr. Levine from another YouTube video dealing with Trauma. God has perfect timing. God Bless!!!

[JeremiahShanti]

Dr. Levine's book- "Waking the Tiger" is one of the most important works ever written.

Good to see his vids here.

[TheJptransit]

bodily going into the resistance (what he demonstrates at the end) then releasing - but only in increments - is fascinating and seems very useful. Rumi knew it first: "your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding." Thanks for posting this!

[NYunderground]

I am so grateful to Peter levine and to the Somatic Experiencing approach. It's literally teaching me to regulate my emotions which for the last 29 years has been impossible.

[louiealcala]

Peter Levine is such a compasionate and caring human being, thank you for your knowledge Dr

[deedeeable]

I am so, so impressed with his work...As I am a documentary filmmaker on PTSD - I finally have found my God...Dr. Levine is my new truth source...

[mikeygreenman]

I studied this man and the book waking the tiger. This man is a true healer and understands and approaches from a very unfamiliar paradigm for many. Fear makes ppl make some really dumb comments.

[TheValdemar]

I recognize this so well from my own experience. The best way to describe what is going on in a traumatised body ever!! The energy that goes berserk, the rage, the fear, the mega explosion. I saw this video together with my partner and I he came to a whole new understanding of my sometimes very strong reactions. And me too actually. Thank you! But how to work with it I find difficult as I see other people in this string does. When I'm not in reaction I manage to live a good life in 'distraction' - surfing around in my thoughts, planning stuff always a step ahead. But in a constant alert state. The mechanism switches so quickly from normal to either constraint or explosive energy.

[johndalepoole]

Wonderful man.  Reading "In an unspoken voice" A truly remarkable and profound book

[JackSaturday]

From recent experiences I have come across in my own inner process, the suggestions Dr. Levine offers are highly recommended. I have checked out a lot of self-styled healers, only a few make the grade. His compassion is obvious, he is not self-aggrandizing, his advice is very helpful. Maybe more a compassionate teacher than direct healer. But compassionate listening is itself great medicine.

[gmboles]

Thank you Dr. Levine for sharing your approach to healing from trauma❤️.

[ironjohnlad]

Peter Levine is amazing. I am a therapist and use somatic experiencing, Mindfulness, and Focusing and experiential psychotherapy to help people who have been traumatised. His ideas and teaching are brilliant. !

[rkh]

This man, makes so much sense and the slinky is a clever and simple analogy.I look forward to hearing more of this man and his

[navigatingupwards]

This helped me understand so much more about myself, thank you so much. I cant even express it with words

[iprobablyforgotsomething]

I think I did this accidentally once - had to talk to an abusive ex for legal reasons, then afterwards shook so hard lying down, it was like I was having a seizure. Then, once it passed, I felt surprisingly ok. Not happy, or anything - still miserable about the experience and worried about future talks. Still tense. But the panic, the overwhelming fear, was greatly calmed. I remember thinking it was weird (I hadn't heard of trauma-release at the time).

[labuehrz]

What's happening to me today.. many tears with sadness and some anger...

Thank God today I have laughter and happiness..

[peichenlovelight]

Great guiding from Dr.Peter ! I've shared it to my clients in Taipei..

[innertouch]

to bring the energy together ... discharging the energy... so simple and so truth ..
Thank you :)

[MrKoaloha]

I have great respect for the work and approach of Dr. Levine as I do for Dr. Bessel van der Kolk.  At the same time, as a 75 year "young" veteran exposed both to a chronic history of daily maternal threat beginning at age 4 followed by four years service in the Marines - which by its very structure grounded in patriarchal domination and fear is traumatizing irrespective of individual events - I find something missing in each.  Indeed, from the work of Dr. Paul Canali, DC who developed an approach titled "Unified Healing Therapy" and "Evolutionary Healing" it appears that not only does trauma live in the body as noted by van der Kolk & Levine, but it is "sourced" in the dura mater" which is the sheath that holds our spinal fluid.  What occurs here in the midst of fearful situations is that the our spinal fluid in the dura mater contracts and contorts from which a message is instantly sent to every cell of our body - from which IT begins to contract and contort thus explaining the gradual contraction and contortion of the body itself into a "tight fist" of sorts.  At some point, however, that tight fist is less and less able to hold it anymore, from which it seeks to explode.

Additionally, a research experiment found on You Tube showed a man and a woman each seated in front of a computer at which researchers were measuring their pulse, heart and brain. Each had two buttons to push - one if the image on the screen is "warm and friendly", the other if it is "fearful and uncomfortable".  What was so remarkable was that "the heart picked up the image BEFORE it ever appeared on the screen.

This said, I would offer from personal experience that much of the treatment for PTSD does NOT get to the core of what ails us rather is symtomatic remediation.  Too, that the field of "mental health" is grossly uninformed of the larger reality of a PTSD client. INDEED, if they have never experienced themselves, I would offer they haven't a "clue" w/re to what the client is experiencing.

[suicide-preventionresource]

Thank you for this interesting presentation.