Where is my Body?
Where is my Body?
I had many interesting conversations lately about psychedelic trips, connection and re-connection with the body after disconnective experiences, why so many of us tend to live in continuous disconnective mechanisms and so on. Therefore I wish to give some tips to people that might not be aware how trauma disconnection mechanisms work but they are willing to learn (pay attention to this last part of the sentence…you will probably resonate with the message only if you are open to change your previous expectations around connection with the body and how easy is to be or stay in disconnection!).
Here a list, not exhaustive though, of situations when you get spaced out, disassociated or disconnected from the body:
1) near death experiences – either medically induced or naturally your body and brain will experience disconnection during such situations;
2) sexual abuse – the memory can even be completely deleted when the abuse happens (actually earlier it happens in life, like childhood, more probable will be that you disconnect as a mechanism of protection);
3) narcotics consumption or injection during surgical interventions or treatments that can block partially or totally the neuronal pathways and thus create disconnection (especially when these treatments happen in the womb or at birth it can impact very much the future of the new human being);
4) consumption of psychedelic substances (being these plant medicines or artificial drugs) – it does not matter how many times you use them, but for sure more times means also more fragmentation to not mention the fact that synthetic drugs can lead also to addiction (because of unresolved trauma);
5) accidents (travel accidents, work accidents etc.) when you hit your head and have temporary loss of memory can also be accompanied (although not necessarily) by dissociative states (in other cases more parts of the body can be involved and experience neuronal disconnection);
6) life situations of prolonged stress and emotional upheaval can most of the times lead to dissociation and flight mechanisms as a way for the body and psyche to cope with these disturbing factors.
There could probably be more situations to be mentioned, but for the reason of limiting the length of the post I only placed 6 of them.
I can testify from my own experience that it is common for every of us to get into dissociative states as a way to protect ourselves, it is the wisdom of the body (fight-flight-freeze). And many of us, after a life of turmoil and stress, not knowing how to self-regulate, we get to a point when disconnection is a daily routine or just part of who we are. Moreover, we create illusions or fantastic scenarios where we need to make sense of what happened to us and has been difficult to cope with…and so, we might become lightworkers, empathic master guides, rainbow warriors, dragon masters, fairy speakers, channels of light and galactic beings, time and space travelers, and all sorts of other labels we find in the spiritual arena. We wish to feel important and acknowledged for our contribution to humanity and its evolution (and there is nothing wrong with it)…but easily forget that the first priority that matters to all is ourselves and our own wellbeing and health. And staying connected with the body and listening to its inner wisdom and guidance is the most precious magical skill we will ever have available.
What I would retain important is that we recognize how these mechanisms manifest for ourselves and also learn pathways for re-connection and self-regulation of the nervous system. There are many methods nowadays available and also trained therapists. And also loads of information, books and courses about this topic.
From my own experience, after trying many things from shamanic cleansing and healing to somatic healing/therapy and trauma therapy a combination of psychotherapy and body therapy or body work or other form of embodiment (yoga, dancing, creative writing, singing and voice release) were the most effective to recover from fragmentation and get to know why and how I disconnect.
I hope this post brings some useful information to you.
And do not blame me for what happened to you and for me being so bold and trying to open your eyes in case you are still living in a state of disconnection and illusion. You are valuable with or without the labels you wish to be recognized as, your essence as human being is much more than the experiences that impacted you and lead to disconnection. You have tools and hope to change everything…if you really wish and dare!
The solution for transiting from a survival mode to a thriving one is very close…and starts with a wish or intention for deep and restorative healing. So you can be whole again, and enjoying yourself and all that life has in hold for you to the maximum!
Blessed be your…Body! and who you really ARE!
Other articles on this blog:
All eyes on Trauma… but where is the real content?
Working with your traumas, especially the big ones, might bring you to your knees in understanding how much you ignored and fooled yourself. But on a long run will help you become whole and healthy, with a new awareness about yourself and the others, about the whole world and its own failing structures and toxic manifestations.
Are you Spiritual?
If you believe in past lives and how old your Soul might be, why should you not believe in the fact that along this life (the only one that can be proved as you are living it) you experienced so many things that your own memory cannot hold, so your brain shuts down to cope with the heaviness of this unknown past.
The BIAS of being right or wrong
The BIAS is in the Mind, the Fear and Avoidance are in the Body to show us what Trauma brought on the surface. When we avoid speaking, looking into or understanding Trauma as part of our journey through life, we generate BIAS as an excuse for what we are not ready or not wish to face in a honest way.