When the Threat Has Passed: Trauma, the Body and Somatic Therapy
Trauma isn't only what happened to us, but how what happened continues to live in us
When we think about trauma, we often think about an event — something frightening, overwhelming or deeply distressing that happened to us.
But trauma isn't only about the event itself.
Trauma isn't measured by the event itself, but by how that experience impacts us — in our body, emotions and sense of safety.
Sometimes the event is clearly traumatic. Other times, we may struggle to understand why something has affected us so deeply.
What can be particularly confusing is when the original situation has ended, but our body continues to respond as though something is still wrong.
When the threat has passed
Our nervous system is constantly assessing whether we are safe or under threat.
When we experience danger, our body can respond automatically. We might fight, run, freeze, become highly alert or shut down.
These responses are protective. They aren't something we consciously choose.
The difficulty can come when these protective patterns continue after the threat has passed.
We might find ourselves constantly on edge, easily overwhelmed, disconnected from our emotions, unable to relax, or automatically withdrawing or becoming defensive in certain situations.
And the original threat doesn't have to have been physical.
Emotional experiences such as rejection, abandonment, humiliation, criticism or feeling unsafe in a relationship can also have a profound impact on our nervous system.
Trauma can affect how experience the present
Sometimes our responses make complete sense when we understand what our nervous system has learned from the past.
A situation that feels relatively safe to someone else might trigger a strong response in us because our body recognises something familiar.
This doesn't mean that we are broken or that our reactions are irrational.
Our bodies can learn to protect us in ways that once made sense, even when we no longer need those same protections.
Somatic therapy gives us an opportunity to become curious about these responses, and to gently let go of those that no longer serve us.
Somatic therapy for trauma: Working with trauma through the body
When we are using somatic therapy for trauma, we don't have to rely solely on talking about what happened.
We can gently explore what happens in the body when we feel threatened, overwhelmed, disconnected or unsafe.
What happens to your breathing?
Where do you feel tension?
Do you want to move towards something, away from it, or become very still?
Do you notice yourself becoming numb or disconnected?
By paying attention to these responses, we can begin to understand patterns that may have been happening automatically for a long time.
This doesn't mean forcing ourselves to relive traumatic experiences. In fact, somatic trauma work is often about going slowly and staying within what feels manageable.
Creating a different experience
An important part of trauma healing can be discovering that we have more choice than we once had.
We can learn to recognise when our nervous system is responding to an old threat, notice what is happening in the present moment, and gradually develop new ways of responding.
The goal isn't to get rid of our body's protective responses. They are there for a reason.
Instead, we can begin to understand them, appreciate what they have tried to do for us, and explore whether we can respond differently now.
Somatic therapy isn't a shortcut or a promise of an easier healing journey. Trauma can take time to work with.
But when experiences feel difficult to access through words alone, the body can offer another place to begin.
And sometimes, learning to feel safer in our bodies can become an important part of learning to feel safer in our lives.
About Tarah
I'm a trauma-informed, somatic therapist supporting people to heal and integrate trauma, reconnect with their body and live with greater ease and authenticity
