Sublime

We start by establishing inner “islands of safety” within the body.22 This means helping patients identify parts of the body, postures, or movements where they can ground themselves whenever they feel stuck, terrified, or enraged.

I am pleased that clinicians and clients are using Polyvagal Theory to validate personal narratives of how the body responds to trauma in a heroic manner. They are learning that their body responded in an adaptive way that enabled them to survive.

Trauma is so arresting that traumatized people will focus on it compulsively. Unfortunately, the situation that defeated them once will defeat them again and again.

The fact that hospitalizations and medical procedures routinely produce traumatic results comes as a surprise to many people.

body of research is now being done on sounds that heal.

trauma is resistant to most forms of treatment.

The goal is to be aware of the feeling of the body moving into defensive states, without allowing these feelings to overtake the patient.