Breaking Free: How Somatic Healing Changed My Life as an Anxious Mom
For years, I lived in a prison of anxiety. Not the occasional worry kind – I’m talking about the kind that makes your heart race when you’re trying to grocery shop with your kids, the kind that turns a simple playground visit into a dreaded event. As a mom of two young children, I desperately wanted to give them a normal life, but my anxiety had other plans.
My Breaking Point
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I’ll never forget the day I hit rock bottom. It was supposed to be a simple meetup with friends for a hike – the kind of outing most moms don’t think twice about. But there I was, sitting in my car, gripping the steering wheel, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. My five-year-old was asking why we weren’t getting out, and my toddler was fussing in her car seat. I couldn’t do it. The thought of being alone with them in public, where anything could happen, where a panic attack could strike at any moment, was too much. We drove home, and I cried the whole way.
That was my wake-up call. My anxiety wasn’t just affecting me anymore – it was robbing my children of experiences they deserved to have.
The Endless Search for Solutions
Trust me, I tried everything. Weekly talk therapy sessions? Check. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications? Tried several. Meditation apps, breathing exercises, positive thinking – you name it, I did it. Some things helped a little, but nothing seemed to stick. The anxiety would always creep back in, like an unwelcome houseguest who just wouldn’t leave.
The Turning Point: Understanding My Body’s Story
Everything changed when I picked up “The Body Keeps the Score” by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. Reading it was like finally finding the missing piece of the puzzle. For the first time, I understood that my anxiety wasn’t just in my head – it was literally stored in my body. Years of stress, childhood traumas, and the demanding pace of modern life had locked my nervous system into a constant state of high alert.
Then I read “Hope and Help for Your Nerves” by Dr. Claire Weekes, and another light bulb clicked on. What I was experiencing wasn’t some mysterious, incurable condition – it was a nervous system disorder that could be fixed. My body was stuck in a loop of fight-or-flight responses, but there was a way to break the cycle.
Discovering Somatic Healing
That’s when I stumbled across Dr. Peter Levine’s work on somatic experiencing and polyvagal theory. His explanations about how animals naturally process stress and trauma made so much sense. Unlike animals, we humans tend to suppress our natural stress responses, trapping that energy in our bodies. Reading his work, I finally understood why talk therapy alone hadn’t been enough – I needed to work with my body, not just my mind.
My Journey into Somatic Exercises
Desperate for change, I enrolled in an online somatic healing course. I’ll be honest – the exercises initially seemed too simple to make a difference. Gentle movements, body scanning, tracking sensations – how could this help when my anxiety felt so overwhelming?
But little by little, I started noticing changes. The first time I successfully used a grounding exercise to stop a panic attack in its tracks, I could hardly believe it. Here are some of the key practices that made the biggest difference for me:
1. Physiological Sigh (Instant)
-Inhale once fully through your nose
-Inhale again even more with a quick, forced breath to fully expand your lungs
-Exhale slowly through your mouth.
2. Gentle Shaking
– Standing with soft knees, I let my body gently shake
– This releases trapped energy, just like animals do in the wild
– I usually do this in the bathroom – it’s private and I can look silly!
3. 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 Grounding Technique
–See: Name 5 things you can see around you.
-Touch: Identify 4 things you can physically touch.
-Hear: List 3 sounds you can hear.
-Smell: Notice 2 distinct smells you can detect.
-Taste: Focus on 1 thing you can taste.
The Transformation
The changes didn’t happen overnight, but they were profound. First, I noticed I was sleeping better. Then the constant tension in my shoulders started to ease. The biggest moment came when I realized I had just spent two hours at the park with my kids, and anxiety hadn’t crossed my mind once.
Today, I still have anxious moments – but they don’t control my life anymore. I have tools that actually work, and more importantly, I understand what’s happening in my body when anxiety strikes. This knowledge alone has been incredibly empowering.
What I Want Other Moms to Know
If you’re struggling like I was, please know there is hope. Somatic healing isn’t just another wellness trend – it’s a scientifically backed approach to processing stress and trauma. Here’s what I wish someone had told me years ago:
– Your anxiety isn’t your fault
– Your body is trying to protect you, even if it’s overreacting
– You’re not broken – you’re stuck in a stress response
– Your nervous system can learn to feel safe again
– Simple, gentle exercises can create profound change
Starting Your Own Journey
If you’re interested in exploring somatic healing, here’s what I recommend:
1. Start with reading: “The Body Keeps the Score” and “Waking the Tiger” by Peter Levine
2. Look for qualified somatic experiencing practitioners in your area
3. Try some basic somatic exercises at home (I’ve shared my favorites above)
4. Be patient with yourself – healing is a journey, not a race
5. Keep a journal to track your progress
The Somatic Journal
$5.99
Find your way back to feeling clear, connected, and whole with The Somatic Journal – your daily companion for understanding anxiety and stress through gentle movement, meditation, and guided reflection. This printable journal helps you decode your body’s signals, release tension, and transform unexplained symptoms into meaningful insights. Start your journey back to yourself today.
Description
A Guide To Mind-Body Awareness Reconnect with Your Body, Reclaim Your Life Do you feel like your mind and body are speaking different languages? The Somatic Journal is your gentle guide to feeling whole, clear, and connected again. Finally, Understand What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You Transform anxiety, brain fog, and tension into meaningful insights into wholeness. This printable journal combines proven somatic practices with intuitive tracking to help you make sense of what you’re feeling—physically and emotionally. Your Daily Companion for Healing – Guided somatic movements that release tension and restore energy – Calming meditations designed specifically for anxiety and stress – Thoughtful journal prompts that help you uncover patterns and triggers – Visual tracking to connect physical sensations with emotional experiences When Nothing Else Has Given You Answers Stop second-guessing your symptoms. Start understanding the wisdom behind your body’s signals. Whether you’re dealing with: – Overwhelming anxiety that comes out of nowhere – Persistent brain fog that affects your work and relationships – Exhaustion that no amount of sleep seems to fix – A disconnect between what you feel and what you want to feel The Somatic Journal helps you piece together your body’s puzzle, one gentle observation at a time. Your Journey Back to Yourself Each day, spend just 10-15 minutes with guided practices and reflections designed to: – Clear mental fog and restore mental clarity – Release anxiety’s hold on your body and mind – Rebuild your natural sleep patterns – Reconnect with your inner wisdom – Return to feeling like yourself again One of a Kind Support When You Need It Your healing journey is unique. The Somatic Journal helps you recognize the messages your body is sending and shows you how to unravel them to heal. Start Your Healing Journey Try The Somatic Journal today! Because you deserve to feel at home in your body again.Related products
Remember, you don’t have to live in fear of the next panic attack. Your body has an innate capacity to heal, and with the right tools, you can reclaim the life you want – for yourself and your children.
Looking back at that mom gripping her steering wheel in the parking lot, I wish I could tell her what I know now. The path to healing isn’t through fighting your body – it’s through listening to it, understanding it, and giving it what it needs to feel safe again.
Have you tried any somatic exercises? I’d love to hear about your experience or answer any questions you might have about starting this journey.
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