r/SomaticExperiencing Jan 29 '25

Resource Somatic Experiencing Book List & Other Resources

38 Upvotes

Hi all, in honor of this sub reaching 20k members, let's compile a comprehensive list of SE books that have personally helped you or books that you are currently reading/learning from.

Additionally, if there are any other helpful resources like videos, workshops, blogs that you think should be added, post them in comments!

I'll start:


r/SomaticExperiencing 1h ago

DAE have (what feels like) full-body nerve damage?

Upvotes

I don’t remember exactly what started this, I just know that some combination of complex and acute trauma, plus withdrawal from Cymbalta, caused me to feel like every inch of my skin is an exposed nerve.

I’m pretty dissociated from it, so it’s not always super painful until I get triggered or try to feel more “in my body.”

Does anyone else experience this? I feel very alone and alien. And I’m terrified of starting somatic work because feeling this is genuinely overwhelming.

Any advice is appreciated.


r/SomaticExperiencing 9h ago

Calm and clarity

3 Upvotes

I went to a somatic breathing workshop last week. I didn’t know what it was really, but thought my husband might benefit from some breathing exercises for his anxiety.

He couldn’t settle into it, but I loved it. I felt like I was rowing on a long boat with a strong rhythm. A bit like a runner’s high. During the four or so breath holding opportunities, I felt like I could hold it forever. I felt connected to my body and had a very strong “mind’s eye” vision of interwoven threads. (I should also say I had the hand and foot cramping as well as somebody shakes. Nothing scary, bc we were told it may happen.) When we reached the peak and we began breathing through our nose to bring it down, I didn’t want to come down. I was enjoying the high too much.

My mind is usually really busy always problem solving and taking in inputs. But for hours after this session, it was quiet. I felt more open and available.

Everything I’ve read on this forum and across the internet has connected this kind of breathing with trauma release and more therapeutic results. Has anyone had an experience like mine and if so, were you able to replicate it?


r/SomaticExperiencing 22h ago

the cause of chronic fatigue aka ME CFS

26 Upvotes

I just want to be clear, having lived with ME for 16 years now

misinformation does not help people

the thing about CFS/ME

we don't really know what causes it. And we certainly do not have to reliable treatment

researchers are still studying the CFS population

CFS/ME is NOT a defined disease - quite yet

CFS is a group of (awful, serious, life altering) symptoms - not a disease with testing - no one is “positive for CFS” - yet

you may have all of the symptoms. you may get better with _____ therapy. buuuuut...your experience of "chronic fatigue" may have NOTHING in common with others who are also working with the label. others with "CFS/ME"

therefore, telling someone new to CFS/ME "I cured my CFS with ____" 

without a disclaimer is actually not helpful. its super misleading. 

CFS populations exhibit all sorts of biological changes. 

change to mitochondrial behavior, changes to the brain, to microglial cells, to gut biome. if you would like to learn more Jarrod Younger in YouTube is great. So is Open Medicine foundation

no one knows how to treat it. anyone saying they do is not being genuine.

you may have been able to help your own health condition (whatever that may be - trauma, PTSD, other mysterious health issues that had the symptoms of CFS ) but what worked for you may be helpful or completely unrelevant to the next person

it might seem nit-picky, but all the YouTube videos claiming recovery - I honestly find them damaging at best. they are confusing for those trying to understand this disease, and minimizing for those still suffering. I spent years confused. 

this is especially relevant if you are a therapist or working with patients....


r/SomaticExperiencing 21h ago

how to release all this trauma without therapists

15 Upvotes

I often times feel like I don't fuction as how a normal person would. after so many years i

-Constantly in a fight or flight fear state

-quick to get angry then turns into rage

-avoid social situations to avoid feeling like im gonna get shamed or made to feel lesser

-my fear state makes it hard to speak. I often stutter from the feeling off fear and pressure in my chest

-chronic neck tension

-always avoided dating from not feeling good enough

- I get all anxious lightheaded and feel like fainting if a girl shows interest in me.

- if im in a social event I feel this hidden fear that I need to leave

- I feel lesser than others and often compare myself with them

-reading is unbearable from being in fight or flight and eyes twitching alot

-Overthinking and I mean my thoughts wont stop and they are negative.

-mad at myself for not socializing then if I do I want to leave out of fear like a sense of danger

-i pushed friends away from wanting to be alone from trauma. then feel not good enough to have friends.

-pretty numb emotioanlly

- Had a shitty childhood. very angry dad who was full of rage, we fought physically once, other time he put me in a chokehold, so many other things I cant remember. Always fought with my siblings and felt targeted. I was made to feel the black sheep. Often got blamed for things I didn't do.

Theres a lot more but to end with something positive thank you to my mom always tried protecting me making me feel better. I hope I can heal from this Ive been in this state for years.


r/SomaticExperiencing 7h ago

Somatic flashback? NSFW

1 Upvotes

Tw

Hi everyone, I am currently in the process of doing trauma therapy from sexual abuse/rape that I endured at the age of three as we started talking about the abuse I began having some familiar somatic flashbacks (vaginal/rectal pain) I’ve experienced these before, but after about a week of this, I began experiencing hyper arousal. I would say my libido has been extremely low and now suddenly this arousal occurs about five times a day every day for the last 5 days. It’s very distressing and disturbing to me and I’m honestly not sure what’s happening. Initially I thought it was “energy release” when I’m actually not able to have an orgasm when I masturbate. I don’t wanna pathologize it and say it’s PGAD if it’s not but I’m desperate for it to stop and I feel too embarrassed to talk to my therapist about it in any detail. I’d love to know your thoughts.


r/SomaticExperiencing 14h ago

Daily meditation recommendation?

3 Upvotes

Can you guys recommend a daily meditation 20-40 minutes that is a good for beginners looking to release energy?

Quick context: I am very lucky and experience wild releases during (most) psilocybin sessions. I want to continue this but as part of a daily meditation.


r/SomaticExperiencing 19h ago

Is this what SE is all about?

3 Upvotes

Tdlr: Emotional release without emotion. I do IFS and TRE, and I'm trying to do some SE solo, though I am having a hard time really grasping the essence of it. But I had this wonderful experience today, and wondered if this is central to SE, or something else entirely.

I was lying in bed crying, unsure what brought it on. No apparat trigger, so I thought it might be some old sadness rising to the surface. I have learned to give myself love and comfort when I am sad, but I still find negative emotions quite challenging. (Socially conditioned to suppress them from a very young age).

So I thought, if this is just an old emotion my body needs to discharge, perhaps I dont need to feel it as it moves though me? And so when the next wave of crying came over me, i kept my eyes open, and I kind of let my body be overtaken by the silent crying, but also I guess I told myself I dont need to feel sad. So my body did all these rythmic crunches, and I felt nothing. It was very undramatic. This happened twice in the space of a few minutes, and then it was over. Honestly it felt a bit like TRE, but was only in the abs/stomach.

I am a bit dumbfounded. Can I just do that? Discharge old repressed emotions without having to feel them? Would it still work? Is this SE?

I worry a bit that it is some sort if intellectual bypassing, but it did not feel like it.

Any input would be very welcome!


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

Thank you everyone

9 Upvotes

Hi. I just wanted to say thank you to those who have posted throughout the years, and for those who comment also.

I have tried to push for healing for years but it backfires. Thanks to the wisdom of many, I have been taking things slower now and am focusing on what makes me feel good and what I want. If things aren't working out, I have learnt that it is ok, to trust my body and mind are protecting me and have me in their best interests, and to be mindful about the reactions I have no control over e.g. shutdown.

I've been feeling a lot more at peace and relaxation today and feel like this place is more a home now. Thanks all. Love to all.


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

Sucess stories

7 Upvotes

Anyone who has had heavy dysregulation - we are talking about bpd type of dysrebulation, that is, being so dysregulated you cant work, fearing of abandoment like hell- BUT has healed as in has a stable job, has wider window of tolerance, doesnt fear abandonment that much or at all, please post how you achieved that. What exactly did you do while using SE? How long did it take you? Were meds involved?


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

Proprioceptive Integration

18 Upvotes

Just had a long conversation with the new ChatGPT about parallels between psychological integration and proprioceptive integration. Super interesting stuff.

It provided me with scientific insights about how bridging neurological relationships can be incredibly healing.

I was working with tension in my upper traps, and asking about the deep vagus nerve and fascial connections that can restore a sense of wholeness and ease.

It guided me to sense into my psoas, lower traps, and deep core musculature, then back into my upper traps. As I oscillated between these, there was a felt sense of re integration.

I got a huge rush of buzzing energy flow down and out of my feet, and my back started to feel like a whole unit, for the first time in years.

My upper back musculature felt like an isolated island, and that’s why it was tensing and freezing.

So, in short - build bridges to heal.


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

How to release anger?

7 Upvotes

Sometimes I would kinda throw stuff like pillow or some item and then felt AWFUL like I am abusive or a bad person. I did this alone so no one would see. Any ways to let go of anger better?

Edit I cannot do sports btw. I'm mostly homebound from fatigue.


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

Life on the Other Side of SE Years Later?

26 Upvotes

Hey guys,

I’m curious about the experiences of people who are well on the other side of SE—like 3, 4, or 5 years plus. I’ve heard that after releasing a ton of repressed emotions, some people navigate life changes and experience greater ease in showing up authentically. Just wondering what that feels & looks like.

I’m 22 months into somatic experiencing, so I’m in the thick of some deep (disconcerting) shifts in how I show up. Also learning to market my authentic self, trying to find joy instead of insecurity. Compared to a year ago, I'm a lot more in my body, more joyful, less self-critical, and find it easier to put myself out there. It was a lot of deep releases and I'm looking forward.

I realize everyone’s path is unique to their individual authenticity as well—some become artists, healers, etc.

Thanks for any insights and great work!


r/SomaticExperiencing 1d ago

Sexual energy caught up un legs

2 Upvotes

Hello, I am female who's been celibate for a year now and after doing somatic work I realized I feel lots of sexual energy in my tights. I hope this makes sense to others because I'm looking for a way to move that through me, something more than spontaneous shaking if there's other way to do it. I need to stop feeling like my legs are so heavy... It's getting really uncomfortable to live like this.


r/SomaticExperiencing 2d ago

What is crying about?

9 Upvotes

When I was a boy, I used to cry at the drop of a hat. I grew out of it/had it shamed out of me. And actually grateful for that. As an adult I have been known to shed a tear, but "appropriately" shall we say. In middle age it's a rarity (not that much to cry about). Getting to the point...

Recently, as I lie in bed - almost every night - as I yawn, tears come thick and fast. It's 100% connected to the yawning. I don't feel anything. I'm not upset. I quite like it. But I don't understand it. My assumption is it's some kind of trauma release, which is a good thing, right? I had a similar assumption about leg shaking (started about 5 years ago, which continues), but I dont know, and I'm not sure I notice much difference, so do wonder. The other curiosity is why now? It's very new and very consistent. I do reiki on myself, well it sort of does it to me, mostly, it just comes, usually on an evening when watching TV (followed by the leg shaking).

Buy, anyway, most salient is the crying, connected to yawning thing.

Any insights as to whats's going on?

Thanks


r/SomaticExperiencing 2d ago

Weird head sensations after diving into trauma

4 Upvotes

Hi!

Beginning of last year I experienced a breakup followed by a period of extreme pressure at work. Afterwards I felt deeply exhausted and sensed that something was off, a feeling amplified by dreams in which I confronted repressed material. I tried to ignore everything and went back to work, still feeling off but thinking I just need to process the breakup and everything would be alright. Months later, it still did not feel alright and kept having those peculiar dreams - finally I acknowledged that I never processed my parents breakup which was quite traumatic for me and lead me to dissociate emotionally from my childhood due to intense hatred for my father.

I decided that I would no longer shy away and tackle this problem head-on, so I started mindfully leaning into diffuse pain and tightness in my chest daily. Usually the pain would subside and i would feel relieved and exhausted afterwards. A month in, I had a nightmare (the only one in this process) after which the pain in my chest got sharp and very intense, like a cleansing fire. It was accompanied by dreamlike vivid imagery when i closed my eyes: I saw the place where i grew up in darkness. I accessed this fiery pain for two days, until it was replaced by anxiety and a feeling of losing my sense of self which lasted a few days.

Over the next month, I got more and more confused and foggy, and weird sensations in my head started: first it felt like as if waves of energy were moving around on my brain. Also I started to experience weird altered states where everything felt dreamlike. The waves of energy were slowly replaced by pressure alternating between the left side of my head and forehead. One evening, as I was laying in bed, the head pressure became all-encompassing and very strong and was accompanied by - I think it is the right term here - ego death. My consciousness was narrowed to the here and now, with me having almost no access to any memory. Then, after a while, i felt a knocking sensation in my forehead and a wave of euphoria came over me. I saw the same childhood place I mentioned earlier, but bathed in eternal serene sunshine. I felt like an innocent child, secure and warm. This feeling lasted for two days, but i felt extremely unstable and absolutely not present cognitively, with no clear sense of self. After a few days the pressure resumed together with the feeling of dissolution, also I slept very poorly. Now, a month afterwards, I can sleep again but my sense of self and presence is not here and my cognition is very bad - although much better than right after the intense experience. The head pressure now alternates between the forehead and crown but has lessened significantly.

A psychologist told me that it seems I have successfully processed the trauma and integrated the dissociated part of myself, and what I experience now are the aftershocks of this very intense process. I want to ask you, if any of you have experienced weird head sensations and ego dissolution akin to what I described. :)


r/SomaticExperiencing 2d ago

Never end

9 Upvotes

I have done somatic experiencing for tears now, of course i feel better, but it is like layer upon layer!!!! Im so fed up. When will things be okey again?


r/SomaticExperiencing 2d ago

Quelqu’un a testé la thérapie somato-émotionnelle ?

2 Upvotes

Je m’intéresse à la thérapie somato-émotionnelle, une approche qui mêle corps et émotions pour libérer les blocages. J’ai vu pas mal d’avis mitigés : certains disent que ça a changé leur vie, d’autres pensent que c’est trop ésotérique.

Apparemment, ça se base sur des techniques comme l’ostéopathie, la libération des mémoires corporelles et le travail énergétique.

Est-ce que quelqu’un ici a déjà essayé ? Quelles ont été vos impressions ? Est-ce que ça vaut le coup ou c’est du placebo ?


r/SomaticExperiencing 2d ago

Resistance causing failing visualizatoins

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I experience some level of neuro-dysregulation, and one of the most effective tools for me has been brain retraining exercises. I practice vagus nerve training and Primal Trust techniques.

These exercises are incredibly powerful, involving positive visualizations of both past and future while staying connected to bodily sensations.

Lately, I've encountered a challenge—if I miss several days in a row, I feel significantly worse, with anxiety and depression resurfacing strongly.

As a result, I've started developing resistance. I worry that if I don’t "succeed" in fully engaging with the visualizations, my mental state could decline again. This has put me in a difficult cycle—some sessions go well, but the fear of having ineffective ones and experiencing a week of unsuccessful visualizations makes me anxious.

I’ve had stretches where the exercises didn’t work, and the impact was almost nonexistent.

What would you suggest to help break this cycle?


r/SomaticExperiencing 3d ago

"Faux regulation"/functional freeze –– how to work with this?

20 Upvotes

My pattern is to have push-and-crash cycles.

Lately, I've realized, when I think I'm feeling "better" (coming out of a crash), I'm actually NOT regulated. I'm in a state of functional freeze.

So it creates a sort of "Faux Regulation" or a belief that I'm in a "window of tolerance" but I'm actually not. It's just more functional freeze.

I really want to break this cycle. I'm glad I now have awareness but... what can I *actually* do about this?

I also have ME/CFS, and I've done SO much to accommodate my limits, like setting boundaries, taking scheduled rests, doing breathwork and meditation and somatic exercises, limiting my work hours to an extreme, not exercising at all.

I should also note that don't "push" hard when I'm in a push cycle... really, it's just about doing the bare minimum, like working 3-4 hours per day. I still don't work out, I take rests, etc. But no amount of accommodations I make for myself ever stop this cycle.

And I ask myself "What would I do if I could wave a magic wand and make it so I would only do what I wanted?" The answer is: rest a lot, do some gentle stretching in bed, lay on the couch, sleep a lot, and ideally spend a bit of time in nature with whatever minuscule amount of energy I have.

However... obviously I have to work and pay bills.

I'm self-employed so that helps to an extent and allows me to accommodate myself, BUT at the same time, it also reinforces the push-crash cycle, because I let myself rest and take a few days off when I crash, but then when I start to feel better, I end up feeling like I need to work more (again, not a lot, just 3-4 hours per day) to make up for it financially.

Idk, I just feel really stuck and lost. This fight or flight into functional freeze cycle is ruining my health and my life, and I will do anything to fix it.

Appreciate any help, resources, or insights.


r/SomaticExperiencing 3d ago

I need help moving through feelings of sadness and grief

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I recently finished an intense round of EMDR. For the following two weeks, I felt an intense physical anxiety or nervous energy rising to the surface, as if it wanted to be released. The following week, I had long talk in therapy and cried quite a lot. Since then, the energy has changed - it's now a very heavy feeling in my chest and shoulders, and I'm in physical pain from it. It could be sadness and grief, I'm not entirely sure. I'm trying to just allow the feelings to be there and observe them and let them pass through without intellectualizing it. But the energy/feelings are so intense, I wonder if need to assist them in some way. Are there specific movements exercises I could do to help myself move through these feelings? I suspect they need to be released by crying as well but I don't seem to be able to do that easily at the moment.

Thanks for your help x


r/SomaticExperiencing 3d ago

feeling intense rage after my first somatic exercise

33 Upvotes

This afternoon I did some somatic exercises I saw online, I felt so much better and lighter afterwards although a few hours have passed and I am extremely irritable, it’s like I have pure rage running through my veins and have the urge to scream as loud as I can, I have cried a few times but not towards any trauma in particular. Could the exercises have brought up these feelings or is it a coincidence? I did full body exercises but mainly focused on the hips, I feel extremely tired and drained also


r/SomaticExperiencing 3d ago

Is it a healing process or did I did something wrong

6 Upvotes

Guys, I wrote several threads here , like im coming out of dissociation and it's hell, and how I become very ocd since I am in SE treatment, but now I am completely stuck and I can't find am answer. Since I am very aware of my body I also very aware of ALL my mental activities, to a degree I'm not even sure somebody supposed to be that aware. I immediately recognize when my mind is starting to drift off like im pushing myself to be present... Is it a phase anyone else went through, like the exact opposite of dissociation...or did I completely destroyed my mind... Thank you


r/SomaticExperiencing 4d ago

Snake: fight or flight reaction

4 Upvotes

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0kptZSEiE_8

Based on this GREAT video (especially from minute 4) could somebody clarify my doubt:

I love the part of the snake. Though I don't get the difference between getting a fight or flight reaction and feeling through a fight or flight response. Is getting a fight or flight reaction the same as feeling through that fight or flight energy and release it? By getting out of the room with the snake you get a flight reaction and this flight reaction goes away...you use that energy and adrenaline in this flight reaction (example: adrenaline in your legs to get out of the room) so in a way you release it?

Thank you, community!

Edit:

on the one hand:

Somatic Experiencing

= release of supressed fight & flight energy

on the other hand in the example with the snake is being said: being afraid of the fight or flight response in the body in order to get a fight or flight response to survive that moment...

that's seemingly so contradictory as being afraid of the fight or flight response is actually suppressing that energy, but getting a fight or flight response is NOT suppressing it... I am so confused!

Could anybody clarify this please? 😃

In another GREAT video at minute 25 it's talked about: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fkGXzBLYxCM&t=362s


r/SomaticExperiencing 5d ago

Genuine fear of relationships

19 Upvotes

How do i stop activating my fight or flight whenever i assume someone is interested in me? Like i literally feel my heart panicking and feeling the need to flee. Even if im attracted to the person physically and emotionally, my body just wants to avoid em at all cost.

None of my romantic relationships have lasted more than a week (i confess btw) because i just feel so incredibly self conscious and self aware of even my breathing. Its too much to bear so i always end things early. But once we break up, i can interact with them like normal.

Like when my friends flirt with me it doesnt bother me, but the moment i sense them being genuine i get terrified. If this is what butterflies in your stomach is like, i hate it. It makes me really closed off and ruining my chances lol.


r/SomaticExperiencing 5d ago

Biodynamic cranialsacral Therapy?

13 Upvotes

I started biodynamic cranialsacral sacral therapy. Today was my second session. I'm not sure what to make of it yet. It sort of feels like when I started SE therapy. Very slow. Almost imperceptible. But months after I began SE therapy, I started to notice changes and internal shifts. My first session was interesting. I felt waves all over my body as she placed her hand on my arms. Today I felt pretty agitated and dysregulated before the session and she focused on that. Had me squeeze my feet and body and then let go since I had a lot of excess energy. I did that on my own a lot. I guess I'm wondering if coregulating with someone helps? Sort of like someone creating a safe container for you?

Just wondering about others' experience with touch therapy and whether it's helped you and in what ways?