02/12/2025
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
We all get triggered, but the intensity of our reaction can often seem far greater than the current situation warrants.
Here is an example: A friend or partner cancels plans at the last minute. Even though they may have a valid reason, you might feel an intense wave of emotions, like the floor opening beneath your feet. Your heart races, your chest tightens, and a sense of dread washes over you. You feel distressed and rejected.
Your mind starts racing: Did they make it up? Maybe they don’t like me. You replay all the conversations in your head, trying to figure out what went wrong.
When life happens, it’s completely understandable to feel disappointed or sad in the moment.
But for some of us, the bodily reaction is much bigger than the situation itself; it may feel overwhelming, intense, or out of proportion, yet it is very real for you.
This is because 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. These memories are stored and recalled below our level of awareness.
These memories hold the imprint of past stressful or emotionally significant events in the forms of bodily sensations, images, patterns of behaviours, and beliefs.
The body detects cues from these past experiences and signals the brain before the rational mind can catch up, triggering strong emotional and physiological responses.
Talking through the current situation is often a helpful first step, but it’s usually not enough to address these triggers.
This is why working with the body is at the heart of my practice; it’s where true change begins.
The body serves as a direct access point to implicit memories.
Through the body, we can explore these patterns, update them with new meaning, and prevent them from hijacking your nervous system.
The body also offers pathways to find relief in the moment through breathing, connection, movement etc.
This helps you respond with choice rather than react on autopilot.
Take a moment to notice: how is your body showing you what’s still unresolved?
