Post Traumatic Growth

“I feel as if I am supported by the earth”.

Published: September 26, 2024

“I feel as if I am supported by the earth”.

This recent statement by a client touched me deeply and is the inspiration for the blog this month. These words may not sound very special, but they were special for this person. Chris (not real name) had come to me in a crisis after losing a long-term relationship. It had happened very unexpectedly and old feelings of abandonment and of vulnerability had re-surfaced. Having until now successfully managed to suppress old feelings related to a childhood trauma, the recent life-events had brought back a lot of painful feelings and memories for the client. He came to me in a state of overwhelm. Looking pale and speaking softly in a monotonous voice I could only admire the courage it must have taken Chris to seek help from a body-therapist.

The feeling of being supported by the earth came as a result of Chris coming back into the body and starting again to trust himself, his feelings and his connection to the world. After getting wounded from the break-up the client had put all processes on hold to try to simply get by and survive. The body was cold to the touch and he was breathing to a minimum. There was work to do!

Through touch and breath-work we started bringing energy back into the tissues. Chris slowly started to connect with his feelings again and started the step by step the process of working through issues related to the split-up as well as old emotions related to getting abandoned as a child.

I noticed from the beginning how Chris’s toes were curled up as if trying to grab hold of something, as if literally trying to find foot-hold. We worked on the feet and toes and he could connect with what this grasping was about. “I realize I have never really felt safe anywhere or with anyone. The break-up brought all these feelings back to me”.

Through feeling safe and at home in his body Chris could allow energy to again flow from his core, through his legs and feet and into the earth. He could stand on his own feet again stand his ground in life. Reconnecting with his own body empowered Chris and he able to relate to people in present time. His traumatic memories were still there, but without the emotional charge. Soon he began picking up his social connections and found the support he needed to keep moving on in his life.

Trauma is a word with a lot of charge and it is usually connected with emotional wounds and personal drama. However, a traumatic event can also be a trigger that improves one’s life by strengthening relationships, bringing out inner strengths and providing a stepping stone for growth. There is post traumatic stress, but more importantly there is post traumatic growth.

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

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