Each day I focus on healing and releasing trauma. I use a combination of methods: herbalism, somatic practices, and mindfulness techniques. I have found yoga and exercise are very helpful for me. I start each day with a meditation. I use the app Insight Timer. I highly recommend it. It is free and helps you to effortlessly track your meditation practice. After I mediation I sometimes do a tapping session. EFT or tapping is a way to use the bodies meridians to release patterns that no longer serve you. This form of self-therapy is great for people who disassociate or don't feel connected to their bodies. After these sessions I like to do a 30 minute workout on my Strider (Gazelle) exercise machine. If I am up for it I will follow this with a yoga session. I really prefer to do yoga with a teacher or in a group. The social aspect is incredibly healing for me. If I cannot make it to the studio I use the app Down Dog. It is great for its ability to be customized. I can choose the length and focus for my yoga practice. 

Meditation in a garden is a wonderful way to enhance the experience.
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Photo of Ananda Farms in Washington 

I am taking a few herbs right now: St. Johns Wort (tincture), nettle (infusions), and a blend of adaptogens to stimulate my adrenals. I live in the pacific northwest and I have been feeling depressed this season. The SJW has been very effective at helping me to "see the sunshine". If you are interested in herbs you should consult an herbalist before starting any routines. I am working with a naturopath to track my progress. 

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Picture of Saint Johns Wort that I harvested and made into a medicinal oil. 

Being a person who has suffered from the effects a trauma can be a full time job. There are many days when I struggle to leave the house or show up fully. I am working on this! I am loving myself through this process because I know it is a process and I will heal. I feel so much connection to the following quote. 

“Bessel Van Der Kolk, in his book  The Body Keeps the Score, states  “Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become expert at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside. They learn to hide from their selves.”
 
I am trying to come out from hiding and share my experiences. I have discovered that healing trauma is most effective when you combine somatic practices and mindfulness. Physically moving through this held tension in my body and gut by incorporating somatic therapies such as yoga, ecstatic dance and trauma release exercises has been a journey and a form of relief. I have held on to so much for so long...it is nice to feel the tension finally leaving my physical body. I have felt the healing effects that these modalities can have on both the body and the mind so I will continue to practice them. I am grateful for each day that I do not have a flashback or "re-live" the traumatic experiences. I have come along way in the last few years. I know I still have more to work on and I am ready. Each day I count my blessings and do the work.