Processing Trauma Through Bodily Memory, Emotions, And Sensations
Trauma is a deeply personal experience that can be difficult to process alone. For many people, it is important to explore their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences through writing or artwork. But what about those who don't have access to these creative outlets? How do they deal with their traumas? One way is by using bodily memory, affective experience, and sensory perception. In this blog post, I will discuss how each of these can help someone reclaim queer subjectivity after experiencing trauma.
Bodily memory refers to remembering events that happened to you physically. It includes things like being touched inappropriately, feeling pain, or having your body restrained against your will. These memories are often stored in the brain as sensations rather than words. They may be triggered when something similar happens again later in life, causing anxiety or fear. When working with clients, I ask them to describe their bodily memories of the event. This helps them get in touch with the physicality of what happened so they can begin processing it emotionally.
Affective experience is another way to work through trauma. This involves recognizing and accepting emotional responses to an event. People may feel anger, sadness, or shame when talking about their trauma. By acknowledging these feelings, they can start to move through them instead of avoiding them. Many people find journaling helpful for this purpose. They write down their thoughts and feelings until they feel lighter and more open. Others may choose to talk to a therapist or trusted friend to process their emotions safely.
Sensory perception plays an important role in healing from trauma. Trauma often leaves a person feeling numb or disconnected from their body. Through mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing or grounding techniques, individuals can learn to reconnect with their bodies and emotions. Sensory experiences like touch, smell, taste, sight, sound, and movement help someone become aware of themselves again.
If someone has been sexually assaulted, they might use guided meditation to focus on a positive memory involving those senses. As they connect with their body once more, they regain control over their own sexuality and identity.
What role does bodily memory, affective experience, and sensory perception play in processing trauma and reclaiming queer subjectivity?
Traumatic experiences can have a profound impact on one's body, mind, and emotions. When an individual undergoes trauma, they may experience physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension that persist long after the event has passed. This physical response is known as "bodily memory," which refers to the way our bodies store memories of past events and respond to them in the present.