Page 89 - Total War on PTSD

expressed in our demeanor and our reactions. When experiencing trauma of any sort we move into a mode of survival. In this mode, we experience many of the symptoms of PTSD including dissociation, a split in the conscious process in which a group of mental activities breaks away from the mainstream of consciousness and functions as a separate unit, as if belonging to another person (Webster). Over time, the Alexander Technique lessens the impact of the survival mode.
A feeling of safety and a lack of judgment in the Alexander classroom are critical. For this work to be done, the student needs to be able to trust their teacher. Changing the thinking that maintains the posture of fear to a mentality that involves a more fluid whole body movement will allow the release that will result in better self-awareness, better proprioception, more connectivity of body and emotion and a reduction of the dissociative personality experienced with PTSD. Emotions can be felt and your inner calm retained. Positive experiences that are calming, centering, and grounding become more present with time. The body/mind connection is relearned.
The impact of how we posture ourselves and how we move has an indirect effect on our physical and mental health. By becoming aware of our habits and patterns we can make a different choice about how and what we do. While medical research continues to explore this process, those who have learned the Alexander Technique over the last hundred plus years have voiced the benefits they've experienced and the changes they’ve made for the better. With the help of this practice self discovery is unending. “When I take the time to think about what I’ve experienced in class I’m able to walk further and with less pain. I could not have done this before I studied the Alexander
Technique” (Veteran). Your experiences in the classroom are just the beginning. Becoming aware of your tension and posturing, in your everyday life, grants you the opportunity to respond authentically and not automatically? Are you supported by the ground, seeing what’s around you and connecting with your whole body before your move? The ability for you to make change for the better exists and can be learned.
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