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Reconnecting traumatic memories can be arduous for the Veteran. The extreme vulnerability and helplessness feels terrible yet there is relief in facing what has been driving the anxiety and depression. The Veteran may experience significant and vivid “flashbacks,” flash memories, sensations, smells, and sounds of a traumatic event that can blur present consciousness. They may become disoriented or enter an altered state, as there is a liminal state between the present and the past that can disorient a person. Some Veterans may experience unexplainable body pain as a clue to something buried from the past. Memories are stored in the body and in the cells as well and those become retrievable as the Orgonomist works with the body.
The therapist gives words to trauma as a way to mediate the flood of experience. Resolution necessitates a process of going over and over an incident or experience such as a deadly accident where a family member died. Each time the Veteran tolerates the discussion better without being flooded with fear and anxiety. The details can be discussed repeatedly as the terror is felt until it finally softens its grip. The words ground the emotions until they are bearable. As the Veteran can bear the material, bodywork can offer release of pent-up feelings, allowing discharge of fear, rage, sorrow, and grief.
The therapist and Veteran weave a clearer narrative of what happened and create and define a larger context in which incidents were embedded — a new family narrative, for example, that explains many of the perceived problems so they make sense and can be integrated. Horrible situations take on a newer, healthier perspective, that reassures the Veteran and supports a more resilient attitude and positive frame of reference.
As I stated earlier, it is important for Veterans with these somatic syndromes to keep active, if they are able to, with an exercise routine to thwart their overly protective
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