Page 75 - Total War on PTSD

minor car accident. He had become preoccupied and unmotivated to do the self-care he usually provided for himself. While practicing sitting in a kayak (in preparation for an upcoming vacation), in a way that required less effort and tension he shared his frustration about the accident. Becoming more comfortable in this position required him to release the tension he was holding onto as a result of this accident. The following week he told me he was less preoccupied and able to return to his healthy regime.
Many of the symptoms occurring with PTSD are addressed indirectly with this work. The plasticity of the brain makes it possible to re-educate the body to prevent overreacting to what are now non-threatening situations and to move with ease and intention. This learned process serves as an antidote to the habit of fear and anxiety 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
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