Page 215 - Total War on PTSD

and without several pillows behind him; sitting unsupported provoked waves of anxiety. When standing, he often felt like he was falling. Over a series of lessons, we explored the relationship between his pelvis or hip area, his spine and his head. The pelvis, situated in the center of the body, is the base of support for the spine and a mobile pelvis can help improve head and spine alignment. His pelvis was rigidly tilted back so he was sitting on his tailbone, giving his spine no support. His upper spine and neck were also rigid but pushed too far forward leaving the hyper-mobile lower back to take the brunt of holding him up. It was not until he could soften his chest and begin to roll his pelvis forward and back that he was able to find support and relief.
When hypersensitivities develop to stimuli such as sound, light or touch, the system needs to receive messages that will calm it. A young woman’s hyperactive nerve reflexes caused her to become dizzy and nauseated and she sometimes lost her balance. Over four Feldenkrais sessions, we did minimal movements of touching the face. I also taught her to move her hands in a soft wavelike way, similar to the movement very young infants do with their hands. These movements tuned down the activity in her brain and allowed her to relax. She felt more grounded and more connected in her body. She was able to successfully navigate a potentially overwhelming family visit. She was less scared because she could feel when her system was becoming irritated. “It feels good to feel myself,” she said.
Conclusion
Most Veterans ascribe to the philosophy of “no pain, no gain” and to the idea that you have to keep pushing through no matter the cost. While these concepts might get the mission done or save a life in combat, they are not useful for learning. By slowing down, doing less and focusing on the process and the experience rather than the end
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