What Is Somatic Writing and How Can It Help You Heal?

Do you ever feel like your body is holding onto stress, painful emotions or past experiences that your mind longs to move on from? That weight on your chest, the recurring back pain, the squeezing in your throat or feeling of being anxious might be your body trying to tell its story.

But let's pause here, because it is. It absolutely is. That is exactly what your body is trying to do.

The question is: how can you listen? How can you help your body tell its story for healing? 

Introducing somatic work.

Somatic work, or somatic therapy, is a body-focused approach to healing that recognizes the continuous feedback loop between our mind and our body. It integrates your mind and body, helping you release stress, trauma and emotions stored in your body by becoming aware of your internal body sensations to calm your nervous system.

A somatic approach to writing to heal.

Somatic Writing is a body-centered writing practice that connects your mind and body by focusing on physical sensations, emotions and memories held within the body.

Highly sensitive women are particularly well-suited to heal through somatic writing.

Jenn Grenneman of Highly Sensitive Refuge articulates really beautifully with one of my favorite quotes on sensitivity: "Highly Sensitive People experience the world differently than others. Due to a biological difference that they're born with, HSPs are more aware of subtleties and process information deeply. They tend to be creative, insightful and empathetic, but they're also more prone to stress and overwhelm." 

Many of us, myself absolutely included, feel safe on a page. We're not misunderstood on the page. Once we get to the point where we're able to write, the world slows down, our internal experience opens up and we can look around. It's like dropping underneath the waterline of our own bodies where everything is quiet.

We can notice how we feel (interoception 😊) and start giving those feelings voice. We can notice where we hurt and what parts of us hurt and start giving them voice – discharging stored stress as we journal. Following the story our body is trying to tell, we can find our map for healing.

Benefits of Somatic Writing:

Somatic Writing Coaching differs from talk therapy and even narrative therapy through its somatic approach – though it does make an excellent compliment to both those therapies. Traditional talk therapy and narrative therapy primarily focus on your mind and your mind's integration of a story, whereas Somatic Writing Coaching helps you to release stored tension and integrate your story through your body.

Somatic Writing Coaching can help you:

• Process and understand your emotions on a deeper level

• Reduce chronic pain, anxiety and stress symptoms

• Regulate your nervous system

• Cultivate self-awareness, self-compassion and a feeling of safety in your body.

Try this safe and accessible Body Writing exercise to begin allowing your body to tell its story:

Body Scan:

Find a quiet moment and tune your attention inward. Allow the outside world and all of its noise, and all of its energy, to get just a little quieter. A little further away. Begin to breathe deeply, with your palm over your heart. Allow yourself to begin noticing how you feel on your inside: do you feel tight? Scared? Activated? Something else? No need to judge this; just allow whatever you're noticing to be there.

Orient to your strongest sensation or emotion:

There will be one. Trust yourself and your body. Try to land on one sensation or emotion you find yourself feeling most aware of, as you breathe with your hand on your heart. As an example, let's say you feel a band of pain across your mid-back.

Give that sensation or emotion a voice:

Set a timer for two minutes and journal as if giving that sensation or emotion the pen. Let it talk to you from the prompt: This is what I want you to know...

What does it want to say? Let anything and everything rising up intuitively in your body be written down. Don't censor yourself, and don't judge whatever wants to come out. Write until you feel empty.

You've just given your body a voice.

After writing and for the next few hours, notice: does the sensation or emotion feel the same? 

And if the answer is no, in what way does it feel different?

If you're ready to start your journey to embodied healing, consider booking an appointment. 

If you are a highly sensitive woman longing to reduce chronic pain, anxiety and stress symptoms and cultivate safety in your body, consider booking a Discovery Call for my 1:1 signature Somatic Writing Coaching. 

I'm not into pressure of any kind and I'd be delighted to speak with you.

Jennifer x