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Breaking Free: How Somatic Breathwork Unlocks Healing from Destructive Patterns

In the journey of life, many of us find ourselves caught in cycles of behavior that hinder our growth and happiness. These "destructive patterns" often manifest as toxic relationships, struggles with addiction, chronic anxiety, or even self-sabotage. But what if these patterns aren't random, but rather echoes of unaddressed stress and trauma stored deep within us? At SomaYama® BREATH, we, Norm and Toni Poulsen, a husband-and-wife team, discovered firsthand the profound power of Somatic Breathwork to break these cycles and facilitate true healing.


The Roots of Destructive Patterns: Unresolved Trauma

Destructive patterns frequently stem from unresolved trauma—experiences that overwhelm our capacity to cope and become "stuck" in our bodies and minds. This isn't limited to major traumatic events; everyday stressors and difficult experiences can also contribute. When trauma is unaddressed, our nervous system can remain in a state of heightened alert (fight, flight, or freeze), leading to a range of symptoms and behaviors that become our coping mechanisms, even if they are ultimately harmful (van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.).


Common Manifestations of Unresolved Trauma:

·       Dysfunctional Relationships: Unresolved trauma can lead to patterns of mistrust, fear of intimacy, or even subconsciously recreating familiar harmful dynamics. Individuals may struggle with boundary setting, communication, or find themselves in repetitive cycles of relationship distress (Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic Books.).


·       Addiction: Whether to substances, behaviors like gambling, or even overworking, addiction often serves as a temporary escape from overwhelming emotions and painful memories. It's a way to numb feelings too unbearable to face, providing a false sense of control in the face of internal chaos (Brady, K. T., & Sinha, R. (2005). Co-occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorders: A Review of Current Research. Clinical Psychology Review, 25(4), 412-438.).


·       Chronic Anxiety & Depression: Persistent feelings of worry, sadness, or worthlessness, often without a clear trigger, can be indicators of a dysregulated nervous system struggling with the lingering effects of past trauma (American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.).


·       Self-Sabotage: This can appear as procrastination, self-harm, reckless behavior, or disordered eating. These actions, however illogical they seem, can be desperate attempts to cope with deep-seated pain, express inexpressible emotions, or gain a sense of control over internal states (Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Guilford Press.).


Somatic Breathwork: A Path to Alleviation and Healing

Somatic Breathwork is a powerful therapeutic practice that guides you through intentional breathing exercises to bridge the connection between your mind, body, and emotions. It operates on the principle that the body holds onto stress, trauma, and negative emotions, which can manifest as physical tension or discomfort. By consciously controlling your breath, you can access and release these stored experiences, promoting profound emotional healing (Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.).


How Somatic Breathwork Helps:

1.      Regulating the Nervous System: Somatic Breathwork techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing or exhale-focused sighing, activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the "rest and digest" mode—which promotes calmness and reduces stress responses. This helps regulate a nervous system stuck in survival mode due to trauma (Ma, X., Yue, Z. Q., Gong, Z. Q., Zhang, H., Daimiel, P. S., & Luo, H. L. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 874.).


2.     Releasing Stored Emotions and Tension: Through conscious, connected breathing, you can access and release emotions and physical tension held in the body. This process allows for emotional breakthroughs, helping to unblock feelings and memories that have been subconsciously suppressed for years, facilitating a somatic release of trauma (Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. W. W. Norton & Company.).


3.     Cultivating Mindfulness and Presence: By focusing on your breath and bodily sensations, you develop a heightened awareness of your emotional states and learn to process them in a healthy way. This increased presence makes it easier to navigate challenges without resorting to old coping mechanisms (Goleman, D., & Davidson, R. J. (2017). Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Transforms Your Mind, Brain, and Body. Avery.).


4.    Creating New Coping Mechanisms: Somatic Breathwork provides a powerful, natural alternative to destructive behaviors. Instead of numbing emotions, you learn to find inner calm, release tension, and even experience natural feelings of well-being, fostering lasting change in your daily routine (Brown, R. P., & Gerbarg, P. L. (2009). Yoga and Breathwork for Psychiatric Disorders. Psychiatric Annals, 39(2), 118-129.).


The Scientific Backing:

Research supports the efficacy of breathwork in improving mental health. A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials found that breathwork was associated with significantly lower levels of self-reported stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (Zou, M., Wang, Y., Cui, M., & Yin, C. (2023). Effects of Breathing Interventions on Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 321, 446-455.). Studies indicate that conscious breathing can positively affect physiological markers related to stress and inflammation, and can enhance mental clarity and cognitive function (Perciavalle, V., Blandini, M., Fecarotta, P., Ferrara, M., Martella, G., Musumeci, G., ... & Fichera, G. (2017). The role of deep breathing on stress. Neurological Sciences, 38(3), 451-458.).


Our Story, Your Journey

Our own paths of self-discovery intertwined as we were both searching for tools for deeper transformation. It was along this quest that we discovered the profound power of Somatic Breathwork, and it changed everything for us. We experienced so many breakthroughs and healed traumas that we knew we had to share it. That's why we created SomaYama® BREATH – to help others find the same peace & healing, and help them unlock the potential we've found within ourselves. We offer 1-on-1 or Group Sessions (In-person or Online) and custom packages. We are Certified Practitioners and Teachers of the SomaYama® Trauma Informed Somatic Breathwork method.


If you're ready to break free from destructive patterns and embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery, explore the transformative potential of Somatic Breathwork.

Visit us at SomaYamaBREATH.com to learn more and begin your path to unlocking the potential within yourself.



 
 
 

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