Sabrina A's Key Ideas from In an Unspoken Voice
by Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.

When faced with danger, the body may enter a fight, flight, or freeze state. If a person freezes and doen’t fully release the energy afterward, trauma can become stuck.

Rather than reliving traumatic events through talk therapy alone, healing involves allowing the body to complete the natural responses that were interrupted.

Levine introduces a therapy called Somatic Experiencing, which focuses on gradually reprocessing trauma by reconnecting with bodily sensations in a safe and controlled way.

Healing happens in cycles, moving between feelings of distress and safety. By slowly revisiting trauma in small doses and returning to calmness, the nervous system can regulate itself.

Rather than confronting trauma head-on in an overwhelming way, small, manageable doses of emotion and sensation should be processed at a time.

Shaking and trembling after a traumatic event is the body’s way of releasing stored energy. Instead of suppressing these reactions, they should be encouraged.

Unlike some traditional approaches that focus on recalling traumatic memories, Levine suggests that focusing on the body’s reactions and gently guiding them toward release can be more effective.