Armoring - How Trauma Gets Embodied as Tension, Chronic Pain, Jumpiness or Emotional Walls
Therapy in a Nutshell
Where Armoring Shows Up in the Body
Emma outlines common physical signs of armoring such as tight jaw, shoulders, shallow breathing, and chronic pain.
When we understand how trauma shows up in the body, armoring is an important aspect. It includes muscle tension, chronic pain, and constant hypervigilance.
Learn the skills to regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership FREE Grounding Skills course: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd
Resolving Armor with Gabriel Posner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1P82CQ0gxI&list=TLPQMDUwNTIwMjXkG4fwe3LOQA&index=3
McConkie Embodiment Meditation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgPsB2ukjc
Armoring is the physical and emotional tension developed by trauma survivors as a protective mechanism. Drawing on insights from somatic therapist Wilhelm Reich and figures like ultra-athlete David Goggins and author Pete Walker, the video explains how chronic hypervigilance can lead to persistent tension, chronic pain, and emotional walls. It's a common problem for people with PTSD, CPTSD, and childhood trauma.
Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell
Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com
Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell
Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com
Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books
Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe
If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
The AI-powered Podcast Player
