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How To Regulate Your Nervous System For Stress, Anxiety, And Trauma | Peter Levine

May 6, 2024

Peter Levine, the creator of somatic experiencing, discusses how to regulate the nervous system for stress, anxiety, and trauma. Topics include somatic experiencing practices, differences from talk therapy, overcoming fears of re-occupying the body, research supporting body awareness, and enriching lives by moving through ancient wounds. The episode also touches on facing mortality and fortifying ourselves in times of difficulty.

01:07:49

Creator website

Episode guests

Peter Levine

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Quick takeaways

Somatic Experiencing helps regulate the nervous system and heal trauma through connecting with bodily sensations.

Engaging in somatic experiencing practices can enrich lives by addressing ancient wounds and everyday challenges.

Somatic Experiencing involves gentle approaches to trauma through titration, fostering inner peace and contributing to societal healing.

Deep dives

Understanding Somatic Experiencing Therapy

Somatic Experiencing (S.E.) is a therapeutic approach created by Peter A. Levine, designed to regulate the nervous system to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and trauma. It involves learning how to connect with bodily sensations to unlock and release trauma stored in the body. By focusing on regulation through somatic experiences, individuals can address deep-seated issues and improve mental and physical well-being.

Unlocking Trauma Through Bodily Sensations

01:14

Embracing Life Fully

01:25

Breathing Exercise for Managing Panic Attacks

02:51

Healing through Sharing Personal Stories

01:35

Introduction

5min

Healing Trauma Through Somatic Experiencing Techniques

20min

Healing Trauma Through Body Awareness and Connection

3min

Unlocking Trauma Through Body Connection

4min

Healing Trauma Through Meditation and Somatic Exercises

4min

Healing Through Body Awareness and Dream Exploration

27min

Strengthening Resilience Through Connectedness and Joyful Memories

5min

Reflections on Mortality and Memory

6min

Concluding Thanks, Production Team Acknowledgment, and Advertisements for Exclusive Content and New Podcasts

3min

The creator of somatic experiencing shows Dan how to heal trauma through the body.

Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., has spent the past 50 years developing Somatic Experiencing. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. His work has been taught to over 30,000 therapists in over 42 countries. He is the author of the new book, An Autobiography of Trauma.

Content warning: This episode includes discussions of rape and violence.

In this episode we talk about:

How to do somatic experiencing. You’ll see Dan play the role of guinea pig + make weird sounds
The difference between somatic experiencing and talk therapy
Somatic experiencing practices we can implement into our lives
Why some people feel horror/terror at the thought of re-occupying the body and how to overcome those fears
What the research says – and how these practices around body awareness have gone from the fringes to entering the scientific mainstream
And how to move through ancient wounds – and enrich our lives (whether we have trauma or not)
Practices to fortify us in times of difficulty
Facing mortality

Related Episodes:

Become An Active Operator Of Your Nervous System | Deb Dana

What Science and Buddhism Say About How to Regulate Your Own Nervous System | Deb Dana & Kaira Jewel Lingo

How to Live with the Worst Things That Ever Happened to You | Stephanie Foo

An Ace Therapist Gives Dan A Run For His Money | Dr. Jacob Ham

How to Get Out of Your Head | Willa Blythe Baker

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