A Somatic Approach to Chronic Pain
Find the body mind connection
“Throb. Pound. On Fire.”, words describing the physical sensations from chronic pain from many of our clients. It is hard to imagine a generalized approach to the masses will be effective. Symptom control is often the first approach in conventional medicine, but what if that still doesn’t work? It could mean more medications to manage and, in some cases, additional side effects. What if conventional testing is still saying everything is normal? What are we missing? Are we digging deep enough for our migraine sufferers?
Daily persistent and in some cases debilitating sensations are becoming more and more common today. A migraine is a throbbing, unilateral headache often associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia (light sensitivity), or an aura (a transient disturbance of vision or of various aspects of neurological function). More than 10% of Americans (30 million+) suffer from migraines, with the prevalence in women being about 3x that in men. (2) Patients with chronic migraines experience higher rates of comorbidities, including impaired sleep, anxiety and depression, and gastrointestinal disorders, all of which can greatly impact quality of life. (1)
It is a complex problem many times is associated with inflammatory diseases and can often have a myriad of triggers at the core of it which makes it near impossible to generalize solutions for the masses.
Consider Somatic Therapy for Chronic Pain
Our therapists utilize scientifically supported somatic interventions – the research has been done and the results show that these interventions work!
- Body Awareness – In somatic psychotherapy, we’ll help you become more in touch with your body, allowing you to recognize how stress, trauma, or anxiety are manifesting physically. By increasing your body awareness, you can start to release the tension that’s been building up. Then respond to emotional triggers in a healthier way.
- Grounding Techniques – Through mindfulness exercises, we’ll help you slow down, reconnect with your body, and focus on your immediate environment. Grounding techniques help you feel more centered and calm, giving you the tools to manage anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm as they arise.
- Movement – Movement and expression are key parts of somatic therapy, as emotions are often stored in the body and can be released through physical movement. Whether it’s gentle stretching, yoga, or other forms of expressive movement, this expression helps you physically process feelings like stress, anger, or grief, and allows your body a chance to release pent-up tension and restore a sense of balance.
- Breathwork – Through breathwork, you’ll learn how to slow down your breath and engage in deep, mindful breathing that helps relax your body and mind. This practice can be a powerful tool for managing anxiety, stress, and other intense emotions, bringing a sense of calm and control to your core.
Can somatic therapy help if I have chronic pain?
Yes! Chronic pain is often tied to unresolved emotions or stress that’s been stored in the body. Somatic psychotherapy helps you explore the connection between your emotional and physical pain. By increasing your body awareness and practicing techniques to release tension, you may find relief from pain that’s been difficult to manage with other approaches. It’s a gentle way to address both emotional and physical discomfort.
How you will benefit from somatic therapy for migraines:
- You will find yourself having less of a reaction to previously triggering memories and experiences. When the biological components of one’s experience are addressed in addition to the cognitive components, a more thorough processing of memories can take place. Long held muscle tension, established neurological patterns, and automatic emotional and behavioral responses can be transformed into healthier responses.
- You will develop a stronger, more reliable sense of control of and comfort in your body. By more deeply incorporating a person’s physiology as part of their treatment for emotional distress, clients can more successfully notice the earliest signs of emotional triggers. This gives clients more awareness of what is happening for them so they have more time to utilize a wide variety of cognitive and behavioral skills to interrupt unpleasant experiences and emotions.
Have You Attempted Migraine Nutrition Changes?
Some nutrients are involved with getting better blood flow throughout the body and to the brain (iron for example).
Here are some other nutrition approaches to migraine reduction:
- Change the foods on the plate to reduce inflammation which can allow the gut brain axis to better communicate.
- Work on meal timing to reduce stress and improve blood sugar control via the plate. Emphasis foods that detox organs like the liver and gallbladder love in an effort up regulate a clearance of toxins.
- Try probiotics, enzymes, or bitters to better utilize our nutrients internally from the food we eat.
Your health could change drastically through nutrition, lifestyle, and somatic therapy approaches. Please reach out to our office for an appointment.
Add’l content by:
David A. Morris, LCSW
Jessica Marshall Regan RDN, LDN, FMN, CLT
- Aurora SK, Brin MF. Chronic migraine: an update on physiology, imaging, and the mechanism of action of two available pharmacologic therapies. Headache. 2017;57(1):109-125. doi:10.1111/head.12999
- Gaby, A. Nutritional Medicine. 2nd Edition., Concord, NH., Fritz Perlberg Publishing, 2017.
