Maintaining a positive outlook is crucial for dealing with the emotional and physical effects of chronic illnesses; however, it can often be a struggle. Somatic therapies, which focus on the connection between the body and mind, can aid in fostering emotional strength and promoting natural healing processes.
According to Britt Piper, a trauma-informed therapist and author of Body-First Healing: Get Unstuck and Recover from Trauma with Somatic Healing (Avery, 2025), the goal of somatic therapy is not merely symptom management, but rather to help individuals expand their ability to handle moments of emotional activation without feeling inundated.
Piper stresses that “we are not broken or flawed, nor do we require fixing.” She believes this shift in mindset can lead to significant healing and personal development as we allow recovery to occur organically.
Trapped in survival mode
The autonomic nervous system effectively protects us using instincts like fight, flight, freeze, or fainting. However, situations of trauma—defined by Piper as any experience that exceeds the nervous system’s ability to cope—can cause the nervous system to become stuck in survival mode.
This trauma may stem from various sources such as childhood abuse, neglect, automobile accidents, infidelity, chronic illnesses, or any other traumatic experience.
If left unaddressed, trauma can result in exaggerated reactions to events. For example, one might tense up when a close friend raises their voice or feel anxious if a partner forgets to check in. In these cases, the nervous system is appropriately reacting, but it misinterprets signals as threats based on prior trauma.
Healing through trauma release
Piper guides clients in healing from trauma and stress-induced disorders by encouraging them to look inward for answers, trusting that their bodies are inherently capable of self-healing rather than seeking external quick fixes.
She explains, “We first focus on discharging their nervous system activation patterns to foster a sense of regulation within the body, before introducing new, healthier patterns.”
This process may take time but proves to be effective. Studies have shown favorable outcomes with Somatic Experiencing in treating patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and even benefiting toddlers recovering from surgery.
Piper describes their work as addressing “the peripheral areas of the trauma vortex,” tackling less intense trauma before addressing deeper, more engrained experiences. “Over time, you gradually work your way towards the center of the vortex,” she explains.
Your state influences your narrative
In her practice, Piper also emphasizes regulating the nervous system, often targeting the vagus nerve, which connects various essential organs to the brain.
Given that eighty percent of the vagus nerve’s communication is from the body to the brain, Piper asserts, “It’s impossible to solely think your way into happiness or to will yourself out of anxiety or depression. You also need to physically ‘feel’ your way through it.”
The state of your autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in shaping your mental narrative. Under sympathetic conditions, thoughts may skew toward anger or fear, while immobilized states result in feelings of helplessness, marked by thoughts like “I can’t.”
“Transitioning to a more ‘ventral state’—characterized by safety and connection— POSITIVELY reflects in our thought processes,” she notes.
Maintaining an optimistic outlook can be difficult, often exacerbated by the brain’s inclination to focus on the negative as a survival mechanism. This tendency causes one to dwell on unpleasant events rather than pleasant ones or to remember when attention lapses occur in relationships.
Negative thoughts can be particularly disruptive at night. One helpful technique is cognitive shuffling, where you envision random, pleasant scenarios—like playing with a dog or enjoying a sunset. Research suggests this approach can enhance sleep quality.
Nurturing connections
Body-centered therapies can significantly enhance your relationships with both yourself and others. Piper notes, “Healing through a somatic perspective aids in rediscovering your true self, the person you were intended to be before trauma dictated your identity.”
This healing may manifest as developing healthier boundaries, mending relationships after conflicts, or deepening emotional connections, according to Piper.
While she appreciates the growing interest in nervous system regulation, she emphasizes that this journey is about more than just maintaining calm. It involves embracing discomfort, welcoming those emotions, and allowing oneself to feel upset or sad as part of the process.
“By doing this, we can process discomfort more swiftly,” Piper explains. “Our lifelong challenge is learning how to engage with our natural responses as they manifest within the body.”
This article originally appeared in the October 2025 edition of Intomodel magazine.
