One recent morning, I was walking with a friend at Steinke Basin. We were so engrossed in our conversation I lost track of my surroundings.
A rock jutting up from the trail tripped me, and I began to fall in slow motion. At first I thought I would regain my balance, but I did not and ended up face first on the hard dirt path.
My friend offered to help me up, but I laid there for a few minutes before moving. I assessed the situation and scanned my body for any signs of obvious injury. Nothing was broken, nothing was sprained. I had some road rash on the palm of my right hand, but no serious injuries. I reassured myself I was okay and took several deep breaths to let go of excess energy and recalibrate.
My friend (who fortunately had a well-regulated nervous system that morning) was a comforting presence. She was nearby, and I knew that if it had been serious, she would have called for help and stayed with me.
Eventually, I slowly got up.
Once I was standing, I became aware of some residual shakiness from the fall and from the stress hormones that had flooded my body. I knew from my training in trauma work that shaking helps the body release traumatic energy, so I made no attempt to curtail it. I allowed my body to tremor and when that subsided, I even purposely gently shook my limbs a couple of times to release any residual fear and adrenalin from the experience. I took a few tentative steps, and we resumed our walk.
When we got back to the parking lot, I placed an emergency call to my chiropractor. (Thank you, Dr. Michael!) I knew it was important for my wellbeing to get in for an adjustment as soon as possible, especially since I was teaching a class starting the next day. If I didn’t make room in my morning for self-care, I would stiffen up over the next two days and regret my decision.
The chiropractor worked on me for thirty minutes. My whole system had been knocked out of alignment, and I was grateful for the time he spent making sure I was back in balance.
My training in trauma work taught me these steps for energetic first aid:
* Take a moment to catch your breath and tend to yourself before getting up. The urge to jump up immediately after a fall or other traumatic event can subvert the natural healing process.
* Allow others to comfort you, particularly those with well regulated nervous systems who feel safe.
* Be present with your body. Notice what you’re experiencing. If you observe tremors or shaking, allow your body to continue. This helps dispel excess energy.
* Be present with any feelings that arise. Allow any tears to flow.
* Reach out for help in the healing process. Use your resources to take care of yourself.
I love hiking, and I did not want to carry any lingering trauma from the fall. I knew I was successful at energetically processing the event because I have not experienced flashbacks. I don’t get triggered when I reach that spot on the trail or when I see a stone sticking up in the path. I’ve even asked my friend to go for another walk in the same location.
Click here for a downloadable and printable PDF with more information about crisis stabilization and safety from Somatic Experiencing International:
https://traumahealing.org/scope/
This work is real, and it matters.
October 11, 2021