I started looking into this thing called “CIIS Somatic Psychology” a while back. I’d been feeling off for a while, you know? Stressed, anxious, kind of down in the dumps. I figured it was just life, but it kept getting worse. I tried the usual stuff – talking to friends, going for walks, even tried meditating with one of those apps. Nothing really stuck.
Then, I stumbled upon this idea of somatic therapy. It’s all about how your body and mind are connected. Apparently, our bodies hold onto stress and past experiences, and that can mess with us physically and mentally. I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” It sounded different, and I was kind of desperate.
So, I started digging around online about this “Somatic Psychology” program. I found out it’s all about understanding how our bodies store emotions and trauma, and how that shows up as pain or tension. There wasn’t much hard research, mostly people talking about their experiences. But it was interesting, and I figured maybe these folks were onto something.
I found this California Institute of Integral Studies place offering courses on it. It was the first school to do so. Seemed legit. I spent hours reading through their website, trying to understand what they were teaching. It was a lot of talk about “embodied meditations” and “multiple ways of knowing.” Sounded a bit out there, but I was curious.
- I started trying some simple exercises I found online.
- Breathing, paying attention to how my body felt, that sort of thing.
- It was weird at first, but I started noticing little things. Like how I clench my jaw when I’m stressed, or how my stomach gets tight when I’m anxious.
Getting Deeper into Practice
I decided to commit and actually learn more. I read a bunch of articles and watched videos about somatic practices. I even found some online groups where people shared their experiences. It felt good to know I wasn’t alone in this.
I started doing these exercises regularly, every morning before work. It was tough at first. My mind kept wandering, and I felt silly sitting there, focusing on my breath or whatever. But I kept at it.
Slowly, I started feeling a bit different. More aware of my body, more in tune with my emotions. I realized I’d been ignoring a lot of signals my body was sending me. Like that constant tightness in my shoulders? It was from years of stress I’d just been pushing down.
The exercises helped me release some of that tension. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but I felt a bit lighter, a bit more grounded. I even started sleeping better, which was a huge win.
I’m still learning and practicing. It’s a journey, you know? But this whole somatic psychology thing, it’s been a real eye-opener. It’s helped me understand myself better, and it’s given me some tools to deal with stress and anxiety in a whole new way. I’d say it’s worth exploring if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed. It might just help you reconnect with yourself in a way you never thought possible.
