Carly felt the cool solid wall behind her back. She sat as if in a chair, with only air as a seat beneath her. It took less than three minutes for the shaking to begin. Deep in her thighs, low in her calves, what started as a low burn transformed into a quake. The hurt felt good, as Carly’s muscles released weeks, months, and years of pent up hidden emotions.
I discovered an interesting study as I was researching the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When we do not mentally face our traumas and tragedies head-on, and attempt to avoid our emotions instead, the human body will grab those painful emotions, and hold onto them. How?
In our muscular structure. Stuffing our emotions is a dangerous thing to do, causing illness and potentially blowing up our relationships. Dis-ease of body and mind.
Like volcanoes, when the magma of unexpressed feelings build inside of us, without allowing small fissures and cracks to vent the steam in healthy ways, we are at risk for a massive explosion. But the heavy weight of emotional pressure can also cause physical ailments. This is why, in Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, I talk about the importance of releasing pent up emotions before you do something you can’t take back. However, what if you’ve pushed so much down inside of your soul that negative energy has accumulated in your muscles, and you want to get it out?
According to some experts, it’s as simple as exercising your body to the point of tremor. Newer studies are pointing to the benefit of trembling as a way to release pent up PTSD that has settled into your body.
Sound silly? Maybe not so much when we consider that professional athletes and those who exercise on a regular basis are some of the mentally fittest people on the planet. Not entirely immune to depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but certainly less prone.
In particular, squats, lunges, and stretches for a long enough period of time to causing trembling, can enable us to trade tremors for trauma — effectively releasing PTSD from our body, which in turn transfers to releases in our mind. We know that Seratonin and Endorphins, the feel-good hormones, are released when oxygen increases in the brain, and now we have a second reason to get up and get moving.
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you to seek the advice of a medical doctor before beginning any exercise routine. Yet, once you have their stamp of approval, and find a professional trainer to guide you so you don’t hurt yourself from improper positioning or longevity, why not benefit from the mental as well as physical health of regular bouts of strength training and aerobic activity? And while I’m at it, don’t forget spiritual disciplines as well, letting God hold you while you tremor. In order to experience true healing and happiness, we must maintain balance of mind, body, and spirit.
These are things I continue to work on — and frankly, probably will until I take my last breath. However, each piece placed in my puzzle, offers a clearer picture of a meaningful life. Not only am I seeking, but I am finding. Wholeness. Healing. Joy. Peace.
What about you? Do you stuff your emotions? How do you vent in healthy ways so that you can be honest without harming others? Are you willing to tremor in order to release some trauma?
Anita Fresh Faith
Proverbs 4:22 (NIV)
…for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
Anita Brooks motivates others to dynamic break-throughs. Blending mind, heart, body, and spirit, as an Inspirational Business/Life Coach, International Speaker, and Common Trauma Expert.
Anita is also an award-winning author. Her titles include Amazon best seller: Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, Barbour Publishing, First Hired, Last Fired — How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market, Leafwood Publishing, Death Defied-Life Defined: A Miracle Man’s Memoir, and contributor to The Change: Insights Into Self Empowerment Book #4. Her books are available at major and independent bookstores, Amazon, plus several online retailers.
She fulfills her mission to help 21st century women and men make fresh starts with fresh faith by sharing what she’s learned through experience, interviews, and research. Anita shares hope and encouragement on her Fresh Faith Inspirations podcast.
Anita’s favorite pastime is watching sunsets with her husband of 30 years, while they laugh and dip their toes in the water. Her favorite passion is inspiring others to transform battles into victories.
You can connect with Anita on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Keep up with Anita’s latest happenings at anitabrooks.com. Email anita@anitabrooks.com to request information on having Anita inspirationally speak or train at your next event.
Leave a Reply