User:Jondel/Waking the Tiger
Waking the Tiger is a self-help book by Peter A. Levine which presents therapeutic advice for healing past traumas. The therapy presented in the book is based on the idea that the suffering we experience after trauma is primarily the overreactions of the nervous system. Levine's therapy uses classical mythology to illustrate how one deals with trauma without being overwhelmed by facing head-on, not the trauma, but its "reflection" in our nervous system.
A method is prescribed of handling unruly emotions especially fear and trauma based on biological responses. In the book, trauma exists not in the event but is stored in the nervous system. Paralysis, emotional dysfuntion, physical ailments result from deeply rooted traumas which include surgeries, accidents prenatal stress, terrifying experiences etc. The body has an innate, natural ability to heal these. However, traumas tend to remain due to 'flight or fight' responce rendering dysfunctionality.
A number of sensory exercises are provided to enhance inner and outer sensitivity with the purpose of resolving or clearing up the trauma. The exercises don't focus on removing emotional scars but becoming proactive and healing by observing emotional reactions. Animals in the wild heal by natural biological responses such as freezing and shivering. However in modern society has become too sophisticated which hampers natural heal of the biologically reactive human body.
Medusa[edit]
Medusa is a metaphor used to illustrate the method. In dealing with traumas, anger, fear, paralysis or other unruly emotions, it is best not to focus on the object causing the traumas, anger, or fear( the Medusa). Rather, it is best to focus on your emotional reaction('reflection' in the mirror) and remove the source of trauma with truths.
Examine Your Reactions[edit]
In the same way, trauma, phobias, negativity, addictions - any sort of "evil" can be dealt with, not by directly paying attention to it which will simply repeat the vicious cycle, but by studying our reaction to it, which is biologically based. All untoward reactions are nothing more than reinforced impressions.
Biological Basis[edit]
Our body is trained to be paralyzed when we are confronted with a ferocious animal and are with no hope of escape. This allows us to play possum convincingly, feigning death. This also conserves energy, maintains a high level of adrenalin, reduces pain and readies us just in case a window of opportunity for escape presents itself.