Joshua flees from danger and seeks refuge with his teacher. His compassionate teacher brings him a feeling of safety and comfort. He is feeling the effects of extreme fright upon realising how he had been involved in a potentially dangerous predicament. His body is shaking and trembling; tears are flowing and he is taking deep racking sobs as he releases the pent up energy and adrenaline from his system, generated by the fight, flight or freeze syndrome; the body’s inherent defence mechanism.
Chapter 1 in Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine Ph. D explains how this process is vital to the healthy processing of the effects of trauma from the mind and body. Peter Levine was at the cutting edge of Somac Experiencing to resolve the effects of trauma in the lives of people affected in numerous ways. He can be looked up on www.traumahealing.com
The major focus of the sub-conscious mind is our safety and survival. All the body’s systems are triggered without conscious effort or awareness on our part, to this end. We are unaware of the enormous part the subconscious mind plays in directing the systems of our bodies to work harmoniously all day, every day, all the years of our lives. It is such a miraculous system. Can you imagine the chaos we would have in our bodies if we had to consciously direct its functioning?
Mrs Taylor, Joshua’s kind teacher is a compassionate person who guides him through the process of allowing his body to release the pent up energy generated to sustain his flight from danger. It’s important for children to have a safe refuge where they can process the events and experiences which cause them concern. Very often, children are told to stop shaking, stop crying or told ‘stop going on about it’, ‘get over it’, ‘suck it up’; all of which is detrimental to the process of defusing trauma from the mind and body of the child. Healing and wholeness is promoted when their bodies are allowed to dispel the trauma from the subconscious mind and the memory of the cells. Unless this process is allowed, the pent up energy of trauma remains within the cells of the body, which in the future, can create major health issues. The subconscious mind can hold onto the perceived threat, playing it over and over in any situation which is uncomfortable, resulting in a child with extreme anxiety, keeping the child stuck in the ‘freeze’ syndrome.
Mrs Taylor helps him gather his thoughts while listening intently to what he has to say. She gives him all the time he needs to relax; feel safe and heard. She records the information he is able to give regarding the situation. Together they go to the principals office, informing him of the danger Joshua experienced within the vicinity of the school.
