Traumas and their associated emotions are held together in our bodies and both need to be processed in order for healing to occur. This is why body-focused somatic healing is such a powerful tool for recovery – by working directly with the body, we can effectively release and heal deeply stored traumas. Breathwork is a type of somatic therapy and most connected breathwork modalities offer a pathway for deeply held traumas to be felt, processed, and released. However, there is a delicate balance that needs to be struck during this process to ensure the safety of the breather. In this article, we will share how retraumatization can occur in breathwork, and how the careful design of BBTRS® ensures a balanced and safe space for emotions and traumas to be processed and released.
What is Retraumatization?
Retraumatization is the reactivation of emotional and psychological distress from past trauma. It happens when the traumatized individual encounters reminders or situations reminiscent of the original traumatic experience. Within the delicate state induced by breathwork, one becomes profoundly vulnerable. If the body experiences overstimulation during this process, or the emotions take over to the point of overwhelm, the experience and sensations can closely mirror those felt during the initial trauma. In essence, the breathwork state, when not approached with care, has the potential to inadvertently reawaken and intensify the emotional wounds of the past. And this can lead to retraumatization, leaving the participant worse off than they were before the session.
