Our bodies are amazing in the way that they can process and retain an incredible amount of information. Did you know that your muscles, fascia, tissues, cells, etc. are also able to hold memories and emotions? But these memories and emotions aren’t always processed in the best way. So our bodies are left with restrictions or stuck energy that doesn’t allow us to function at an optimal level.
How many times does a thought go through your head about an injury or other traumatic event and you aren’t able to truly let that thought go? Are you experiencing pain that, no matter what you try, you can’t find relief? Your body may be holding onto emotions that it can’t find a comfortable way to release. SomatoEmotional Release may be what you (and your body) have been looking for. SER is another component of the amazing work CranioSacral Therapy can provide.
According to Dr. John Upledger in his book SomatoEmotional Release and Beyond, “SomatoEmotional Release (S.E.R.) is the expression of emotion that for reasons deemed appropriate by some part of the patient’s or client’s nonconscious, has been retained, suppressed, and isolated within the soma.”
Dr. Upledger calls areas within the body where intense feelings or past physical trauma are held ‘energy cysts.’ Energy cysts are areas on the body of blocked or chaotic bundles of energy. In the above mentioned book by Dr. Upledger he states that, “The idea behind this is: when an accident occurs, the energy of the accident enters the body. This fits with the laws of thermodynamics, which tell us that energy cannot be created or destroyed. They also tell us that the natural tendency of atoms, molecules, and energy is toward disorganization. When this external, disorganized energy – the ‘energy of injury’ – is forced into the body, it penetrates into the tissues to a depth determined by the amount of force versus the density of the tissues. This force is countered only by the density of the tissues it is trying to penetrate.”
When we receive an injury anywhere on our bodies the force brought on by that injury penetrates much deeper and can travel to areas in other places on the body. For example, an injury to the lower back may go up the spine and start causing neck pain, or vice versa. Energy cysts are formed when the energy of the injury stops. If there is no way for your body to get rid of this energy, it can and most likely will start causing restrictions and pain. Stuck emotions can cause the same restrictions and pain if they don’t have a way to release.
You may be wondering what an energy or emotional release would be like. Of course everyone is different and their bodies are going to release however and whatever they need to for that day. But some of the typical types of releases include body movements, heat coming off the area, softening of the area, or a feeling of openness. Some of the time there will be dialogue spoken between the client and the therapist. This is a wonderful way for the client to be able to release those stuck thoughts and emotions. The goal is to not completely forget about the feelings, but to be able to release them in a way that they are not causing any kind of pain.
Tissue unwinding is another wonderful way emotions can be released. By fully supporting a limb (arms, legs, or the neck) a trained CranioSacral therapist, like myself, follows the movement of the fascia and waits for it to completely release. When there is a release, energy starts to move evenly and more strongly than before. When emotions are held in the area that was just released often a person’s breathing will become slower, their eyelids start to flutter, and a great sense of peace is felt in the treatment room. Clients often tell me they suddenly feel a sense of calmness and relief.
Some people are unsure what to think about the whole emotional release thing. To some it seems frightening or so far out of their normal thinking that they don’t want to have anything to do with it. That’s fine. There is nothing wrong with thinking that way. Every individual has their own ways of releasing emotions that they are comfortable with. SomatoEmotional Release is not something that can be “done” to you. Your body must be ready to have an emotional release. For those that have experienced the power of SomatoEmotional Release it brings a wonderful feeling of lightness and clarity, as well as many other benefits.
If you’re interested in obtaining more information about SER and how it can help you the book, SomatoEmotional Release and Beyond by Dr. John Upledger, DO, OMM is enlightening. And a trained CranioSacral therapist, like myself, can help answer any questions you may have, help you experience the process first-hand, and help you reap the benefits. Anyone who is ready to start feeling better, both physically and emotionally, can benefit from this therapy.
