As we journey through the landscape of trauma recovery, we may encounter an unexpected companion along the way—resistance. This internal force, often perceived as an obstacle, can actually be a guidepost and a protective ally. In the process of somatic self-love, we learn to honor our resistance, not as a barrier, but as a valuable resource in our recovery.

What is Trauma Recovery?

Trauma recovery is a profound process of transformation that often involves reshaping our most fundamental patterns of feeling and staying safe.

These patterns, developed as adaptive responses to past trauma, were once our psyche’s best strategies for survival. They served as our strategy to stay alive in an unpredictable and threatening world. However, as we grow and seek recovery, we may find that these once-protective behaviors no longer serve us—they may have become constraining, even limiting our ability to live fully.

This realization is at the heart of trauma recovery: recognizing that the very mechanisms we developed for safety may now be the barriers to our freedom and growth. When we engage in the work of recovery, we are disrupting these longstanding patterns.

We are asking ourselves to dismantle the sense of safety we have built and somatically relied on, and to trust in new, unfamiliar ways of being.

Resistance is a natural and healthy response to such profound disruption. It’s our way of saying, “This is new, and I’m not sure it’s safe.” It’s the echo of an system that equated change with danger.

Understanding Resistance

It’s easy to see how resistance is a defense mechanism that manifests as an internal force opposing change or challenging emotions.

Trauma recovery is full of change and challenging emotions.

Understanding and acknowledging resistance is the first step towards working through it, allowing individuals to gently confront and overcome the barriers to their progress and well-being. In essence, resistance is not just an obstacle; it’s a signal that guides us to areas within ourselves that require attention and care. Here are some ways to feel into resistance as a resource:

The Protective Wisdom of Resistance

Resistance is the voice of our body and psyche saying, “Here lies tender ground.” It arises as a natural, protective response to past hurt and is a testament to our innate desire to safeguard ourselves. When we listen to this voice with compassion, we can understand the messages it carries about our needs and boundaries. Other ways that resistance is telling us about safety, pace and boundaries:

• Safety Signal: Resistance may be a signal from parts of ourselves indicating areas where they do not yet feel safe. Respecting this signal is crucial for maintaining trust and a sense of safety in our inner ecology.
• Pace Indicator: Recovery from trauma is not a race. Our resistance often signifies the pace at which we are ready to move forward. It asks us to slow down, to proceed with care, and to respect the rhythm of our recovery. Pushing too hard or too fast through trauma can be re-traumatizing, so resistance helps to modulate the pace of recovery. This pacing is essential, for it is in the gentle unfolding that we find sustainable recovery.
• Boundary Marker: Resistance can highlight boundaries that need to be acknowledged and respected. It may point to the limits of readiness to explore or change at a given time. Our resistance is a compass pointing towards the boundaries that must be acknowledged and preserved. It tells us about the limits of our current capacity, inviting us to honor where we are in the process. In doing so, we cultivate a deeper respect for our inner landscape and its unique contours.

Reframing Resistance

• Feedback Loop: Viewing resistance as feedback rather than a setback allows for a more flexible and responsive recovery process.
• Signal for Creativity: Resistance can be a cue to become more curious and creative in your approach to recovery, finding new and unique ways to engage your inner resources.
• Opportunity for Empowerment: By acknowledging and working with resistance, we empower ourselves, reinforcing the message to our bodies that our sense of safety and readiness is paramount. It reinforces our autonomy over our recovery journey. By validating our resistance, we affirm our right to move through our trauma in a way that feels safe and appropriate for us.

Post-Traumatic Growth

• Building Trust: Over time, as resistance is used constructively, it can build trust with ourselves in our recovery process, allowing us to engage more deeply with our own capacity for healing.
• Resource Development and Practice: We can identify and develop internal resources, such as calmness, resilience, and self-compassion, which can then be used to navigate through moments of resistance.
• Embracing Resistance as an Act of Self-Love: In the practice of somatic self-love, we befriend our resistance. We approach it not with frustration, but with curiosity and kindness. We recognize it as a part of ourselves that needs attention and care. By embracing our resistance, we engage in an act of profound self-love.
• Reframing Resistance as Feedback: Instead of viewing resistance as a setback, we can reframe it as valuable feedback. It becomes a tool for tuning into our inner state, guiding us toward what needs to be nurtured. This reframing shifts our perspective from one of judgment to one of learning and growth.
• The Call for Creativity: When we encounter resistance, it’s an opportunity to get creative with our self-care strategies. It’s a chance to explore new forms of somatic practices—like mindful movement, breathwork, or grounding exercises—that resonate with our body’s wisdom.

Being With (and Loving) Our Resistance For Growth

As we build a trusting relationship with our resistance, we lay the foundation for post-traumatic growth. We begin to see our resilience, our capacity for self-compassion, and our strength. Our resistance, once an adversary, becomes a partner in our transformation.

Recovering from trauma is a deeply personal and non-linear journey. By engaging with resistance through somatic self-love, we create a nurturing space for our recovery. We learn that each step taken with self-love is a step towards reclaiming our wholeness and vitality.

Remember, the presence of resistance is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign that you are on the path, doing the necessary work, and moving towards healing in your own time and on your own terms.

Let’s Work Together!

Are you ready to transform the way you navigate the journey of recovery? If you’ve felt the tug of resistance as you inch toward personal growth and recovery, know that you are not alone, and this resistance is a natural part of the process. It’s a sign that you’re on the precipice of change, and it doesn’t have to be a journey you make by yourself.

Join me for Somatic Alchemy sessions, where we’ll embark on a transformative path that honors your resistance as a crucial ally. Together, we’ll explore the somatic landscapes of your experiences with an unwavering foundation of self-love. We’ll gently unravel the patterns that once kept you safe but may no longer serve you, and we’ll do so with care, honoring your pace and your body’s wisdom.

In our sessions, you’ll discover:

• Personalized Strategies: Tailored techniques that resonate with your unique body and experiences.
• Compassionate Space: A judgment-free zone where all parts of you are welcome, especially the resistant ones.
• Empowerment: Tools that empower you to cultivate a new sense of safety and trust within yourself.

Your journey of recovery deserves to be supported by someone who understands the delicate dance with resistance. Let’s create alchemy together, transforming the lead of past traumas into the gold of a renewed, vibrant self.

Take the brave step towards your self-discovery. Contact me today to begin our work together in Somatic Alchemy sessions where your resistance is not an enemy, but a guide towards deeper self-love and liberation.

Book Your Somatic Alchemy Session Now

Your past does not have to dictate your future. With Somatic Alchemy, let’s pave the way to a life where resistance becomes your greatest teacher, and self-love your most powerful tool for change.