How CranioSacral Therapy can help PTSD
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition involving the body, mind and spirit. Though most often associated with our military veterans, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can affect anyone with a history of trauma. Trauma can be the result of childhood injury or abuse, an accident or a number of other life experiences that create a painful trigger that is repeatedly is activated throughout life. When the body/mind has not yet recognized that the event is over, the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) is activated and the body responds by continuously mobilizing muscles and other body systems in an attempt to numb the pain.
Individuals who suffer from chronic PTSD also have physical changes in their brain, most notably, a decrease in brain activity in the prefrontal cortex (higher level thinking and language) and increase in amygdala activity (emotional). The physical brain changes are described further in this article in the NCBI database as a “heightened activity only in the right hemisphere, specifically, in the areas that are most involved in emotional arousal – the amygdala, insula, and the medial temporal lobe. During exposure to their traumatic scripts there was a significant decrease in activation of the left inferior frontal area – Broca’s area – which is thought to be responsible for translating personal experiences into communicable language.”
How can CranioSacral Therapy help?
The CranioSacral System is made up of membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones in the head to the tailbone area known as the sacrum. Since this unique system had a direct impact on the central nervous system, it is easy to see how an imbalance there could cause any number or sensory, motor or neurological problems.
The main goal of a CST session is to allow the central nervous system the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and heal from the traumas of PTSD. This holistic bodywork approach can help release the tension patterns created by the traumatic physical or emotional experience.
CST is light touch, full clothed therapy which leaves clients in a deeply relaxed state. Clients often experience decreased pain and a sense of overall well being that continues long after the session is over.
Awaken Integrative Bodywork offers a $10 discount to veterans. Sessions can be booked online or by phone at 530-906-8668.
Denise Obray, Certified Massage Therapist in Auburn California, has been working with a variety of communities, helping people for over 30 years. She is a compassionate and dedicated therapist who holds space for healing with each of her clients. For over 18 years she was a business owner who provided sign language interpreting services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities throughout the nation. After becoming a Certified Massage Therapist, Denise was drawn to CranioSacral Therapy and helping people heal with the distinct light-touch techniques taught by The Upledger Institute and welcomes all clients, including those experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression and PTSD.
Trauma and Emotional Pain: How does Massage and Bodywork help?
found a significant decrease in cortisol (average 31%) and significant increases in serotonin (average 28%). In this fascinating study, researchers looked at depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on autoimmune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress.
In Practice
er capacity to connect with other people. I kept my interpretations to myself out of respect for Joan’s inner wisdom and in recognition of scope of practice as a bodyworker and not a psychotherapist.
Joan’s wall had been transformed from an isolating barrier to a