Trauma doesn’t disappear just because time passes. It lingers in the body, often quietly, subtly, in ways we don’t even recognize.

One of the most fascinating things I see in my work is how the body finds its own ways to cope long before the mind has words for what happened.

Simple, rhythmic movements - like rubbing your feet together, rocking - are not random habits. They are self-soothing responses rooted in your nervous system’s wisdom.

When you live through something overwhelming, your body does everything it can to keep you safe. Sometimes that means staying in a heightened state of alertness. Other times, it means seeking small repetitive motions to signal safety and regulate the system.

These subtle movements help release tension, discharge activation, and tell the body, “You’re okay now.”

This is why trauma healing must include the body.

We don’t just heal by thinking differently, we heal by feeling differently.

Your nervous system archives everything you’ve lived through. The moments of fear you couldn’t express. The emotions you silenced to survive. The memories you tucked away to keep going.

When you notice subtle self-soothing behaviors: rocking, rubbing your hands, tapping your fingers, or that gentle foot-to-foot movement, it’s not a flaw. It’s your body doing exactly what it knows to do: regulate, soften, and help you return to safety.

Here are some gentle somatic practices that support this natural release:

🤍Deep, slow breathing

Lengthening the exhale signals safety to the vagus nerve and helps the body downshift from survival mode.

🤍Rhythmic movement

Swaying, rocking, walking, or gentle foot brushing can support the nervous system in discharging stored activation.

🤍Body scanning with compassion

Noticing sensations without judgment allows long-held memories to surface slowly and safely.

🤍 Holding or touching a part of your body with warmth

Placing your hand on your heart, belly, or thighs provides grounding and comfort to younger parts that still carry fear.

🤍Journaling after a somatic practice

Sometimes the body releases first, and the story or meaning arrives after.

As a therapist, I see this in my work:

The body leads the way long before the mind is ready to understand.

You don’t have to force anything.

You don’t have to “fix” yourself.

You don’t have to rush your healing.

Your body is communicating, responding, repairing.

It’s trying to bring you back home.

Healing happens when you learn to listen. When you realize those small, unconscious gestures are not signs of brokenness, but signs that your body is working with you.

Little by little, moment by moment, your system is learning that it is safe now.

And you deserve to feel that safety, not just in your mind, but in your whole being.

With care,

Aniela🤍

www.mindfultherapist.us