"After decades of trying many modalities, talk therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, energy work, I have found somatic therapy. Never have I felt so seen. I don’t have to explain myself or my feelings, I just have to reconnect to my feelings. I feel safe; safe enough to let down the walls that were built around me; safe enough to be me. Don’t get me wrong, there are days, even weeks, where it’s hard and I don’t feel like I’m progressing. I remember that I am peeling back layers of protection and learned behavior to reveal the beautiful core of the essential me.

The days I feel I am not where I want to be, I realize, I just had an argument with my husband and I didn’t break down into tears; I was able to communicate effectively without losing my train of thought or my words. I didn’t feel required to hide or be different.

The days I feel I am not where I want to be, I recognize that I am eating healthier and working out a few days a week just because I want to, not because I have to fulfill some checklist. There’s no pressure behind these decisions, they are easy to make.

I’ve also built this amazing capacity to handle life. That “all or nothing” sensation that used to rule my every decision, is quieted. I don’t get overwhelmed as easily. I can look at my daily calendar and it feels manageable, even exciting, when it’s full. I find I need less time between activities to recharge.

I never thought working to regulate my nervous system was something that was real, let alone something that would change my life. " - Tara