PTSD symptoms from an accident or from an overwhelming situation involving fear can continue to surface long after the event(s). Getting the fear to stop surfacing is a primary goal in healing. Research is showing that there is a period of time from 10 minutes to 6 hours after a memory resurfaces within a safe setting that is really helpful for settling down and reducing or eliminating the intensity of a persistent fear response. This is called a reconsolidation window.
The body’s muscular response to a situation like a car accident in which bracing and protective actions occur, should be addressed as part of altering memory for the better in healing PTSD. The brain stores different kinds of memories in different parts of the brain. Muscle patterning is best addressed when the muscle pattern linked to a fear memory is carefully brought up in a safe therapy session for reprocessing.
Some of the best therapists for addressing movement patterns linked to fear may be a rare group of Physical Therapists who are also trained in these methods. Having trauma healing training in a body of work called Somatic Experiencing plus a Physical Therapist’s knowledge of the body can greatly help clients . This combination of training can give powerful, natural healing, long-lasting results with muscle responses to fear, and stress.
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