In this 15 minute presentation at the 2021 Fearless National Conversation on PTSD I outline how neurogenic tremors & the neuromuscular system are a missing link in our current efforts not just to recover from PTSD, but more importantly to prevent it.
Key information includes:
- neurogenic tremors as the body’s natural recovery cascade
- the neuromuscular system as the bridge between our external behaviour & our internal biology
- how the pathologisation & inhibition of neurogenic tremors may inadvertantly increase the likelihood of PTSD & other post-trauma symptoms including depression & substance abuse
- how the symptoms we associate with PTSD are all signs the body is still activating habitual defensive responses that are no longer helpful or necessary
- how this pattern of incomplete switching off of the defence response also occurs at the cellular level
- how the spinal cord is the biggest input into our nervous system & an obvious point of entry to regulate the autonomic nervous system
- how a neurobiological model of post traumatic stress & the use of neurogenic tremors for early intervention offers a form of ‘trauma innoculation’
- how TRE offers a simple process of ‘somatic hygiene’ that bypasses the most common barriers to regular self-care
