Blog: Stabilization / Self-Regulation

Stabilization / Self-Regulation

Photo by Shyam on Unsplash

Stabilization / Self-Regulation

When we talk about stabilization, we mean the ability to meet reactions related to trauma and its triggers in a more robust way [1]. This means that when we are outside our Window of Tolerance, we are able to bring ourselves back inside again and into an area of tolerable arousal, e.g. by creating distance between what is happening in the moment, and what happened in the past.

Our 'stabilisation muscle' can be trained, and there are many different types of exercises that can be done depending on the kind of reactions one has, and whether or not one is hyperaroused or hypoaroused. Psychoeducation - information about how the psyche functions - can help you understand how a reaction to trauma arises, and that information can contribute to your experiencing more stability, peace, and trust. The combination of knowledge and skills make people with reactions to trauma more stabile in their dealings with life (ibid). Stabilisation training is recommended prior to moving on to treatment and integration of traumatic experiences (ibid).

Being able to regulate one's own feelings and reactions and bring oneself back to an experience of peace and trust contributes to feelings of empowerment, that one can manage one's own life. When you know what is happening to you, and what to do about it, it is easier to take decisions in your life and experience more freedom, mastery, and independence. You are able to manage, and even enjoy, situations to which you previously reacted with fear. You have confidence in yourself, others, and the world, and have here-and-now experiences which are clear to you and not coloured by past experience or fears related to the future.

As mentioned above, it is possible to train and improve the ability to self-regulate. There are many resources and forms of therapy available on this subject. If you should wish to read up on some of these strategies on your own, you could have a look at the book Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists by Boon, S., Steele, K., & van der Hart, O. (2011). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

- ©Miriam Segal, 04.11.2018

[1] Holbæk, Ingunn (Ed.)(2014). Tilbake til nåtid. En manual for håndtering av traumereaksjoner. Oslo: Modum Bad, p. 14. [Back to Now. A Manual for Managing Reactions to Trauma. Not available in English.]

Safe and Sound Protocol

I participated in the safe and sound protocol led by Miriam Segal and experienced deep shifts in my visceral feeling of safety. These shifts allowed me to enter a deeper level of clearing trauma from my body without the trepidation that I would remain in pain or illness. I’m not sure exactly how to put in words the value of this training. What I can say is I was able to put complete trust in Miriam as my guide through this process. She was consistently present and attentive as I experienced the sounds of the protocol, supportive, patient and open to whatever I needed to express in the process. I have experienced a significant amount of personal and spiritual growth over the last several years and am particularly grateful for this experience of feeling safe through triggers and the underlying thoughts and emotions not only from the past but also in my imaginings of the future. If this experience of feeling safe in the process of expansion appeals to use I encourage you to make the investment in yourself through this protocol with Miriam. I am profoundly grateful for her courage and competencies in offering this.

Danielle McMahon, Personal Peace Practitioner

I so wish, Miriam, that you had done this class [UNDEFIABLE] six years ago, because as I read your brochure, I felt like I was reading a story of what I’ve been through over the course of the last six years, the journey of my life, and as I read that, I thought, ‘Man, if this had been available six years ago in a 12-week program, I would have saved myself so much wonderful time!’ […] I’m excited for you to be offering this, and I’m excited for your participants to be exposed to this material. I think it’s just fantastic.

Bobby Cobb, Reductive Liberation Hypnotist & Coach

Thank you for a great course [Conscious Courageous Conversations], deep and powerful.

Helga Rachel Høgåsen, Coach, Innerleadership

I have attended Miriam Segal’s workshops which have been powerful and effective. I appreciate her insightful, no nonsense approach, which combines compassion and connection. Miriam works with you using practical exercises and instructions to help make life changing outcomes.

Thank you Miriam.