Sitting on the edge of an abyss together. A methodology for working with hypo-arousal as part of trauma therapy

ABSTRACT

Hypo-arousal – or collapsed immobility – has been identified as a natural human survival reaction. In traumatic situations, hypo-arousal can be a functional solution to extreme impact; it can help us survive or prepare us to die. When we survive, the challenge becomes multifold: how do we exit the collapsed state; how does the autonomic nervous system up-regulate; and how do we integrate the experience of collapse in our perception of ourselves and of life?

In this article differentiation of degrees of immobility and parallels and differences between dissociation and hypo-arousal are discussed to clarify a methodology for clinical work with hypo-arousal.

Two examples (client and supervisee) demonstrate how low-dosed muscle activation and establishing a relationship to the experience of collapse, can build capacity in both client/supervisee and therapist to stay present on the edge of hypo-arousal, instead of being pulled into it and either over identify or struggle with it.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypo-arousal
• collapsed immobility
• up-regulation
• dissociation
• survival reactions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Merete Holm Brantbjerg

Merete Holm Brantbjerg is a psychomotor-trainer and co-creator of Bodynamic Analysis, a bodypsychotherapeutic tradition developed in Denmark. MHB is naming her approach ‘Relational Trauma Therapy’ combining psychomotor skill training and systems oriented work with the goal of establishing systems in which mutual regulation of what has been held in dissociation can happen. She has worked in the field of body-psychotherapy since 1978 as an individual therapist, supervisor and trainer. She is offering workshops and trainings in Copenhagen, London and Amsterdam – and online.