The Life Model

I am up and ready to walk to work (giving the ole' motorbike a break for the day). I'm going in early today for our weekly small group. My boss and some of our co-workers are going through a workbook called "Restarting." This is based on the Life Model (http://www.lifemodel.org/). This has been one of the most fascinating aspects of my job. We're learning about what happens to our bodies when we go through trauma. I cannot begin to explain how fearfully and wonderfully our bodies were created to protect us from trauma.

For example, your brain shuts down at the point of trauma. It basically closes in on itself, and Thank God, because otherwise you would likely die. But then what? What about when the trauma is over? How do you get your brain to come back out and find ways to view the world as safe?

In another twist, there has been research shown that ADD/ADHD increases in children who have been victims of trauma. This is partly due to the dissociation that happens between the body and the mind during trauma. People (esp children) leave their body because it is no longer classified as a safe place. But then how can you expect them to sit in their chairs and not stand on the table doing Muay Thai? I can't. There is evidence to show that they have little/no control over their bodies. This varies a great deal from person to person, but I find the whole study fascinating.

Thoughts? I'm looking for more info on this. Especially safe ways to help children encounter their bodies i.e. dance, art etc. Thank you!

P.S. Wear socks to bed. Warm ones. Even in tropical Thailand, it helps!