When the Mind Takes Over: Thoughts From Somatic Therapy San Francisco

As a dance therapist or a somatic therapist in San Francisco, I find that many clients come to see me when their anxiety is overwhelming. Anxiety can often manifest when we have not allowed ourselves to feel feelings (most often feelings that are uncomfortable or that we view as negative). Symptoms such as ruminating thoughts, trouble concentrating, increased heart rate, feeling like crawling out of one’s own skin, etc. can manifest leading people to feel like they need to “do something” to make it all go away.

Yet, paradoxically, our wanting to “do something” and make it “all go away” may be our brain talking and may only make things worse. We are thinking of ways to NOT feel anything and in truth, the only way to solve this problem is not to think but feel our way through.

Why Somatic Therapy San Francisco?

Many of the times we want so badly for some relief from our anxiety but the constant overthinking and attempts to solve it only make it worse. It is as though we are using the wrong tool. . .by using our brain instead of our body to help manage our anxiety. . .we are using a screwdriver to try to hammer in a nail. Yet, we have become so used to using our thoughts to avoid feeling what is comfortable, it can feel impossible to do anything different. Where would we even start? Luckily there are therapists that know how to help bridge that gap. and help learn knew coping skills.

Since many of the behaviors that involve using the brain to solve anxiety involve thinking and talking, sometimes talk therapy is not the right solution to help us learn how to feel. That is where somatic therapy comes into play. . .movement, especially when guided by a skilled therapist, can help us access ways to heal our anxiety. As a dance therapist in the field for over fifteen years, I have seen how somatic therapy can help people who have talked and talked about their anxiety but have not been able to make any headway and STILL have their anxiety control their lives.

Why Does The Mind Take Over in the First Place?

Our mind may start to try and solve our anxiety when we are growing up and don’t have the skills to cope with overwhelming feelings. We start to plan and worry and do all sorts of things that come up as symptoms in anxiety. If we don’t have the tools to sit in our feelings and feel them, the brain will take over and make ways for us to avoid feelings. It’s not a conscious choice: we just want to avoid psychological pain. If any of these symptoms resonate with you, it may be time to see a somatic therapist.

How Do I Know When I Should See A Somatic Therapist in San Francisco

If you have tried talk therapy and still have anxiety or panic attacks or constantly find yourself ruminating, worrying as well s unable to concentrate and losing sleep, maybe it is time to consider consulting a somatic therapist. I am happy to help you learn how to navigate your anxiety so that it no longer controls your life! If you have questions about somatic therapy or dance therapy and how it might help you, please feel free to contact me, Lisa Manca, at lisa@lisamanca.com.