The Primal Response

This weekend, at a Hold Me Tight weekend workshop I was reminded of the power of using somatic response to access the primary emotions and unmet need.

One participant described his heart being clamped down as he got in touch with the terror of facing his partner’s anger. Another turned his head and looked away, noting his childhood experience of being told over and over not to “look back.” As he brought that memory forward he realized how much he had been turning away from, including his wife.

One woman clenched her fists and pulled her arms inward to prevent internal collapse when she felt utterly alone and unseen.

Slowing down these automatic responses and getting in touch with primal terror points to our attachment needs for tenderness, recognition, and support.

I love having the body as an ever present way to access the primal response.

What’s the best technique you know for accessing primary emotion and unmet need?