How Craniosacral Therapy Helped Me After a Car Accident
As a therapist working with the craniosacral system, I regularly support clients who are experiencing the effects of trauma. I feel privileged to witness the amazing responses in my clients and to assist in this process. Recently I was unfortunate to be involved in a bad car accident. Thankfully by a matter of seconds and inches I avoided being hit head on at terrifying speed by an out of control driver.
Those seconds and inches saved my life.
My car, along with two others, was written off. But not me. I walked away without a single visible scratch or bruise. Trauma however isn’t defined by or limited to visible injuries, it can extend far deeper than that, burying itself in the cells and tissues anywhere in the body. I am extremely grateful that my bodies fight/flight/fright system kicked in quickly enough to allow me just enough time to react to avoid what could have been a very different and devastating outcome.
Our bodies are remarkable. When needed, this survival response can quite literally save our lives. But, what happens when that system doesn’t or can’t switch off ? We don’t need it to be on red alert all the time, but when it remains in that state the consequences can be significant. Through my work I knew what was happening to me and I knew what I needed to do. I acknowledged what was occurring and openly thanked my body for saving my life. I also knew I needed more than that. Step in the fabulous therapy that is craniosacral therapy and my great friend and CST colleague Vicky Smith. After just one session, I noticed a significant shift. The change in my body was like black to white, night to day. Where before I felt like I had an out of control hamster on a wheel in my chest charging round at 100mph constantly looking out for danger I now feel my normal calm and balanced self.
I’ve been fortunate enough to get that treatment quite soon after my accident. For many people however that’s not the case and their hamsters are running round those wheels for weeks, months and typically many years. That level of stress and anxiety starts to become “normal” But, that’s exhausting for the body to maintain and inevitably over time it breaks down and cries for help in a variety of ways with an array of different symptoms …… headaches, fatigue, anxiety, tinnitus, TMD (jaw pain), mood swings, low mood, digestive issues, and general aches and pains. These symptoms may have many different causes, but for some people unresolved trauma can be a contributing factor.
These symptoms can range from being mildly irritating to disabling and debilitating often resulting in multiple different medical tests and interventions and therapies to little or no avail.
I know from years of treating clients how powerful craniosacral therapy can be in allowing the body to address these issues. I now also know first hand from personal experience just how incredibly effective it is.
If this resonates with you, no matter how long ago your trauma may have occurred, why not explore whether craniosacral therapy could help? It's a gentle yet powerful approach that listens to the whole person, not just the symptoms. You may be surprised by what becomes possible when your body is given the opportunity to find balance again.