Amygdala - The amygdala is a small part of our brain that helps us feel emotions like fear and excitement. When we see or experience something scary or dangerous, the amygdala tells our body to get ready to protect itself by either running away or fighting. The amygdala is important for keeping us safe, but sometimes it can get too sensitive, making us feel scared or anxious when there is no real danger. When we experience something really scary, like a traumatic event, the amygdala can become overactive and cause us to feel worried and afraid all the time. This can make it hard for us to remember things, focus, and make friends.  

Think of your amygdala like a lifeguard at the beach. Just like a lifeguard watches over the swimmers to make sure they're safe, your amygdala watches over your feelings to make sure you're okay.   

When you're playing in the water and suddenly see a big wave coming towards you, the lifeguard blows their whistle to let you know to be careful. In the same way, when your amygdala senses danger, it sends signals to your body to make you feel scared or nervous, so that you know to be careful too .  

 So just like how the lifeguard keeps you safe at the beach, your amygdala keeps you safe in your everyday life. And just like how you can trust the lifeguard to keep you safe, you can trust your amygdala to do its job and keep you out of harm's way.  

Somatic therapy is like a way to help the lifeguard in your brain to do its job better. By helping you learn how to be aware of your feelings and sensations, and to feel safe when you do, somatic therapy can help the amygdala blow the whistle when needed, and let you swim and enjoy the water when there is no threat, so  you feel more in control. It's like giving the lifeguard better tools to keep you safe and happy!