Returning to the Old Normal

Posted on

In January, I learned a technique known in Europe as TIPI. It’s a form of somatic therapy that is claimed to permanently remove the ill effects of emotional difficulties. Because of my immediate positive response to the technique and understanding of how it works (thanks to experiencing PTSD), the Director of the TIPI not-for-profit here in the United States encouraged me to become a certified practitioner. Doing so would enable me to help others by guiding them in the practice.

Last week was the first week of training. I had had difficulty working on an emotional difficulty on my own, namely the moments at both JFK and San Francisco International when I saw TSA officers and broke down in weeping. There was a subconscious connection between what I saw and understanding that they were there because of 9-11. Weeping — making puddles of tears on the floor — was not something I did otherwise. I recall weeping only once before in my life years before 9-11. The airport situation was the moment I decided to work on during TIPI training, allowing a classmate to guide me through the somatic process.

Basically, in theory our emotional difficulties are tied to prenatal experiences of which virtually everyone has no memory. By become consciously aware of the physical sensations we feel in our bodies, we are able to resolve difficulties by consciously allowing associated sensations to resolve. It only takes a few minutes to do. Does that sound nuts?

It might seem crazy to be able to permanently resolve emotional conflicts in a matter of minutes. However, for me, it seems that resolution has been accomplished as evidenced over the last 5 days. In less than 5 minutes, I went from feeling beaten down to becoming energized and clear-minded. The fog in my mind that had been present due to cortisol lifted.

When I changed this blog from writing about motorcycles to sharing about life with PTSD, I thought there would be months to at least a year of posts about the disorder’s ups and downs. While I wait for another downward ride, part of me believes that TIPI has cured me.

I would have to write another post about this therapy, since there is too much information to share here. Right now, I am stuck in awe of how I am feeling. I am clear-headed, present, energetic, and functioning. I can cook again. I have appetite. I am looking forward to working again. I no longer feel that I am “stuck” in life. Could this TIPI practice have cleared the inhibitions labeled by a set of diagnostic criteria?

Still waiting for the rollercoaster to drop.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.