Building on our foundational understanding of somatic parts work, this post examines how trauma affects the body’s sense of safety and triggers protective responses. We’ll explore the development of “Protector Parts” and how they manifest both mentally and physically.
The Body’s Protective Response to Trauma
Trauma, whether large or small, disrupts the sense of safety in our bodies. When we experience trauma, our nervous system reacts instinctively, by armoring us, seeking to protect us from further harm. As part of our ego’s development we begin to form Protector Parts that guard us from experiencing pain again.
When trauma occurs, especially when we don’t have the resources or capacity to process it, the nervous system forms defensive responses. These Protector Parts encase our vulnerable areas, such as the pelvis, belly, heart, throat, jaw, and eyes, creating somatic armoring. You might recognize this as “gripping in the belly,” “tightness in the chest,” or “a knot in the throat.” This armor restricts the flow of life energy through the body, keeping us from fully experiencing our emotions, sensations, and connections. It can also lead us to conclude that we are somehow deficient because we feel cut off from our Wholeness.
Somatic armoring may keep us from feeling hurt, but it also keeps us from feeling anything. It’s as if our body has learned to lock away feelings of fear, shame, or pain by dulling our ability to sense anything at all. Over time, these protective parts can manifest in chronic tension, illness, weight fluctuations, or dissociation. In some cases, the armoring leads to a freeze response, where we numb or disconnect from parts of our body to avoid the emotional pain held there.
When these protections dominate, we not only lose touch with our feelings and intuition, but also with our Higher Self—the Aware Presence within us capable of expressing compassion, clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Protector Parts: A Closer Look
- Critic/Perfectionist:
- Role: This protector part aims to prevent failure, judgment, or shame by setting extremely high standards and expectations. It can show up as harsh self-criticism or an inner voice that constantly demands perfection.
- Manifestation: You might hear thoughts like, “You’re not good enough,” “You can’t mess this up,” or “If you don’t do it perfectly, you’re a failure.”
- Somatic Sensations: This protector can create tension in the head, jaw, or neck from excessive mental effort or self-monitoring.
- The Controller:
- Role: The Controller part seeks to manage or control external circumstances to ensure safety and predictability. It’s often activated when we feel out of control or when there’s uncertainty or chaos around us.
- Manifestation: This part might drive the need for rigid routines, micromanagement, or perfectionism in controlling situations, environments, relationships with others or our own body (restrictive eating).
- Somatic Sensations: It can create tightness in the chest, abdomen, or throat as the body prepares for action or to suppress feelings of vulnerability.
- The People-Pleaser:
- Role: This protector part seeks to avoid conflict and rejection by overly accommodating the needs and desires of others. It stems from the belief that love and acceptance are conditional on meeting the expectations of others.
- Manifestation: It might show up as a constant need to say “yes” to others, difficulty saying no, and an overwhelming desire to be liked or accepted.
- Somatic Sensations: The body might feel tense in the heart or throat, signaling the need to keep the peace, suppress one’s own desires, or avoid confrontation.
- The Avoider:
- Role: This protector part avoids uncomfortable emotions, conflict, or situations that might trigger vulnerability or fear. It often seeks to escape or distract from pain, sadness, or anxiety.
- Manifestation: It can manifest as procrastination, avoidance of difficult conversations or tasks, and escapist behaviors like excessive screen time, substance use, or emotional withdrawal.
- Somatic Sensations: The body may experience numbness, disconnection, or a feeling of being “checked out,” often accompanied by tightness in the chest or a sensation of heaviness in the body.
- The Pusher/Overachiever:
- Role: This protector part pushes the individual to achieve, often at the expense of personal well-being, rest, or self-care. It’s designed to prove worth or to gain validation through success or accomplishment.
- Manifestation: This can look like burnout, constant striving for success, difficulty relaxing or being present, and pushing past physical or emotional limits.
- Somatic Sensations: You may experience tightness in the shoulders, neck, or lower back—areas that hold stress from overwork or excessive drive.
- The Numb/Disassociated Part:
- Role: This part serves to disconnect from painful emotions, experiences, or memories that are too overwhelming to face. It creates emotional numbness to avoid feeling hurt, shame, or grief.
- Manifestation: It can manifest as a sense of detachment, difficulty connecting with emotions, or feeling like you’re going through life on autopilot.
- Somatic Sensations: This can show up as physical numbness, a “blank” feeling in the body, or a sense of lightheadedness, dizziness, or disconnection.
- The Freeze/Shutdown Part:
- Role: The Freeze protector is activated when a person feels utterly overwhelmed, helpless, or stuck. It is a response to danger where the body or mind “shuts down” to survive.
- Manifestation: This part may cause a person to feel immobilized, apathetic, or unable to take action, even when they deeply desire change.
- Somatic Sensations: You might experience a sensation of heaviness in the body, a lack of energy, or an inability to move or act, often coupled with a numbing or dissociative feeling.
Trauma activates our body’s protective responses, resulting in various “Protector Parts” that, while once essential for safety, may now restrict us from experiencing life fully. In our post on Healing with Somatic Parts Work & Embracing Hurt Parts, we focus on healing these parts and reconnecting with our vulnerable “Hurt Parts.”
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