In this short video, trauma therapist Linda Thai, LMSW, shares a striking example of how the nervous system instinctively knows how to complete a stress response. Drawing from her own post-surgical experience, she explains how involuntary shaking and movement are not symptoms to be suppressed, but natural, embodied processes that support healing and regulation.
About Linda Thai
Linda Thai, MSW, LMSW (she/her), is a trauma therapist who specializes in cutting-edge brain- and body-based modalities for healing complex developmental trauma. As an educator and consultant, she is gifted at contextualizing, synthesizing, and communicating complex and nuanced issues related to
trauma, attachment, and the nervous system—including the impact of systemic oppression on identity, mental health, and well-being. Linda is passionate about breaking cycles of historical and intergenerational trauma at both individual and community levels. She deeply believes in the healing power of grieving together in community. Born in Vietnam, raised in Australia, and now living in Alaska, Linda is a former child refugee who redefining what it means to be Vietnamese, to be Australian, and to be a United States-ian. Check out Linda’s website
When a client comes to therapy and continues to shake their legs all the time, and we share this information with them, further how does this information help them? I mean, how do we take this awareness forward to carve healing
I described my post cardiac embodied reactions to the invasions of surgery to several attentive members of my hospital staff.
I hope I too was able to pass on the vibrant life protective qualities of embodied responses to the
grand, skillfully invasive violations of open heart surgery. I gave deep grateful praise for Hakomi Therapy’s reverberating wisdom
that the body never lies. Our revitalizing post op responses source wise healing, when honored with skilled, mindful, resonant professional (usually) seasoned wisdom.
I totally agree with this sentiment. Thanks for the information.
You will be interested to know that women delivering babies also tremble afterwards, though not cold, either! Very common post delivery symptom. Prob similar F/F reaction.
How do you know this is not the typical post anesthesia shaking and shivering that occurs after surgery. The surgery suite is kept cool and that may contribute to the body temperature dropping.
I understood so much more clearly what you were explaining. Thank you.
I was trained with Nkem Ndefo years ago to utilize the self induced therapeutic tremor which at that time was called TRE. I’m so happy to see your short video here and how explaining that to the nurse offered some real insight to the operating room experience.it’s amazing. I feel very. inspired by your presentation thank you.
I had this happen when I was being abused in emerg. The nurse immediately said I was faking. I couldn’t stop it. Fortunately my partner at the time cam ein and said it happened before. Our medical system doesn’t understand this and assumes everything is faking to get attention. They don’t beleive people can have PTSD who are not first responders or war vets. I have gone into convulsions many times in stress but no one knew what it was. It’s even happened in my doctor’s office twice and he thinks it’s panic attacks. It took me years to convince him it wasn’t. The mental health nurse was excellent and must have educated him. He believed her but not me. Medical people here think old guys are faking everythng to get attention. I have seen it for years. They have no knowledge of any of this as they are never taught. MEdical people create secondary trauma and I had nightmares for months over abuse in 3 hospitals. The hotline confirmed there is a growing number of people being abused in hospitals.
After a recent surgery, I had strong jaw movements for several hours. It looked like teeth chattering ( violently) but I was not cold. As a somatic therapist I thought it might be my body re-regulating but I did not know why my jaw. Maybe because of the breathing tube? I have had many surgeries and this has never happened.
Any thoughts?
Karen
Your life experiences must have had a major impact on your aspirations to become a somatic therapist and your passion to connect with your inner body is inspirational . I thoroughly enjoyed your explanation after anaesthesia….thank you.
That was very I interesting and aligned with the fact that often when I get a shock – physical or emotional my body’s reaction is to shiver which is a form of shaking.
That was very I interesting and aligned with the fact that often when I get a shock – physical or emotional my body’s reaction is to shiver which is a form of shaking.