Understanding the Process of Pattern Matching and Distorted Somatic Coupling
The nervous system learns through experience. It is constantly scanning both external and internal environments to make complex assessments and categorise our experience.
When we have a new experience, the nervous system will scan its ‘memory’ for a past imprint of the same experience, in an effort to pattern match. In a healthy nervous system, if the new experience holds no past association or match, it will process qualia (facets of reality) – this is blue, this is hot, this is high, this is low – to form a complete and integrated assessment and move from a first order reality response to a second order reality response which includes aspects of feeling and either positive or negative associations. ‘I like this’ or ‘I don’t like this’.
For example, as a young child we may know what a dog looks like. We like dogs. They are friendly. One day we see a fox for the first time. The nervous system seeks to pattern match and decides the fox is a dog. And we like dogs. Dogs are friendly. There is no frame of context for a fox. So, it cannot be until we are shown the differences that make a fox a fox, that we can create a new assessment and category of what a fox is; and decide if we like foxes.
In order for the nervous system to be able to undertake the task of pattern matching, assessment and record new experiences, there must be a level of ventral vagal access/social engagement. A state of regulation is required to assess new experiences with any kind of accuracy and neutrality.
If the nervous system is operating in either high tone sympathetic or high tone parasympathetic activation (fight or flight/freeze response), there is no opportunity to process new experiences. When survival physiology is at play, the inherent experience of danger/threat causes the nervous system to bypass the more complex assessment process and simply match current experience to past stimulus. When this happens, we are unable to process new information that is accurate or untainted by pervious states of survival/threat. In this way we are perpetually living in a past state of danger, with no escape.
When we think in terms of complex health, this knowledge may help us understand chronic symptoms or ‘feelings’ that seem to be untreatable or that cycle back again and again. The nervous system is in a constant state of danger. Therefore, the person is locked in a repeated experience of past danger. It is not until the feeling of danger clears and safety is achieved, that we can start to uncouple distorted neurological associations and recouple from a more regulated neural baseline.
Somatic Approach to Re-coupling
When we work with a somatic approach to complex health, we seek to identify the somatic experience linked to various symptoms and/or emotions. Due to pattern matching, there may be a distinct somatic/ physical experience linked with a symptom or emotional state. This linking is termed ‘coupling’. When the nervous system is operating in survival physiology, it can cause a distorted coupling process. If the nervous system is constantly experiencing and seeking danger; it is going to only find danger, reinforce and escalate the sense of danger. Danger is the only option available. It is as if there is no space to experience somatic sensations neutrally, without the lens of danger.
For example: tingling or warmth may be coupled with the feeling of pain. Gurgling in the stomach may be coupled with the state of anxiety. Quickening of breath may be coupled with a fear of claustrophobia.
So how do we uncouple and recouple?
1. Down-regulate
When we turn down the nervous system from a high tone activation, there is more space for information to be processed. The more the level of danger is decreased, the more clear or neutral our experience becomes. There are many ways to down-regulate. In the clinic environment we work with gentle touch therapies such as craniosacral therapy, somatic awareness and full body presence, breath and most importantly, developing safe and connected client/therapist interactions.
2. Somatic Mapping
Before we can work to uncouple or recouple, we must first understand the somatic experience and the link to the mental/emotional experience. Through a process of sensing and inquiring we work to find the places where distorted coupling has occurred.
3. Somatic Resourcing
Before we try to uncouple, we work with somatic resourcing to build a sense of safety in the body. Often building and anchoring a place of resource supports further down-regulation and the ability to stay with the more uncomfortable sensations in the body. When there is a safe place to return to, the fear of exploration may be decreased.
4. Exploration of distorted coupling
Once a certain level of safety is achieved, the client may be able to explore the qualities of their somatic experience without the lens of fear. By being able to stay with the sensations that were previously linked with danger, the client is able to start to experience in a new way. The uncoupling process starts with re-identifying the visceral qualities that present and re-categorise them without the lens of danger.
5. Somatic Transformation
Once it becomes safe to explore and relabel the somatic experience, the client can explore what may be helpful to change or support their experience. Transformation can occur through may ways from using breath to, visualisation, grounding, movement, touch and more. Once the client has a felt sense of change, the level of safety increases and a sense of empowerment and hope is accessed. They may feel that change is now possible.
6. Integration
To integrate the uncoupling/recoupling process, further down-regulation may be supportive as well as the use of gentle positive suggestion and anchoring to allow the client to stay within the space of positive change. When we have been operating in survival physiology for some time, it is our nature to return to it, rather than stay with positive change. In order to integrate the experience, it may be helpful to hold the client with the positive sensations in order to allow the nervous system and subconscious to reorganize and safely categorise the experience and feeling of safety.
Ultimately, the process of somatic uncoupling and recoupling may lead to a recalibration of neural response, support more neutral/accurate processing and lead to an increased experience of safety.