Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma

Levine argues that trauma develops not from threatening events themselves, but from the body’s incomplete physiological responses to those events. When fight or flight becomes impossible, the nervous system activates a freeze response—mobilizing tremendous survival energy while simultaneously immobilizing the person experiencing the trauma. Unlike wild animals, who naturally shake and tremble to discharge this trapped energy, humans often suppress these instinctual responses, leaving the arousal locked in their bodies. To heal, individuals can learn to identify when their bodies enter hyperarousal (racing heart, shallow breathing, muscle tension) and give themselves permission to experience natural discharge mechanisms like trembling, sweating, or spontaneous movements. For example, after a near-miss car accident, instead of immediately driving on, someone should pull over safely and spend 15-20 minutes allowing their body to shake while focusing on physical sensations. In workplace conflicts that leave a person frozen, they might find a private space to notice where tension lives in their body and allow micro-movements or deep breaths to begin releasing it. This completion of biological cycles prevents symptoms from developing and transforms potential trauma into resilience.