Understanding Global High Activation: A Somatic Experiencing Approach to Healing

When it comes to trauma, not all symptoms are easily visible or isolated to one part of the body. In many cases, trauma can trigger what's known as global high activation, a state where the entire nervous system is operating on high alert. This can lead to overwhelming physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms that are difficult to pinpoint or manage. Fortunately, Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-centered therapeutic approach, offers a way to gently unwind this state and guide the nervous system back to balance.

What Is Global High Activation?

Global high activation refers to a condition in which the entire nervous system is stuck in a heightened state of arousal. This is often the result of unresolved trauma where the body was unable to complete a natural fight, flight, freeze, or appease response.

How to Tell If You’re Experiencing Global High Activation

Global high activation can be subtle or intense, and because it becomes a "new normal" for many, it’s not always easy to recognize. Here are some common signs that may indicate your nervous system is stuck in a globally activated state:

1. You feel constantly “on edge”

Even in safe or familiar situations, your body feels tense, alert, or ready for something to go wrong. You may struggle to fully relax, even when there’s no obvious stressor.

2. You’re easily startled or hyper-aware of your environment

Loud noises, sudden movements, or changes in your surroundings feel exaggerated. You may scan your environment frequently or have difficulty tuning things out.

3. You carry chronic tension or discomfort in your body

Your muscles may feel tight or braced most of the time, especially in the shoulders, jaw, chest, or stomach without an obvious reason.

4. You experience frequent anxiety or panic without clear triggers

You might feel waves of anxiety, restlessness, or dread that seem to come out of nowhere, making it hard to trace back to a specific cause.

5. You have sleep disturbances or feel exhausted despite rest

You might have difficulty falling asleep, wake up frequently, or feel unrested even after sleeping. Your system may never fully “power down.”

6. You feel emotionally numb or disconnected

In some cases, global high activation can lead to emotional shutdown or a sense of disconnection from your body, feelings, or the world around you.

7. You avoid activities that once felt safe or enjoyable

You might shy away from social situations, physical movement, or daily tasks that previously brought joy, due to a deep, often unconscious sense of threat.

How Somatic Experiencing Addresses Global High Activation

Somatic Experiencing, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is based on the understanding that trauma is stored in the body. SE focuses on helping individuals reconnect with their physical sensations in a safe, gradual way to support the body’s natural ability to regulate and release stuck survival energy.

Here’s how SE helps with global high activation:

1. Tracking Sensation to Build Awareness

SE sessions begin with learning to track physical sensations, a practice that helps individuals recognize signs of activation and relaxation. By noticing subtle shifts in the body, clients can begin to map their internal experience and gain a sense of control.

2. Titration: Healing in Small Doses

One of the key principles of SE is titration, which means working with trauma in very small, manageable pieces. This prevents overwhelm and helps the nervous system slowly unwind from its heightened state without being re-traumatized.

3. Pendulation: Moving Between Activation and Calm

SE guides the client to move back and forth between feelings of discomfort (activation) and safety (calm), a process called pendulation. This gentle oscillation teaches the body that it is safe to feel and helps restore nervous system flexibility.

4. Discharge and Completion

As your body begins to feel safer through Somatic Experiencing, it may naturally begin to release held tension and energy, often through gentle, involuntary responses like shaking, sighing, warmth, or even a deep sense of calm. These moments of release, known as discharge, are signs that your nervous system is completing a survival response that was previously stuck or unfinished.

5. Creating a Felt Sense of Safety

Ultimately, SE helps rebuild a felt sense of safety, allowing individuals to feel more grounded and at ease in their own bodies. Over time, this reduces global high activation and supports deeper healing.

A Path to Greater Calm and Resilience

Living with global high activation can be exhausting and confusing, especially when the symptoms don’t have a clear cause. But healing is possible. Through Somatic Experiencing, the body is given a chance to complete what was interrupted by trauma, restore balance to the nervous system, and build resilience.

If you’ve been feeling constantly on edge, tense, or overwhelmed, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to stay this way. SE offers a gentle, supportive approach to help your body and mind come back to rest.

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

At A Day in the Life Counseling, we offer trauma-informed Somatic Experiencing sessions tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're dealing with long-term symptoms of trauma or recent stress, we’re here to support you with compassion and care.

Contact us at victoria@adayinthelifecounseling.com or call/text 720-583-5374 to learn more or schedule a session. We are located in Colorado Springs and serve the state of Colorado. 

You deserve to feel safe in your body. Let’s take the next step together.