From Numbness to Empowerment: The Journey of De-Armouring

I was having dinner with friends and one of the guests was a doctor currently completing her specialisation in sexology. Given my long-standing interest in treating trauma, particularly its impact on sexuality, I was curious to learn about her postgraduate training. “It’s very broad,” she assured me. I then asked, “Do you cover trauma-specific techniques?” Her answer was, “Yes, we learn EMDR and hypnotherapy.” I continued, “What about somatic, body-based, techniques to help patients reconnect with their bodies?” She paused and said, “Oh no, we don’t do that.” This intrigued me. When you think about someone who has experienced severe trauma, like a rape victim, their body often bears the deep imprints of that experience. While EMDR and hypnosis are effective for addressing dissociation, there can be other symptoms such as genital pain or numbness. In these cases, psychological tools alone may not be enough to heal.

This dinner conversation inspired me to write about De-Armouring, a technique that, while I’m not a fan of the term, seems crucial. The essence of De-Armouring is about awakening areas of numbness or pain in the body so that one can reclaim them. On a cellular level, it's about clearing out the energetic residue left by trauma and reprogramming the tissue with one's own energy, thus reclaiming both our body and our life.

I find it highly effective to integrate this with Internal Family Systems (IFS) or Parts Work, which highlights how certain parts of us remain frozen at the age when trauma occurred. By releasing these memories through the body and reintegrating them into our present self, we reconnect with our inner adult. This process enables us to engage more authentically in intimate relationships and embody a more aligned, fulfilling sexuality.

What is De-Armouring?

De-Armouring is a body-centred therapeutic approach aimed at releasing physical and emotional tensions or blockages stored in the body due to trauma. The term "armour" refers to the protective rigidity or numbness that the body develops as a defence mechanism against emotional pain. This defence disrupts the natural flow of life energy and limits one’s ability to fully express emotions, particularly in the realm of sexuality.

The concept of "body armour" was originally developed by Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalyst and former student of Sigmund Freud, who believed that trauma and repressed emotions manifest physically as chronic muscular tension. He called this phenomenon "character armour," observing how it not only shaped a person’s emotional responses but also their physical posture. De-Armouring builds on Reich's theory, employing techniques such as deep tissue work, myofascial release, and energy healing to dissolve these tensions. By targeting areas of numbness or discomfort, these methods help to restore the flow of energy and allow emotions to be expressed more freely.

In the context of sexual trauma, De-Armouring plays a crucial role. While techniques like EMDR and hypnosis are effective for addressing the psychological aspects of trauma, De-Armouring targets the body, where trauma is also stored. This approach can help unlock suppressed memories and assist in reclaiming one’s body and sense of self.

Through my own experience, I was able to access early childhood trauma during a De-Armouring session. This deep body work brought long-buried wounds to the surface, and integrating these experiences through EMDR and hypnosis enabled a holistic and lasting healing process.

Key Benefits of De-Armouring:

• Physical Tension Release: Dissolves chronic muscular tension that result from trauma.

• Restoring Sensitivity: Reawakens areas of the body that have become numb.

• Energy Flow: Enhances the flow of energy throughout the body, improving overall well-being and vitality.

• Emotional Healing: Releases emotions trapped in the body, providing emotional relief and a sense of openness and freedom.

• Body Reconnection: Helps individuals reclaim ownership of their bodies, leading to improved self-awareness and confidence.

• Reintegration of Trauma: Helps reintegrate parts of oneself that have been frozen in time due to trauma.

• Sexual Fulfilment: Restores the body’s ability to experience pleasure and deeper intimacy, free from emotional and physical barriers.

• Holistic Healing: Provides a comprehensive approach to healing, recognising the mind-body connection as inseparable in trauma recovery.

  
  

The Birth of Venus by Boticelli

Women's Sexuality: From Wounded to Whole to Sacred.

The journey doesn’t end with trauma release. By addressing these deep-rooted issues, women open the door to profound and even transcendental bodily experiences. For many, achieving orgasm remains challenging, often confined to clitoral stimulation. However, the cervix holds the gateway to a woman's true power and creative energy.

As Susanne Roursgaard, my De-Armouring instructor, once explained, many indigenous cultures regarded sexual union as a gateway to higher states of consciousness, with the cervix seen as a sacred portal. Connecting with the uterus was believed to bring visions providing insights into the destiny of not just the couple, but their entire community. While much of this ancient wisdom has been forgotten, the gateways within our bodies still hold the potential to awaken a deeper, more sacred experience of sexuality.

Our bodies are like treasure chests, and many of us have yet to uncover the hidden jewels within. The first step in this discovery is creating a sense of safety within ourselves. We cannot access deeper experiences when we are trapped in states of survival or hypervigilance. That is why it is crucial to cultivate so much safety for ourselves that it melts away our armour, opens our hearts, and allows us to experience our bodies—and life itself—from a place of love. In doing so, we become the love we seek, and that is precisely what our bodies need in order to fully open.

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Recommended Reading:

"Womb Awakening: Initiatory Wisdom from the Creatrix of All Life" by Azra Bertrand & Seren Bertrand. Highlighting the sacred and mystical aspects of the womb, this masterpiece draws on ancient traditions to present it as a gateway to universal wisdom. The authors explore how healing the womb brings about both personal and collective transformation.

"Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing" by Dr. Christiane Northrup M.D. This comprehensive guide is often hailed as a "bible" for women's health, offering a holistic understanding of the female body. Dr. Northrup addresses trauma, sexuality and the deep connection to feminine energy, empowering women to reclaim their health, well-being, and inner wisdom