The practice of sensory mastery and conscious withdrawal from overwhelming stimuli, providing trauma survivors techniques to regulate sensory hyperreactivity and overwhelming sensory data.
Pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga, involves conscious management of sensory input—neither suppressing sensation nor being overwhelmed by it. Trauma heightens sensory reactivity: a sound triggers fear, a smell triggers panic, a touch triggers rage. The nervous system becomes hypersensitive, unable to filter or regulate incoming stimuli. Pratyahara teaches deliberate practices: closing eyes in meditation to reduce visual overwhelm, focusing on one sense consciously while releasing others, and gradually expanding the window of tolerance for sensation. This isn't dissociation—which is unconscious avoidance—but conscious, skillful management. Through pratyahara, survivors learn to navigate a sensory-rich world without being controlled by hyperreactive nervous system responses. This restores agency: the person can choose what sensory input to engage with rather than being victimized by it.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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