Somatic Vocabulary

In therapy, and perhaps even more so in trauma therapy, the body is just as important as the mind. Just as we seek to understand our emotions, it's important to be able to identify physical sensations. We need vocabulary to do this. Learning both emotions and sensations can feel like learning a new language. In this post, I want to provide you with a list of somatic vocabulary to help you identify what you are experiencing.

Achy	Dizzy	Jumpy	Spinning
Bloated	Dull	Light	Strong
Blocked	Electric	Nauseous	Suffocating
Breathless	Energized	Numb	Sweaty
Bubbly	Expansive	Pounding	Tense
Buzzy	Flushed	Pressure	Thick
Chills	Flutter	Prickly	Throbbing
Clammy	Frantic	Puffy	Tight
Cold	Frozen	Radiating	Tingly
Congested	Fuzzy	Shaky	Trembling
Constricted	Heavy	Sharp	Warm
Dense	Itchy	Smooth	Watery

Try taking a moment to check in with your body. Notice what sensations you feel and see if you can label those sensations.