Using Cannabis as an Aid to Embodiment
Mindful use of cannabis can make somatic practices easier for people who struggle to stay out of their own head.
When was the last time you noticed your body? It might seem like a hard thing to miss, but the truth is that we are in our minds most of the time. Looking at screens. Thinking about what to do next. Focusing on work or taking care of family. We move too fast to notice our body until it breaks.
Somatic Awareness
As a somatic sex and relationship coach, I also see first hand the ways that this body/mind disconnect also disrupts emotional processing and mental health. My clients want to connect with potential partners but are missing key skills like reading body language, knowing what feels good, or emotional awareness that can only be developed by noticing how your body is feeling in the first place.
I wanted to go into sex and relationship coaching through my exposure to consent education at polyamory events. Learning how to communicate clearly and openly around things like what kind of a relationship or sex I wanted was life changing and I wanted to help others do the same. When I started my certification classes with The Somatic Institute, I knew somatic meant “of the body” but it wasn’t until I went through six months of training that I really understood how transformative this approach can be. I don’t just help my clients understand a few things mentally, I help them feel new things so they can really internalize it.
Embodiment
During our first session, I help clients slow down enough to notice and feel their bodies. To track the sensations and emotions that they find there. This is called embodiment. Embodiment, like mindfulness involves being present and aware of what is going on in the moment. While mindfulness invites you to be aware of the world around you, embodiment asks you to be aware of what is going on inside your mind and your body.
I work on embodiment first because it’s so important. Emotions and stress are processed and released in the body. Somatic experiencing therapies (integrating body and mind) are proving to be an incredibly effective way to help people heal from trauma. A growing body of evidence is confirming that if you don’t feel it, you can’t heal it. Embodiment is also a crucial ingredient for fulfilling intimacy. Being able to stay present in your body, to notice if something is pleasurable or painful, is crucial for enjoyable sex. My clients have to be able to feel what is happening in their body for everything that we do together.
Despite it’s importance, finding your way into your body again takes practice. I have ADHD and a lot of my clients are neurodiverse. Due to distracting thoughts and being more sensitive to physical sensation, this population is prone to living in their heads. I use breathing and movement exercises to help my clients with this practice. I also suggest using cannabis if they are open to it.
How Cannabis Can Help
The amazing thing about cannabis is that it doesn’t just reduce pain. It actually makes your body feel better. We get the munchies because food tastes so much better when you’re high. You don’t just listen to music while you are consuming, you feel the music. The pleasure you feel from touch is amplified and enhanced.
This property of cannabis is often thought of as a pleasant side effect, but for me, it’s the primary reason I use cannabis. As someone with ADHD, this enhanced awareness of my body makes it easier for me to stay focused and present when doing yoga, plus it makes the stretches feel so satisfying. When I’m struggling to get out of my head and figure out my own emotions, I know it’s time to go inward with some help from cannabis sativa. A smoke session with a walk outside and some journaling always helps me to find my own emotional truth. Suddenly it seems obvious to me how I should handle the situation I had felt so stuck in only an hour before.
Tips for Getting Started
You may already be using cannabis in this way, even if you’ve never heard of embodiment. In my experience, the process is greatly enhanced the more intentional you are with it. Here are some general guidelines for going deeper in your body with cannabis.
Aim for relaxing the mind, not shutting it off. The goal for this kind of work is to be able to keep the mind engaged with your body. Go high enough to feel altered but not body locked.
Use with intention. Chose an activity you want to enhance with cannabis and state your intention to yourself in a positive way. “I will get high and go for a walk outside while I notice beauty around me.”
Observe your lift off. As you embark on your high, take a few moments to notice your breath and relax. See if you can notice how different parts of your body are experiencing the effect. If you have time, play with trying to enhance the feeling in your body by giving it more attention.
Be gentle with whatever comes up. Many people don’t like being in their body because of emotion and stress they are currently trying to repress. Because cannabis relaxes the body, it’s common for these emotions to come forward when we are high and looking inward. It’s one of the reasons being too high can give you anxiety or even a panic attack. You may experience sudden crying, shaking, or memory recall of something painful. Let it come forward without judgement. It won’t last forever and you will feel lighter afterwards.
Work with someone you trust. These emotions and experiences can be intense and even scary. If you have someone who you trust with your vulnerable side, ask them to join you for the experience so you have someone to help you ground back into reality if it feels overwhelming.
Face trauma with a professional if at all possible. If you have things that are so painful you are afraid of them coming up, it’s very hard to ever fully relax. This adds more stress to your body, which makes it even harder to relax, and the problem is compounded. Someone who has training to be with you compassionately while guiding your experience of using cannabis to let your emotions be worked with and healed can make an immense impact on your quality of life and mental health. I use a somatic approach with my clients, but there many other healing methods that are compatible with cannabis use.
There are many ways that learning to connect with my body through cannabis has changed my life for the better. That’s why I’m so excited to be doing the work I do. So the next time you are medicating, take a moment to let your body enjoy the experience.
This post was first published on the MedicateOH blog, which covers cannabis related news in Ohio.
Another fantastic article from a life-changing coach! Rachel continues to bring her insights to improve everyday life.