How Fear Protects Us and How We Deal With Chronic Fear

Fear is a natural and essential part of our human experience. It acts as our body’s early warning system, alerting us to potential danger and preparing us to respond. Whether it’s the rush of adrenaline that enables us to jump out of the way of an oncoming car or the heightened awareness that keeps us vigilant in unfamiliar environments, fear has played a critical role in human survival for millennia.

However, while fear protects us, it can also evolve into something more complex - particularly when connected to trauma. When fear becomes a chronic response to perceived threats, it often outlives its usefulness. Many people live with this constant companion of fear, often without even realizing it.

This is the fear that persists long after the actual danger has passed.

Trauma can anchor fear deep into our bodies and minds, creating what we call a traumatic response. This is the body’s way of armouring itself, locking into patterns of tension and heightened alertness. Fear, especially as it relates to trauma, becomes a deeply embodied experience, manifesting as tightness in the chest, a racing heart, or a general sense of unease. Over time, these physical and emotional responses harden into what can feel like an impenetrable shell.

A protective armour that shields us but also keeps us stuck.

The Role of Fear in Trauma
In the context of trauma, fear can act as both the cause and the symptom. Trauma, whether from sudden events or prolonged stress, often leaves an imprint on the body. This imprint shows up as chronic tension, emotional overwhelm, and a state of hypervigilance. The body reacts to everyday stimuli as though they were ongoing threats, and this is where fear transitions from being a protective mechanism to something more detrimental.

Peter Levine, a pioneer in understanding trauma through somatic approaches, highlights the importance of uncoupling the physical sensations of fear from the mental images or thoughts that reinforce it. In his work, he explains that fear is essentially a bodily sensation, such as a pounding heart or tightness in the stomach, paired with thoughts or images—what might be considered the story of fear. When these two are intertwined, fear intensifies and can spiral into a chronic state, often seen in conditions like PTSD.

Fear and the Armour We Build
The term de-armouring refers to the process of releasing these physical and emotional layers of protection that our bodies develop in response to fear and trauma. Over time, this armour - initially created to protect us - can become a prison of tension, anxiety, and emotional numbness. Fear, held in the body over long periods, prevents us from fully engaging with life, numbing us to both joy and pain.

In my Studio in Berlin, I’ve found that many of my clients, particularly those dealing with PTSD or long-term Symptoms with a cause of trauma, carry these deep layers of tension. In a Full Body De Armouring Sessions, we aim to gently release this built-up armour, helping to locate, isolate and unlock the fear stored sensations in the body. De Armouring isn’t just a physical process; it’s can be deeply emotional. By working through both the body and mind, we allow the sensation of fear to move through us rather than remain trapped within.

Uncoupling Fear from Its Story
Levine’s approach to trauma and fear gives us a roadmap for how to navigate these deep-rooted responses. By focusing on the physical sensations of fear without attaching stories to them, we can begin to shift how fear lives within us. He teaches us that fear, in its purest form, is simply a sensation. When we allow ourselves to experience the sensation of fear - without the accompanying catastrophic thoughts - it has the opportunity to change, dissipate, or evolve into something new.

An example from his work might look like this: A person notices that their heart is racing. Rather than immediately jumping to the conclusion that something terrible is about to happen, they simply observe the sensation. Does it increase? Does it decrease? Does it shift into another sensation? By staying with the body’s experience and letting go of the mental story, the sensation of fear can move through the body, eventually releasing its grip.

A Simple Exercise for Fear
Levine suggests a simple exercise that can help with the uncoupling of fear from its story. Let’s try it together:

1. Find a quiet space, and gently tune in to your body. Notice any sensation that might indicate fear or anxiety. It could be a fluttering in your stomach, a tightness in your chest, or a quickening heartbeat.

2. Focus on this sensation without judgment. Don’t try to change it, simply observe. Is it getting stronger or weaker? Does it remain constant? Or perhaps it transforms into something else?

3. Now, introduce gentle movement to your body. You might try something playful, like skipping lightly in place. As you do this, notice how the sensation in your body begins to shift. Does the tightness ease? Do you feel a new sensation, like warmth or tingling?

This practice can help gently release fear from the body, a small but powerful step toward de-armouring.

De-Armouring: A Path to Releasing Chronic Fear
In my work of De Armouring, the aim is to release the physical and emotional layers that have accumulated over time due to trauma and chronic fear. During a full body De-armouring session, we focus on guiding the body to let go of its protective mechanisms, allowing for a greater sense of freedom and ease. By working with the body directly, we support the nervous system come back into a relaxed state, balance and giving it the space to discharge stored tension.

De-armouring is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and in my sessions in Berlin, I work closely with each client to create a supportive environment. For those dealing with PTSD or long-standing trauma, this work can be especially transformative. Through gentle, non-invasive “soft touch” Bodywork, I help clients isolate the physical sensations of fear, much like Levine describes. By separating these sensations from the mental narrative, we allow the body to move through and release its stored fear.

How I Guide My Clients Through De-Armouring in Berlin
In my bodywork practice, I work with clients to gently guide them through these processes of releasing stored fear and trauma. A De-armouring session is a supportive space where we focus on the physical sensations in the body, inviting awareness and presence to areas of tension or tightness. Soft touch and gentle guidance can support clients to feel through these sensations without being overwhelmed by them.

I often begin by supporting clients notice how fear is showing up in their bodies - perhaps as a tightness in the chest, a clenching in the belly, or a heaviness in the limbs. It’s a very important step for everyone on this journey to understand the language of the body. In this receptive state of deep listening, we explore these sensations, always with a soft intention on exploring, witnessing and not fixing.
With the craft of “soft touch” De Armouring, I support the clients body in releasing its protective patterns, helping it move toward a state of relaxation and openness.

This process allows for the uncoupling of fear from its mental story, enabling the body to release old patterns of holding and protecting as armour. As this tension soften, clients often report feeling a new sense of lightness, freedom, space, peace and “new” feeling of connection to their bodies.

If you’re interested in learning more about De Armouring, or if you’d like to experience a full body De-armouring session in Berlin, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can explore how this gentle and very effective bodywork practice can support you releasing chronic fear and step into a more embodied, present way of being.

For more information, visit this page here [click] or feel free to contact me directly to learn how we can support you on your personal and individual journey.

Warmly
Johannes

Johannes Ebert Bodywork - Awaken your inner light through bodywork de-Armouring

* https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2015/08/17/how-traumatic-memories-hide-in-the-brain/
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4255725/