How Somatic Therapy Helped Precious Reclaim Herself
Precious had never known the meaning of rest.
From the moment she stepped into adulthood, life demanded everything from her. As the eldest daughter in a struggling family, she carried the weight of responsibilities too heavy for her young shoulders.
She had once dreamed of becoming an engineer. University was her path out of hardship, but when financial troubles hit, she had to let go of that dream. She didn’t dwell on it. She couldn’t. There was no time for self-pity when her family needed her.
So, she worked. Hard.
She took every opportunity she could find, sacrificing sleep, meals, and moments of joy. She moved far from home to earn more, telling herself that every long shift and every sleepless night was worth it if it meant her family could have a better life.
But no matter how much she gave, it was never enough.
Her father didn’t see the exhaustion in her eyes, the callouses on her hands, or the nights she spent crying in silence. He only saw the moments when she laughed with friends, mistaking them for carelessness. He never asked how she was or told her he was proud.
His messages were always the same.
“Where’s the money? I need it now.”
Precious ignored the sting in her chest. She told herself it didn’t matter. She was doing this for them, after all. But deep down, something inside her was breaking.
She started waking up feeling like a stranger in her own body. The exhaustion wasn’t just physical. It was emotional and spiritual. She felt hollow, disconnected, and lost.
Photo credit: Joice Kelly, 2025 Unsplash
The Turning Point
One evening, after yet another long shift, she found herself unable to move. Her body refused to keep going. She had spent years pushing through pain, exhaustion, and loneliness, but this time, something inside her whispered, Enough.
That was the moment she realised she didn’t just need a break. She needed healing.
That’s when she found somatic therapy.
The Journey Back to Herself
At first, she resisted. Slowing down felt unnatural, almost wrong. How could she rest when there was so much to do? But her therapist guided her through simple, powerful exercises that helped her reconnect with herself.
- Grounding Practices – Feeling her feet on the floor, anchoring herself in the present moment instead of spiralling into stress.
- Breathwork – Understanding that deep, intentional breathing wasn’t a luxury but a necessity, a way to soothe her nervous system.
- Releasing Tension – Recognising where she held pain in her body. Her tight shoulders, clenched jaw, and the heavy weight in her chest were signals, not burdens. Slowly, she learned to soften.
- Reframing Worth – She had spent years equating love with sacrifice. Through therapy, she began to unlearn that belief. She wasn’t just valuable for what she could provide. She was worthy simply for existing.
Photo by Rahil Khan on Unsplash
The Shift
Healing wasn’t instant. There were still days when the old guilt crept in and her father’s words echoed in her mind. But something had changed.
She no longer moved through life on autopilot. She gave herself permission to pause.
She learned to set boundaries, not just financially but emotionally. For the first time, she asked herself, What do I need?
She still worked hard and supported her family. But she no longer sacrificed herself in the process.
For the first time in her life, Precious felt at home. Not just in a physical place, but within herself.
If this resonates with you, get in touch. And if you’d like to try this for yourself, book in for a free 15 minute consult or check out our Intro offer (3 sessions for $370).