# Arousal Cycle [^1] 1. Tension, alertness, preparedness for action, 2. Action 3. Discharge, relaxation, return to equilibrium / [[💡 Emotional Regulation]] Stimulus -> Charge Energy -> Discharge Energy Even when we witness something minor, like a car hitting a cyclist at a low-speed, we get this twisted-gut feeling. If we can't resolve that feeling, or if we repeat it over and over, it gets frozen inside and our [[💡 Parts]] get [[💡 Burdens 🪨|burdened]] and they become [[💡 Exiles]] and extreme [[💡 Protector Parts]]. We develop [[Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma|Symptom of Trauma]], the result of our [[💡 Trauma|💡Traumatic Experience]] recycling itself over and over as Exiles are triggered. It's like a kind of muscle memory -- it's automatic. [[🔑 Trauma can heal somatically]] ## Related [[💡 Trauma]] [^1]: [[📖 🟠 The Healing Trauma Online Course]]