Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A Levine

Do you ever feel like your body reacts strongly to situations, even when part of you knows you are safe?

In “Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma” by Peter Levine, trauma is understood not just as something that happens to us, but as something that is held in the body and nervous system.

The book explains how our natural survival responses, such as fight, flight or freeze, can become stuck when an experience feels overwhelming, leaving us feeling anxious, shut down or on edge long after the situation has passed.

Rather than focusing only on talking about what happened, this approach highlights the importance of gently reconnecting with the body and allowing these responses to 'complete' in a safe and supported way.

Over time, this can help the nervous system move out of survival mode and into a state where more ease, regulation and connection feel possible.