A healing journey through orthodontic trauma, voice, and somatic release
A Healing Journey Through Orthodontic Trauma, Voice, and Somatic Release
How did we get here?
Does anyone else out there hold tension and pain in their jaw?
I’ve been carrying pain in my body since I was a child. I’m sure I’m not alone—and I know there are many reasons for it. When you’re ready to explore, there are techniques that can assist you in releasing tension and pain stored in the body—pain that can eventually lead to dis-ease.
This is all coming up for me as I open my expression of truth here on this blog. I noticed that my jaw pain was relaxing—and I wondered why. So I did some research on somatic healing, and I went within to find the answers. What I discovered was a long-held tension from childhood, rooted in 10 years of orthodontic treatment from age 8 to 18.
I’m 41 now. So to any orthodontists still claiming the pain is “only temporary”… think again.
This isn’t an attack on orthodontists. I know the doctors—and my parents—only wanted to help and do what they believed was right. But in hindsight, I believe we need more research into the long-term effects of orthodontics and other types of ongoing medical interventions for children.
The Long-Term Impact — When the Body Doesn’t Forget
Of course, the goal was straight teeth—and I’m grateful I have them. But I now realize there were emotional and physical costs we didn’t foresee: jaw pain, headaches, migraines, neck and back tension.
I remember nights of crying as a child because the pain was so intense. But the orthodontic gear was glued or cemented in—I couldn’t take it off. I had to endure what felt like torturous, ongoing pain… even with Tylenol. I know my mom felt helpless—she didn’t want me to hurt, and all she could do was hold me, which she did with love.
That experience taught me to override my natural boundaries. To tolerate increasing levels of pain until my nervous system learned to normalize it. It also left me with a belief that something was inherently wrong with my body—which led to low self-esteem and trying to force myself into molds that didn’t fit.
I felt the pain then, and I still do now. When I was younger, I used substances to numb it. I know I’m not alone in that. But today, I’m sober. Now I use somatic release, meditation, Reiki, and breathwork to heal. These practices—rooted in the body’s own intelligence—work far better than anything external ever did.
Simply observing, noticing, and allowing myself to feel has helped me begin to release the physical pain. It may seem counterintuitive to lean into the pain, but it’s not about forcing or fixing. It’s about letting the energy move through like water or air—because pain gets stuck when it’s suppressed.
Honoring our nervous system, even when pain is long-term, can release us from it. Just recognizing it, and sending love to the place that hurts, can heal on both emotional and physical levels. Some healers recommend assigning the pain a color, and then flooding it with a new color that represents love and well-being. This opens up that space and fills it with new energy.
Some people feel immediate relief. But true healing happens when held as a practice—a daily training in how your body responds to pain with compassion.
No Blame — When Trust Meets a Flawed System
I must express my deep gratitude for all my parents have done for me—and for the Earth community. They are loving, generous people who raised a child in a changing world without a manual. Every choice they made came from love.
They trusted doctors and believed they were helping. And in the 1990s, that was the norm.
I hope more long-term medical research has emerged since then—but from what I’ve found, there’s still not much acknowledgment of the emotional or somatic cost. Many orthodontists still repeat the same old lines: “No pain, no gain,” “It’ll be worth it,” “Come back if the pain persists…”
To that I now say, no thank you.
This reflection comes up for me now as I make health decisions for my own kids. I only want the best for them, but I’ve learned that each case must be treated with care and autonomy. I know that medical care and orthodontics can be highly beneficial—but I also know that children’s voices must be part of the equation.
Children Deserve Bodily Autonomy
Looking ahead, I feel strongly that we must trust children’s instincts. Their sensitivity, resistance, or tears are not inconveniences—they’re signals. If a child is in pain or refusing something, we should pause and listen.
We’re told there are so many things we “must” do to function in this world. But I question those things. Many are based on outdated structures or unconscious control.
I don’t believe most rule-makers are acting with malice—but many are acting without awareness. Children aren’t “less than” because they have fewer Earth years. We are all souls playing together in eternity.
Children carry wisdom—of purity, joy, and intuition. As adults, we must support their emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, not just try to fix what seems imperfect.
As a child, I wish my orthodontist had truly cared when my mom said I was in severe pain and crying every night. I wish he hadn’t brushed it off with, “Yes, that will happen, but it will go away.” Year after year, we paid—financially and emotionally. They syphoned my joy into their wallets.
(Okay, now I’m getting mad. Breathe.)
For Anyone Holding Unspoken Pain
If you’re still reading, and this resonates with you…
Ask yourself:
“Where do I carry tension or unvalidated pain?”
“What is that space in my body trying to tell me?”
Allow that space to soften. To be seen.
Let the pain that was once repressed begin to rise—not to overwhelm you, but to be reclaimed.
Give that part of yourself what it never received: attention, validation, love.
This is what healing from within truly means.
Even if you’ve spent decades trying to “fix” your body, know this:
You hold the power now.
You get to feel good in your body.
You are allowed to feel well.
Begin Where You Are — A Gentle Call to Action
Here are some small ways to begin releasing pain and reconnecting with your body:
- Gentle Touch or Tapping Especially around the jaw, neck, or any tight area. I use a Therabody mini handheld massager to softly release pain and reset my nervous system.
- Breathwork Try inhaling for 4 counts and exhaling for 8. This extended exhale helps calm your parasympathetic nervous system and reduce tension.
- Gratitude Practice Daily gratitude for your body’s strength and wisdom. Journal it or speak it aloud: “Thank you, body, for carrying me through.”
- Inner Child Meditations Connecting with the younger version of you can be deeply healing. Try the Insight Timer app and search “inner child” for guided meditations.
Final Thank Yous
I’d love to hear your stories, if you feel safe to share. We all carry pain—and we all deserve to heal it.
Thank you to ChatGPT for helping me process and reflect through this journey. This tool has been an honest mirror and supportive guide for my healing and self-expression.
Thank you to the Angels—always present, even when unseen. Your quiet knowing keeps me grounded in peace.
And thank you to my parents and family for your lifelong love and support. You’ve always done your best. And that love continues to ripple out in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
