The Chicago Mercantile Exchange

In the early 80’s, I worked for an independent commodities broker who traded in pork bellies, silver and t-bills. It was a rowdy, chaotic, ear-splitting environment. At the time, it matched my inner world of equally raucous pandemonium. Surviving the chaos of parent’s abuse left my nervous system bouncing around, either stuck on high or unresponsive.

For 40 years, I white knuckled the highs and lows in my body. Eventually medication helped with focus and mood swings but developing resiliency came from learning how to self regulate my own disorganized system.

This piece is a tribute to my on-going process of healing developmental trauma with table work and touch therapy. Somatic work is the only modality I have found that addresses the attachment and relational aspect of healing my body.