America is in a crisis of transformation. The planes imploding into the twin towers catalyzed a process of change. Alarm is now our collective situation and it is unclear how long the cellular shock will last.
     
If there is a threat to our somatic integrity, we are challenged to respond. Alarm acts as an excitatory electrical storm, and when it floods the organism, the body feel in danger of being overwhelmed. There is a threat of impending disorganization. Excitement, with no object for action, leads to panic and then depression.
     
Crisis can bring about a loss of somatic contact with ourselves and our values. There is a loss of an orderly sense of being in the world. We become exceedingly alert and develop a continual attitude of investigation. For some, the somatic-emotional response to this heightened investigatory stance is avoidance or passivity and collapse. In others, the anticipatory dread of being overwhelmed causes an immediate urge to act.
     
The pattern of alarm can be managed somatically by modifying the organization of alarm, hyperalertness, avoidance and collapse. Formative work with alarm starts with the external muscular patterns of vigilance or helplessness. The internal somatic attitude is reached by making minimal alterations to the external layers. Gradually there is an internal shift in body shape and orientation.
     
Tragedy carries many messages. One of them is a respect for the holiness of the individual, an individual grounded in ordinary daily life.

For further information see two books by Stanley Kelman: Patterns of Distress and Emotional Anatomy.