Some daysThey sit alongside experience rather than trying to change it. They offer vibration without interpretation. They allow the body to remain as it is. Some days, the sound may feel comforting. Some days, it may feel irrelevant. Some days, it may feel unwelcome., the sound may feel comforting. Some days, it may feel irrelevant. Some days, it may feel unwelcome.

For some nervous systems, sustained tones can feel overwhelming, disorienting, or intrusive. This is especially true for people with sound sensitivity, migraines, tinnitus, or certain trauma histories. This does not mean the body is “resistant. "It means the body is communicating. Trauma-informed sound work does not override that communication.

You do not need to listen the entire time. You do not need to stay near the sound. You do not need to “work with” the vibration. Turning the sound off is part of the practice. Leaving the room is part of the practice. Needing quiet afterward is part of the practice.

Tibetan singing bowls produce long, sustained tones with gentle overtones. These sounds do not start and stop abruptly. They unfold. They linger. They fade slowly. This gradual movement can be easier for the nervous system to tolerate than sharp or unpredictable sound.

You do not need to sit still. You do not need to breathe differently. You do not need to feel relaxed. You may listen briefly. You may turn the sound off. You may leave the room entirely. The bowl does not follow you.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not only a condition of memory or thought. It is a nervous system response shaped by overwhelm, threat, and loss of safety.