INCIPIENT ARMORING

[ Introduction ] [ Energy Movement ] [ How We Got There ] [ Fight or Flight ] [ More Contact ] [ Incipient Armoring ] [ Chronic Armoring ] [ Tools of Therapy ] [ Therapeutic Process ] [ Acting Out ] [ Concluding Remarks ]

In children, the first signs of armoring are usually seen in the diaphragmatic area and the chest.  Armoring that may already be immobilizing other areas, especially in the eyes, may be more subtle and not as evident.  Holding in these areas as well as in other segments of the body can present in a variety of ways.

Generally, the muscles are in some state of chronic contraction and spasticity, with some degree of sensitivity to palpation.  This would be expected in a person whose musculature is tense and in a state of contraction.  At this point the armoring is usually not permanent and gives way fairly easily with proper therapeutic intervention.  Of course, this is only true relative to the amount of damage the child has suffered.  It can be expected to recur, but at this stage it is not permanent.