There is a misconception that trauma only affects your psychological well-being – unfortunately, this is not true. Over time, trauma can change your brain chemistry and cellular structure which will impact your body, mind, and spirit – sadly, there are multiple symptoms that can only be explained by the traumatic events you survived in your past.
In this guide we will take a closer look at how trauma impacts your physical health, explore the possibilities of somatic therapy, and figure out what can be done to release trauma your body stores months and years after the disturbing events you lived through.
Understanding Trauma in the Body
There are numerous ways trauma can negatively impact your body since it is rarely just a mental experience. Upsetting memories can be triggered by random sounds and smells, trauma can keep you in a state of hyperarousal and alertness, and the release of stress hormones can undermine your immune system. Moreover, trauma often leads to chronic diseases that disrupt your life such as diabetes, digestive problems, and cardiovascular diseases.
Traumatic experiences are stored and processed differently if you compare them with regular memories – the emotional memory in trauma is characterized by intrusive thoughts, various physical manifestations you cannot control, and vivid flashbacks that force your mind to jump back to the past you are trying to escape.
How Trauma Affects the Nervous System
Trauma causes a major dysregulation of the central nervous system and leads to lasting damage that manifests psychologically, physically, and neurologically. Trauma will trigger the release of adrenaline and cortisol, increase your anxiety, result in flashbacks, and impact your concentration and memory. There may be strong physical and emotional reactions if you keep recalling and reliving disturbing events in your mind so it is crucial to release trauma stored in the body to safeguard your nervous system and adapt your stress responses.
Fight or Flight Response
The fight or flight response refers to a natural reaction of a human being to either get away from the real or perceived threat or prepare for combat. It varies from person to person, and it is hard to predict what kind of physiological and psychological reaction you will experience when you have to confront the threat. Your brain will play a major role in this process – the command center (hypothalamus) and emotional processing center (amygdala) will activate the response when it is needed.
Signs of Stored Trauma
If you suspect trauma manifests physically for you, be on the lookout for the following signs:
| Symptom | Description |
| Tension in Your Muscles | This chronic tension usually occurs in the person’s back, shoulders, neck, and jaw and results in health complications and random aches the individual often fails to explain |
| Digestive Problems | Your gastrointestinal system will suffer when there is a reason to be stressed and anxious – nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea are common symptoms of stored trauma |
| Headaches | From an occasional headache after a triggering event to migraines that last for a significant amount of time – trauma will make it hard for you to focus and enjoy life |
| Sleep Issues | A person overwhelmed by their trauma will find it hard to fall asleep at night, sleep long enough, or feel rested in the morning even after eight hours of sleep which leads to chronic fatigue |
| Tremors and Shaking | In case you are randomly shaking whether you are busy with something or relaxing, it can indicate the release of trauma you are not fully aware of |
Techniques for Releasing Trauma
There are ways for a trauma survivor to improve their mental and physical well-being – here is a brief overview of strategies that will release trauma stored in the body and mind:
| Technique | Description |
| Somatic Therapy | This therapy modality has already helped numerous individuals to release the stress, tension, negativity, and trauma they have been storing in their bodies – its effectiveness for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder has been confirmed by studies |
| Evidence-Based Therapy Modalities | Talk to your therapist to learn what therapeutic approach can resonate best with you. Many people find solace in cognitive behavioral therapy, others work through their issues with dialectical behavior therapy, and many patients benefit from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing under the guidance of an experienced practitioner |
| Grounding Practices | Whether you calm yourself down with breathing exercises, focusing on your five senses, or anchoring yourself in the present by feeling and touching objects in your vicinity, you can avoid dissociation and derealization common for trauma survivors |
| Physical Movement | Do not underestimate the importance of regular exercise and movement for your body. You do not have to sign up for a rigorous training program but make sure you walk in nature, dance, play sports, and stretch your body to release the tension in your muscles and enhance the connection between your body and mind |
| Trauma-Informed Mindfulness | Trauma-sensitive mindfulness techniques can be a great way for you to explore your emotions while also healing your body – you can release the tension with the help of yoga and meditation |
Role of Somatic Therapy
While traditional talking therapy puts emphasis on your emotional problems, somatic therapy can help patients release trapped emotions and tension stored in the body for a considerable amount of time. It takes the link between your body and mind into account to make sure your inner balance is restored.
A somatic therapist will introduce you to grounding exercises and breathing techniques to promote a state of safety and relaxation, make you more aware of the areas of your body that are more tense and restricted in comparison with others, and guide you as you explore traumatic sensations and memories in a comforting environment.
Creating a Safe Healing Environment
If your trauma is too much for you to handle on your own, do not hesitate to seek professional help. There are many people who need to take a break from their daily responsibilities and prioritize their mental wellness as they heal from the events that seriously affected them in the past – talk to your therapist or psychiatrist if traditional therapy and medication management did not yield the results you hoped for in outpatient care and sign up for a residential treatment program to focus on your recovery and meet like-minded individuals with similar experiences.
Heal Trauma With Pacific Coast Mental Health
The link between your mental and physical health can result in numerous adverse effects if you do not take measures against your trauma and do not address it on time – aside from negative side effects for your psyche, trauma will take a toll on your body.
Luckily, modern psychotherapy offers you a chance to overcome your mental health issues and stop holding on to trauma no matter how long it has been since your mental and physical wellness were affected.
Reach out to Pacific Coast Mental Health today – our specialist can offer you diverse therapeutic approaches to help you move past your trauma and create a healthier future for yourself.
FAQs
How is trauma stored in the body and what are its physical manifestations?
Your body continues to store trauma because of the emotional and biological memory. Trauma can trigger the body’s stress response, affect your heart, breathing, and muscles, result in random aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite, and make you feel overwhelmed to the point of chronic health issues.
What role does somatic therapy play in addressing body-based trauma?
A qualified somatic therapist will help you connect with the sensations you experience and identify the areas that hold the trauma and tension. During a somatic therapy session and between the appointments, you can practice mindfulness and self-compassion that will facilitate your emotional stability and aid you in dealing with pent-up emotions and anger that keep damaging your physical wellness.
How can body awareness help in releasing stored trauma?
In many instances, a trauma survivor feels disconnected and detached from their body – they may also feel a lack of safety and control especially if traumatic events they lived through led to physical damage. As you learn to listen to your body and trust it once more with mindful movement, body scanning, and deep breathing, you can calm your nervous system and feel more present in the moment.
What is the connection between the fight or flight response and trauma recovery?
While it is difficult to regulate the stress response of a particular individual, it can be done in trauma recovery under the supervision of a knowledgeable therapist who specializes in trauma-informed care. Regular therapy, lifestyle changes, and mindfulness practices will let you regulate your emotions better so that you heal and stop reacting with either readiness to fight or desire to run away.
How can understanding the body’s somatic response improve trauma recovery?
Somatic responses are involuntary – they are triggered by sensory stimuli yet they can be managed through body awareness practices and relaxation techniques. Additionally, you should address underlying stressors in individual and group therapy if anxiety, stress, and trauma keep triggering your somatic responses and somatic anxiety becomes an obstacle in your way towards profound recovery.
