When we think of trauma, we often focus on the emotional and mental aspects—flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or overwhelming sadness. But trauma doesn’t just live in the mind; it also lives in the body. This is why true healing requires more than just talking through painful memories—it requires a deep connection between the mind and body. In this blog, we'll explore why trauma manifests physically in the body, how it affects our daily lives, and why somatic therapy is essential for deep, lasting healing.
Trauma: More Than Just Mental Pain
Trauma occurs when we experience events that overwhelm our ability to cope, such as abuse, loss, accidents, or prolonged stress. The emotional pain from these events often becomes stored in our bodies, leaving behind a somatic imprint—muscular tension, shallow breathing, and disrupted nervous system responses.
This is where the importance of somatic therapy comes into play. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses primarily on the mental and emotional aspects of trauma, somatic therapy works by addressing the body’s physical responses to trauma. It helps release the stored tension, ease the nervous system, and allow the emotional and physical experiences of trauma to be processed as a whole.
How Trauma Manifests Physically in the Body
Trauma is stored in the body in various ways. These physical manifestations are signs that the body is holding onto unresolved pain and stress. Here are some of the most common ways trauma shows up physically:
Tension and Stiffness: Trauma often leads to chronic tension, particularly in areas like the shoulders, neck, back, and jaw. These areas might feel "frozen" or “heavy,” and this tension can lead to chronic pain or discomfort. The body tries to protect itself by “locking down” these areas, but over time, this restriction can become a barrier to healing.
Breathing Patterns: One of the body’s most immediate responses to trauma is the shifting of breathing patterns. You may notice you begin to breathe more shallowly, or even experience hyperventilation. This is the body’s response to stress: the sympathetic nervous system kicks into gear, triggering the fight-or-flight response. The body stays in a constant state of alertness, which disrupts normal breathing patterns and can leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
Nervous System Dysregulation: Trauma can cause the nervous system to become dysregulated. When the system is overwhelmed, it can become stuck in a constant state of “fight or flight” (hypervigilance) or “freeze” (numbness). In either state, we feel disconnected from our bodies, unable to process emotions or engage fully with the present moment. This can create a sense of emotional numbness, where it’s hard to feel anything, or a constant underlying anxiety.
Somatic Memory: Our bodies also remember trauma. You may feel physical sensations that seem disconnected from the present moment—your heart may race unexpectedly, muscles may tighten, or tension may appear in certain parts of your body. These sensations are often linked to past events, sometimes triggering strong emotional reactions. This is known as somatic memory, where the body is holding onto past pain, even if the mind has moved on.
Why the Body Must Be Involved in Healing
Healing from trauma isn’t just about reliving memories or talking about the past. Trauma is not just cognitive; it is physiological. It’s embedded in our cells, muscles, and tissues. If we want to heal fully, we need to address the body’s role in storing and processing this trauma.
Here’s why the body is essential in the healing process:
Re-regulating the Nervous System: The first step in healing trauma is re-regulating the nervous system. Through somatic techniques, we can help the body shift from a state of hypervigilance or numbness to one of calm presence. This allows the nervous system to reset itself, reducing the body’s overall stress response and creating a sense of safety.
Releasing Physical Tension: Trauma creates physical tension in the body that can remain long after the initial event. In somatic therapy, we use techniques such as breathing exercises, gentle movement, and bodywork to release this tension. When these blockages are released, the muscles and tissues can relax, and the body can return to a state of balance.
Reconnecting to the Body: For many trauma survivors, there can be a disconnection between the mind and body. This disconnection often stems from dissociation during traumatic events. Reconnecting to the body through somatic practices involves becoming more aware of physical sensations, learning to listen to what your body is telling you, and processing emotions as they arise. This allows us to approach emotions from a place of embodied awareness instead of just intellectual analysis.
How Somatic Therapy Helps with Trauma Healing
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. It uses physical techniques to help release trauma stored in the body and re-establish a sense of wholeness.
Breathing exercises help regulate the nervous system.
Gentle movement encourages the release of held tension, helping the body remember how to move freely.
Body awareness practices teach us to tune into the body’s signals, increasing our capacity to respond to emotions in a healthy way.
The Path to Healing
Healing from trauma is not a linear journey, but it is a transformative one. By including the body in the healing process, we allow the full experience of trauma to be released and processed. With somatic therapy, we invite both mind and body to heal together, creating a more complete and lasting recovery.
Trauma affects every part of who we are, and it lives in our bodies as much as in our minds. But the good news is that healing is possible—through somatic therapy, we can release the pain and tension stored in the body and move toward a life of greater health and wholeness.
Healing begins with awareness, followed by action—and your body can be your greatest ally in this process.
References
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
Payne, P., & Levine, P. (2015). Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past. Norton & Company.
Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. W. W. Norton & Company.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books..
Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic Books.
Shapiro, F. (2017). EMDR Therapy: An Overview of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.
Fisher, J., & Shapiro, F. (2008). The Trauma Recovery Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing from Trauma. New Harbinger Publications.
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