Locked in the Body: The Neurobiological Impact of Trauma and Somatic Healing
“Recent studies and discoveries point out that we heal primarily in and through the body, not just through the rational brain. We can all create more room, and more opportunities for growth, in our nervous systems. But we do this primarily through what our bodies experience and do – not through what we think or realize or cognitively figure out.”
“Until we understand that traumatic symptoms are physiological as well as psychological, we will be woefully inadequate in our attempts to heal them.”
Trauma is not just a psychological experience; it has profound physical implications as well. When someone endures trauma, whether it’s from a single overwhelming event or chronic, repeated stress, these events get experienced through the body, therefore, it is also the body that stores these experiences.
Understanding how trauma manifests in the body and utilizing somatic, or body-based, techniques and tools to release it is essential for deep healing and transformation to occur.
How Trauma Manifests Physically
The Body’s Response to Trauma
Stress Responses: When faced with a traumatic experience, the body activates instinctual survival reactions, known as stress responses. When the brain’s limbic system detects a threat to a person’s safety (humans have many layers of safety - emotional, relational, physical or spiritual) a signal is sent for the release of adrenaline and cortisol to flood the inner system, preparing the body to confront or escape the threat. If the trauma is severe or prolonged, a person can wind up living in a chronic state of stress and survival, leading to constant states of hyper or hypo arousal.
Freeze Response: In some cases, particularly when escape or confrontation isn’t possible, the nervous system/body may enter a freeze state. This response can result in numbness, dissociation and a feeling of being stuck.
Physical Manifestations
Muscle Tension: Chronic trauma can lead to persistent muscle tension, often in the neck, shoulders, and back. This tension can cause pain and limit mobility.
Somatic Symptoms: Trauma can manifest as a variety of somatic (body-based) symptoms, including headaches, gastrointestinal issues and chronic pain. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed or attributed to other causes.
Respiratory Issues: Trauma can affect breathing patterns, leading to shallow or rapid breathing. This can perpetuate a state of anxiety and further stress the body.
Cardiovascular Strain: Prolonged stress from trauma can increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues due to the constant presence of stress hormones in the system.
How Trauma is Stored in the Body
Trauma is stored in the body through a complex interplay of neural, hormonal and muscular responses. The body remembers trauma through:
Neural Pathways: Traumatic memories can become encoded in the brain’s neural pathways. These pathways can trigger physical responses even when the original trauma is not consciously remembered.
Muscle Memory: Muscles can hold onto the tension and patterns of protection form during a traumatic event. This is why specific body parts often feel tight or painful in relation to certain memories or emotions.
Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation: If a person cannot fight or flee the stress response remains incomplete and the energy intended to mobilize the person for action gets stuck in the nervous system/body. Often, a secondary freeze response mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system occurs, causing a shutdown or dissociation which can leave the body in a state of immobility with high levels of stored energy leading to symptoms like chronic anxiety, fatigue and hypervigilance.
Cellular Memory: Some theories suggest that trauma can be stored at the cellular level, potentially altering gene expression, impacting the immune system and affecting the body’s overall function and health.
Understanding that trauma is not just a mental experience but a physical one is crucial for comprehensive healing. By recognizing how trauma manifests and is stored in the body, you can better address your symptoms and begin to finally heal. Somatic therapeutic modalities like sensorimotor psychotherapy, somatic experiencing (SE), somatic EMDR and somatic IFS offer a range of techniques to help release trauma stored in the body providing a pathway to holistic healing and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual manifestations of trauma, don’t hesitate to reach out! Working to heal trauma in a somatic way can be incredibly healing and transformative. Just head to the upper right-hand corner of our website to contact us and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Curious to know more? Just head to the “contact” tab in the upper right hand corner of our website, submit your contact form or call us at 720-923-3033 and we will be in touch!