Most of us recognize that trauma can wreak havoc on our mental well-being. But, it isn’t always that black and white. While almost everyone will experience some type of trauma throughout their lives, they might not process it in the same way.

For example, if you went through a traumatic event as a child, your mind might have worked hard to repress it or block it out of your memory as a defense mechanism.

Unfortunately, trauma can’t be “erased” so easily. Even if your mind doesn’t remember what happened, there’s a good chance your body does, and it will store the effects of the trauma until it’s processed and worked through.

Yes, you read that correctly. Trauma can be stored in the body. Let’s take a closer look at how and where it’s stored, and what you can do to release it no matter how long you’ve been holding onto it.

Why Does the Body Hold Trauma?

When you go through a traumatic event, it activates your flight-or-fight response. This is your mind and body’s natural way of protecting yourself from a threat. Unfortunately, that response is also what often causes the body to hold on to trauma.

When you go into fight-or-flight mode, your body grabs onto all the traumatic energy. It travels to your muscles, organs, and nerves, and the brain disconnects from that area of the body, so you might not remember what happened to you, even if you’re experiencing bodily symptoms.

Essentially, trauma in the body can always cause you to feel on edge, or like there might be a threat around every corner. You might not feel it all of the time, but if there’s a trigger that reminds you of the trauma, it can cause your symptoms to manifest.

How Does Trauma in the Body Show Up?

Speaking of manifestations, trauma stored in the body can show up in many different ways. Some people experience gastrointestinal issues. Trauma creates a lot of stress. That can lead to stomach pains, nausea, acid reflux, and even irritable bowel syndrome.

The stress caused by stored trauma can also cause a variety of physical sensations that you might not otherwise be able to explain. It can lead to everything from aches and pains to a rapid heart rate. Your body might even start to experience chronic pain and other chronic health conditions with no other explanation.

You might also deal with nightmares or bad memories. You might feel overwhelmed easily, or struggle with other mental health issues like depression or anxiety as a result of stored trauma.

Finding Ways to Heal

Trauma stored in the body can have a strong negative impact on your quality of life. Thankfully, there are ways to heal, no matter how long ago the trauma occurred. It’s important to find ways to successfully release it, and that’s not something you have to do on your own.

Typically, the best way to recover from trauma, no matter when it occurred, is to work with a therapist. There are many modalities designed to help with trauma recovery. Being able to talk through what happened and allow those memories to come forward is often the first step toward healing. Even if you have tried to block those memories from your mind, a therapist can help you bring them forward and process them effectively.

Trauma therapy can also help you with self-care strategies that can ease your symptoms and help you start feeling more like yourself again.

The physical effects of trauma can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to let them control your life forever. Please reach out and set up an appointment soon. You can find freedom from the trauma you’ve been storing.