Trauma doesn’t just live in our memories—it lives in our bodies.
For a long time, I didn’t realize how deeply trauma was affecting me physically. I thought my exhaustion, body aches, and emotional shutdowns were just part of being “too sensitive” or “too tired.” But as I began learning more—especially through The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk—I started to understand the truth: my body had been carrying what my mind tried to push down.
In this post, we’ll explore how trauma shows up in the body, why it’s connected to our past experiences, and how we can begin to heal not just mentally, but physically.
Understanding Physical Symptoms of Trauma
When we experience trauma, our bodies often carry what our words cannot express. These physical symptoms aren’t imagined—they’re the body’s way of saying, “Something happened, and I’m still trying to process it.”
Here are just some of the ways trauma can physically show up:
Physical Symptoms
- Extreme Fatigue
- This isn’t just being tired—it’s bone-deep exhaustion. I often felt like I had no energy to do anything outside of work. I flaked on friends, missed plans, and felt consumed with guilt. That guilt led to more isolation and shame, and the cycle repeated.
- Muscle Tension & Pain
- I carry most of my tension in my shoulders and jaw. After crying, I often notice my face is tight, my breathing is shallow, and my head pounds. Trauma doesn’t just leave emotional bruises—it leaves physical ones, too.
- Sensory Changes
- During particularly stressful seasons, I’ve experienced strange sensory changes—like hot water not feeling hot or sounds seeming muffled. These were signs my nervous system was overwhelmed.
- Sleep Disturbances
- Falling asleep, staying asleep, and nightmares were all a normal part of life for me at one point. I didn’t realize they were connected to trauma—I thought I was just “an overthinker.”
Emotional Symptoms
- Mood Swings & Emotional Numbness
- One minute I’d feel everything—rage, sadness, anxiety—and the next, I’d feel nothing. This emotional whiplash made me hard to be close to. I’d treat people poorly, shut them out for small things, and take everything personally. I once got upset with a friend for changing her relationship status on Facebook before telling me. I didn’t realize at the time, but I was reacting from an unhealed place.
- Relationship Struggles
- I often picked emotionally unavailable partners and projected my trauma onto them. I became controlling, needy, or withdrawn—depending on the day. I hurt others before they could hurt me.
Psychological Symptoms
- Intrusive Thoughts
- I’ve battled disturbing, unwanted thoughts that seemed to come out of nowhere. For a long time, I kept these hidden out of fear of judgment, until I realized they were part of trauma’s hold—not who I truly was.
- Hyperarousal
- My nervous system lived on edge. I was always waiting for something to go wrong. The smallest trigger could send me spiraling.
- Dissociation
- Sometimes it felt like my inner child was in charge of my adult life while my adult self was asleep. During one trauma anniversary, I walked into my office and literally forgot how to open the door. I was back in my 8-year-old mind.
The Link Between Trauma and ACEs
One critical tool for understanding trauma’s long-term effects is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study. ACEs include things like:
- Abuse or neglect
- Witnessing domestic violence
- Parental separation
- Mental illness or substance use in the home
- Incarcerated family members
The more ACEs a person has, the higher their risk for:
- Chronic health issues
- Mental illness
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue
Reflecting on my ACEs helped me make sense of my body’s responses. I wasn’t “lazy” or “dramatic”—I was surviving.
Moving Forward with Awareness and Healing
Peter Levine, the founder of somatic experiencing, teaches that trauma can get “stuck” in the body. He points out how animals naturally shake off traumatic energy after a threat—but humans often don’t.
When I feel that tight ball of trauma in my chest, I’ve learned to let my body move. I shake, I stretch, I walk, I cry. Movement releases what words cannot.
Exercise, especially walking and yoga, has become a safe outlet. I also try to notice my physical sensations in the moment—placing my hand on my heart, breathing deeply, saying “you’re safe now.” These small actions have helped me reconnect to my body instead of fearing it.
My Story: From Survival to Self-Compassion
I didn’t recognize my trauma responses until after my mother passed away. Her death pulled me into a deep depression. I couldn’t function. I felt like giving up.
But that pain opened my eyes. I started asking myself, Who am I beneath the pain? Beneath the patterns? I realized that much of how I had been acting wasn’t my personality—it was a trauma survival identity.
This realization hurt—but it also healed. I started apologizing to people I had pushed away or hurt. Many of them forgave me. That forgiveness showed me something I had struggled to believe my whole life: I was deeply loved.
And one day, in a moment of total emotional collapse, I cried out to God. Face on the mat, tears soaking the floor, I begged Him for help. And I felt His presence tell me: The only way out is through. But you are not alone.
Coping Strategies That Help Me Heal
These are the practices I return to when my symptoms resurface:
- Daily Prayer and Scripture
- I remind myself of God’s promises. Genesis 50:20 is one I carry close: “What was intended to harm me, God used for good.”
- Movement and Shaking
- I literally shake off trauma energy. It works.
- Connection and Small Groups
- Being prayed over by other women in church has changed my life.
- Faith Over Fear
- When I have intrusive thoughts, I turn them into prayers. I don’t fight them—I give them to God.
Final Thoughts: Your Body Isn’t Betraying You—It’s Protecting You
Your body remembers what your mind may have tried to forget. The tension, exhaustion, panic, and dissociation? They’re not signs of weakness. They’re signs that your body is still holding on, waiting for safety.
But healing is possible. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t look perfect. But step by step, with awareness and compassion, you can teach your body that it’s safe to let go.
You are not broken. You are healing.
And you are not alone.