Can the Body Remember Trauma? The Science of Somatic Memory
Introduction
If you’ve ever experienced sudden tightness in your chest, nausea, or trembling when reminded of something painful from your past — even when you thought you’d “moved on” — you’ve already encountered the body’s memory of trauma.
So, can the body really remember trauma?
Yes — and science backs it up.
Trauma isn’t only stored as a story in your mind. It’s encoded throughout your body’s nervous system, muscles, and even cellular responses. This is known as somatic memory — the way your body remembers what your mind tries to forget.
Understanding this connection is key to unlocking deep, lasting healing.
What Is Somatic Memory?
The term somatic comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “body.” Somatic memory refers to the body’s ability to hold onto the physiological sensations associated with traumatic experiences — even when conscious memory fades.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, explains:
“Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”
In essence, your body becomes the archive.
How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body
1. The Nervous System’s Alarm System
When a traumatic event occurs, the brain activates the fight, flight, or freeze response. If escape isn’t possible, the body suppresses the natural reaction — leaving the “survival energy” trapped in the muscles and fascia.
Over time, these unresolved stress responses can manifest as:
Muscle tension
Chronic pain
Fatigue or numbness
Panic attacks or hypervigilance
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) — specifically the vagus nerve — plays a key role here. If the body doesn’t receive the signal that “the danger is over,” the ANS remains dysregulated, creating ongoing physical symptoms.
2. The Role of Implicit Memory
Not all memories are stored consciously. The brain has two main memory systems:
Explicit memory: Facts, events, and stories we can recall.
Implicit memory: Sensations, emotions, and body states associated with experiences.
Trauma often bypasses explicit memory and lodges itself in implicit memory. That’s why someone may not “remember” an event but still react physically to triggers — the body remembers what the mind cannot articulate.
3. Hormonal and Cellular Imprints
Research from Harvard and the National Institutes of Health shows trauma alters hormone patterns (like cortisol and adrenaline) and affects gene expression through epigenetic markers.
This means stress doesn’t just live in your thoughts — it literally changes your body’s chemistry. The body prepares to survive danger long after the threat is gone.
Common Physical Signs of Stored Trauma
Chronic tension in neck, shoulders, or jaw
Unexplained fatigue
Digestive problems (linked to vagus nerve dysregulation)
Frequent illness or inflammation
Feeling “numb” or disconnected from your body
Startle response or flinching easily
These symptoms are not “all in your head” — they’re evidence that your body has been carrying unfinished stress responses.
How Somatic Therapy Works to Release Trauma
Healing the body’s memory of trauma involves helping the nervous system complete what it never could during the original event — a full cycle of safety and release.
1. Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE focuses on tracking bodily sensations to discharge trapped survival energy. Instead of talking through trauma, the therapist helps clients notice sensations (tightness, shaking, heat) and gently guide them toward completion.
2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
While primarily targeting brain pathways, EMDR often triggers physical releases — yawning, tears, trembling — as the body processes stored emotions.
3. Breathwork and Movement
Conscious breathing activates the vagus nerve, signaling safety. Gentle movement (like yoga or stretching) helps release muscular tension connected to trauma memory.
4. Mindful Awareness
Learning to safely inhabit your body again — noticing sensations without judgment — re-establishes trust between body and mind.
The Science of Release: What’s Happening Inside
When the body successfully releases trauma, measurable physiological shifts occur:
Lower cortisol levels
Increased heart rate variability (a sign of nervous system balance)
Reduced inflammation
Improved sleep and emotional regulation
Brain scans show increased communication between the prefrontal cortex (reason) and amygdala (emotion), allowing you to respond calmly instead of react instinctively.
Practical Ways to Begin Healing Your Body’s Memory
Start Small: Spend a few minutes each day noticing body sensations (tension, warmth, breath).
Ground Through Touch: Press your feet into the floor or hold something textured.
Use Breath as a Regulator: Try 4-6 breathing (inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 6).
Engage in Safe Movement: Gentle stretching, yoga, or walking resets the nervous system.
Seek Professional Support: Somatic or trauma-informed therapy helps you release stored energy safely.
Why Ignoring the Body Can Block Healing
Many people attempt to “think” their way out of trauma — focusing only on talk therapy. But if the body isn’t included in treatment, symptoms persist. This is why trauma therapy has evolved to integrate mind-body approaches, combining cognitive and somatic healing for full recovery.
Final Thoughts
So, can the body remember trauma?
Absolutely. The body holds onto what the mind cannot.
But here’s the most important truth: your body doesn’t store trauma to punish you — it does so to protect you. Once it learns safety again, those memories can finally release.
At Golden Roots Therapy, we help clients in Saint Paul, Mahtomedi, and the East Metro reconnect with their bodies, calm their nervous systems, and release the physical weight of trauma through evidence-based somatic and EMDR techniques.
Ready to free your body from the past? Schedule a consultation today.
