Healing the Body After Trauma: Why Physical Symptoms Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Introduction

When people think of trauma, they picture painful memories — not headaches, stomach issues, or chronic pain. Yet, decades of research show that trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Ignoring the physical symptoms of trauma means missing half the healing process.

The Science of Trauma in the Body

• The HPA Axis (stress system): Trauma keeps the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis “stuck on,” flooding the body with cortisol. Over time, this weakens the immune system and increases inflammation.

• The Vagus Nerve: This nerve connects the brain and gut. Trauma reduces vagal tone, which explains IBS, nausea, and poor digestion.

• Muscle Memory: Muscles store survival tension. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing, calls this “incomplete fight-or-flight energy” trapped in the body.

Common Physical Symptoms Linked to Trauma

• Chronic back or shoulder pain

• Tension headaches or migraines

• Fatigue and insomnia

• Digestive problems (IBS, bloating, stomach pain)

• Autoimmune flare-ups

How Therapy Heals the Body

• Somatic Therapy: Helps release stored survival energy through body awareness.

• Breathwork: Improves vagal tone and signals safety to the nervous system.

• EMDR: Reduces physical reactivity during memory recall.

• Mindfulness: Lowers inflammation markers in the blood (shown in recent NIH studies).

Practical Steps at Home

• Gentle stretching or yoga to release tension

• Diaphragmatic breathing to regulate vagus nerve activity

• Body scans to reconnect with physical sensations safely

Takeaway

Trauma isn’t “all in your head.” It reshapes how your body functions daily. Healing requires addressing both the emotional and physical imprints of trauma.

Golden Roots Therapy helps clients reconnect with their bodies, easing both emotional and physical scars of trauma.