Somatic Symptoms of Trauma You Shouldn’t Ignore

When people think of the word trauma, they often imagine emotional symptoms of

anxiety, panic, sadness, grief, overwhelm, or fear. But trauma is not only stored in our

thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions. It is also stored in our bodies.

Our nervous system is fundamentally designed to protect us. Its job is to receive

information from external and internal stimuli, interpret that information, and coordinate a

response that works to create balance, functioning, and safety. However, when we experience an event or situation that is so overwhelming we do not have the capacity, support, or protection to process it, our body may grab hold of that energy and store it. Over time, this stored and unprocessed energy can manifest through physical symptoms that may or may not be directly associated with the original trauma or event. While many of these somatic and bodily symptoms may result from a medical cause and should be checked by a healthcare provider, they are also common for individuals living with unresolved trauma.

The awareness and understanding of these symptoms is less about pathologizing them

and more about identifying and recognizing the body’s importance and the paramount role it

plays in healing. From there, we can step into a newfound chapter of healing and somatic

growth.

Somatic Symptoms

Chronic Muscle Tension

• Tight shoulders and back, clenching of the jaw, pain, stiffness, and muscle knots due to

the body consistent fight or flight response.

Gastrointestinal: Digestive Problems

• Nausea, bloating, stomach pain or knots, diarrhea, constipation, and/or loss of appetite as a result of the body being stuck in survival.

  
  

Sleep Disturbances

• Insomnia, frequent awakenings, nightmares, awakening in panic, and/ or dreams related

to traumatic events because of the body's hyperaroused state of being.

Rapid Heartbeat

• Short or rapid breaths and racing heartbeat due to a state of hyperarousal.

Dissociation and Disconnection

• Feeling “zoned out” or far away, numbness, loss of connection with the present moment,

feeling detached from self, and overwhelm or blankness are the result of a protective

survival stance known as the zone of hypoarousal.

Getting Support

Treatment

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychosomatic therapy

that recognizes the importance of the mind/body connection. EMDR works to connect the

mind and body by reprocessing distressing memories and experiences to reduce both the

emotional arousal and intensity, as well as the physical responses that accompany the

trauma. EMDR incorporates bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess the

experience and aid in the brain's natural propensity to move toward healing.

EMDR at Pacifica Counseling & Psychiatry

Therapist Holly Earnest is passionate about the healing and power of EMDR therapy. To learn more about EMDR, somatic recovery of trauma, and the importance of the mind and body, connect with us.

Closing Remark

"The body keeps the score: If the memory of trauma is encoded in our senses, in muscle tension, and in anxiety, then the body must also be involved in the healing process." -The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van der Kolk