The Link Between Trauma and Physical Health: How Your Body Holds the Story
by Taylin D. Ramirez
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “The body keeps the score.” When you’ve gone through trauma—whether it’s a single event or long-term stress—it doesn’t just live in your mind. It lives in your muscles, your nervous system, and even your organs. The link between trauma and the body is so strong that physical symptoms can sometimes show up before you even realize you’re struggling emotionally.
Let’s talk about why that happens, what trauma physical symptoms can look like, and what you can do to start healing from the inside out.
How Trauma Affects the Body
When you experience something traumatic, your body’s stress response kicks in. This is your “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn” system at work—your brain floods your body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to help you survive.
This is helpful in short bursts. But when trauma is unprocessed, your body can stay on high alert for months, years, or even decades. Your body isn’t just “overreacting.” It’s protecting you the best way it knows how—by staying ready for danger.
Constant tension can lead to multiple physical issues
Common Trauma Physical Symptoms
The mind-body connection means emotional wounds often show up in physical ways. Some trauma physical symptoms you might notice include:
Chronic Pain – Back pain, neck tension, or joint aches that have no clear medical cause.
Digestive Issues – IBS, nausea, bloating, or changes in appetite.
Headaches or Migraines – Tension headaches from stress or nervous system overactivation.
Heart Palpitations – A racing heartbeat even when you’re resting.
Muscle Tension – Feeling like your body is always clenched or bracing for impact.
Fatigue – Even after a full night’s sleep, you may wake up exhausted.
Weakened Immune System – Getting sick more often or taking longer to recover.
Why the Body Remembers Trauma
Think of your body as your mind’s journal. Even if you don’t consciously think about the traumatic event, your body remembers it through sensations, reactions, and triggers. Learn more in this blog post here.
This is why certain smells, sounds, or situations can cause a wave of physical discomfort before you’ve even pieced together the emotional memory.
It’s not in your head—it’s in your nervous system.
Healing Both Mind and Body
The good news? You can teach your body that it’s safe again. Healing trauma and the body often involves a combination of approaches:
Therapy – Modalities like somatic experiencing, EMDR, and trauma-focused CBT can help process what happened.
Body-Based Practices – Yoga, stretching, tai chi, and mindful breathing help regulate your nervous system.
Movement – Gentle exercise like walking or swimming can release stored tension.
Creative Expression – Art, music, or journaling can help you process emotions in a nonverbal way.
Grounding Exercises – Techniques like focusing on your senses or progressive muscle relaxation bring you back to the present moment.
Healing isn’t about “forgetting” what happened—it’s about helping your mind and body feel safe again.
Your Next Step Toward Healing
If you’ve been noticing unexplained aches, fatigue, or other physical changes, it might be your body’s way of telling you it’s time to process old wounds. You don’t have to go through it alone—help is available, and your body can learn to relax again.
Your story matters. And so does your body’s healing. If you’re ready to explore how trauma might be affecting your physical health, reach out today for a free consultation. Together, we can help your body find safety again.
