How Trauma Affects the Body and How Therapy Can Help
Trauma doesn’t just impact your emotions, it affects your body, too. Whether from a single traumatic event or ongoing stress, trauma can leave physical marks that make it harder to heal. The good news is that therapy can help you process these physical effects and start feeling better. In this blog, we’ll explore how trauma impacts the body and how therapies like sensorimotor and guided drawing therapies can help you heal.
How Trauma Affects the Body
When we experience trauma, our bodies go into “fight or flight” mode. This is a natural response meant to protect us in the moment. However, if trauma is unresolved, this stress response can stay activated, leading to long-term physical symptoms.
1. Muscle Tension and Pain:
Stress from trauma often gets trapped in the body, leading to tight muscles, especially in the neck, shoulders, or jaw. This can cause chronic pain, headaches, or tension that doesn’t go away on its own.
2. Digestive Issues:
The mind and gut are closely connected. Trauma can disrupt digestion, leading to symptoms like bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. Stress can cause the gut to “shut down” or become overly sensitive, creating discomfort.
3. Sleep Problems:
Trauma can interfere with your sleep, leading to insomnia, nightmares, or waking up feeling tired. Poor sleep can then make it harder to heal emotionally and physically.
4. Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Chronic stress can lead to long-term issues with the cardiovascular system, including elevated heart rate and high blood pressure. These symptoms are your body’s way of staying alert, even when there’s no immediate danger.
Signs Your Body May Be Affected by Trauma
If you’re experiencing any of these physical symptoms, it could be a sign that trauma is affecting your body:
Increased anxiety or panic attacks
Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
Emotional numbness or disconnection
Overreaction to stress
Difficulty focusing or memory problems
If this sounds familiar, therapy can help you address both the emotional and physical impacts of trauma.
How Therapy Helps Heal the Body
Therapy offers powerful ways to heal the trauma that affects your body. Two effective approaches are sensorimotor therapy and guided drawing therapy.
1. Sensorimotor Therapy:
Sensorimotor therapy focuses on the mind-body connection. It helps you notice physical trauma-related sensations, such as muscle tension or discomfort. By bringing awareness to these sensations and learning to release them, you can reduce physical stress and promote healing.
2. Guided Drawing Therapy:
Guided drawing therapy uses creative expression to help process emotions tied to trauma. Sometimes, words aren’t enough to describe how we feel. Art allows you to express complex emotions through drawing, painting, or other forms of creative work. This non-verbal approach can release emotional and physical tension, helping you heal at a deeper level.
Move Toward Healing
Trauma can take a toll on your body, but healing is possible. With therapies like sensorimotor therapy and guided drawing therapy, you can release stored tension and start feeling better. By addressing both the emotional and physical effects of trauma, therapy helps you regain balance, peace, and well-being.
If you’re ready to begin your healing journey, professional support can guide you every step of the way. Don’t let trauma control your body, take the first step toward recovery today by reaching out to us to discuss if trauma therapy may be right for you.
