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‍How Trauma Shows Up Physically

Trauma doesn't just disappear after a difficult experience ends. It gets stored in your muscles, nervous system, and movement patterns. Here's what to look for:

Chronic muscle tension that won't release:

• Shoulders perpetually raised toward your ears
• Jaw clenched so often you wake up with headaches
• Lower back pain that no amount of stretching seems to fix
• Neck and shoulder pain that massage only temporarily relieves

Breathing patterns that may signal unresolved trauma:

• Shallow breathing, even when you're trying to relax
• Feeling like you can't take a full, deep breath
• Holding your breath during stress without realizing it
• Chest breathing instead of belly breathing

Movement restrictions and protective patterns:

• Moving through life like you're bracing for impact
• Difficulty with fluid, natural movement
• Feeling disconnected from parts of your body
• Startling easily or being hypervigilant about your surroundings

Nervous system dysregulation:

• Sleep issues that don't respond to typical sleep hygiene
• Digestive problems that flare during stress
• Temperature regulation issues (always cold or hot)
• Immune system problems or frequent illness

Tracking Your Body's Trauma Patterns

Your posture and movement tell a story. Learning to read these patterns can be incredibly revealing:

Notice your default posture: Do you naturally curl inward, protecting your heart and belly? This might indicate emotional trauma. Do you hold yourself rigidly upright? You might be in a chronic state of hypervigilance.

Pay attention to how you move: Do you move quickly and efficiently, like you're always in survival mode? Or do you move slowly and carefully, like you're afraid of taking up space? Both can be trauma responses.

Track your body's reactions: Notice what happens in your body when you're triggered. Does your stomach drop? Do your shoulders shoot up? Does your breathing become shallow? These are your body's trauma signatures.

Observe your protective patterns: We all develop ways to protect ourselves after difficult experiences. Maybe you cross your arms frequently, avoid eye contact, or position yourself near exits. These aren't character flaws – they're intelligent adaptations.

Trauma vs. Other Physical Issues: How to Tell the Difference

Not every ache and pain is trauma-related, but there are some key differences to notice:

Trauma-related physical symptoms often:

• Don't respond well to traditional medical treatments alone
• Seem disproportionate to any identifiable physical cause
• Get worse during times of emotional stress
• Are accompanied by emotional numbness or overwhelm
• Started after a specific difficult experience or period in your life

Other physical issues typically:

• Have clear medical explanations and respond to appropriate treatment
• Follow predictable patterns related to activity, injury, or illness
• Don't fluctuate dramatically with emotional state
• Can be traced to specific physical causes

The overlap zone: Sometimes trauma and physical issues compound each other. An old injury might trigger traumatic memories, or chronic trauma might make you more susceptible to physical problems. This is why a holistic approach often works best.

Your Body's Wisdom

Here's what's important to understand: your body's trauma responses aren't broken or wrong. They're intelligent adaptations that helped you survive difficult experiences.

The tension in your shoulders might have protected your heart. The shallow breathing might have helped you stay alert to danger. The protective posture might have made you feel safer in an unsafe situation.

But what helped you survive then might not be serving you now. And that's okay – it means you're ready to help your body learn new patterns.

Moving Forward

Recognizing trauma in your body is the first step toward healing. You don't have to carry these patterns forever. Your body has an incredible capacity for healing and creating new, healthier patterns when given the right support.

If you're recognizing yourself in these patterns, be gentle with yourself. This awareness is actually a sign of strength and readiness for healing. Your body has been waiting for you to notice, listen, and respond with compassion.

Ready to help your body release old trauma patterns and discover new possibilities for healing? Learn how somatic therapy at Red Beard Somatic Therapy can guide you toward lasting relief and recovery.

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