After my accident, I expected physical pain. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply the trauma affected my body, long after my injuries “healed.”
I couldn’t explain why my pain felt worse on stressful days, or why certain sounds or places made my whole body tense up.
It turns out, trauma and chronic pain are more connected than most people realise. Your body doesn’t forget what happened. It holds it, in muscles, in posture, in nervous system patterns. And if you’ve been feeling that kind of tension or exhaustion, you’re not imagining it.
How Trauma Shows Up Physically
Pain isn’t always about damage, it’s often about protection. After trauma, your nervous system becomes hypersensitive, like it’s always bracing for danger.
You feel tight or stiff even when resting
Pain flares up during stress or anxiety
Your body stays in “fight or flight” long after the danger has passed
It’s not in your head, it’s in your nervous system.
What Helped Me Reconnect With My Body
I listened instead of pushed
When my body tensed up, I paused and asked, What do you need right now?
I breathed through the pain
Slow breathing helped calm my system and reduce how “loud” the pain felt.
I used movement gently not rushed
Even light stretching or walking helped release the tension my body was holding.
I linked emotions to flare-ups
When I felt overwhelmed, I started noticing pain followed, and that gave me clues.
You’re Not Broken, You’re Responding Normally
Your body isn’t working against you, it’s trying to protect you. The goal isn’t to fight it but to work with it, building trust and safety over time.
That’s what begins to quiet the pain.
Final Thought: Healing Isn’t Just Physical
If you’re living with chronic pain after trauma, you don’t just need rest, you need compassion.
Understanding this connection was a turning point for me, and I hope it can be one for you too.
💬Have you noticed a link between your emotions and pain? Let’s talk, it’s more common than people think.
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