Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind, it settles into the body. Tight muscles, chronic pain, fatigue, flinching, numbness, these aren’t random. They’re messages. They’re patterns your body has held onto in an effort to protect you.
In this post, we explore how trauma imprints itself physically, how those patterns show up long after the danger is gone, and how you can begin to gently release what your body has been carrying.
What It Means That the Body “Keeps Score”
- The body stores trauma in the form of tension, inflammation, hypersensitivity, and shutdown.
- Even if your conscious mind doesn’t remember everything, your body often does, through flinches, stiffness, illness, or chronic pain.
- The brain-body connection is real: what happens emotionally will express itself physically.
How Unhealed Patterns Show Up
- Muscle tightness, jaw clenching, stomach issues, or chronic fatigue
- Startle responses to sounds, movements, or touch
- Feeling “numb” or disconnected from certain body parts
- Restlessness, racing heart, or the inability to relax
- Avoiding movement or physical contact without realising why
How to Begin Healing the Pattern
1 – Listen to the Signals
Start noticing where your body tightens or reacts. Is it your neck? Chest? Stomach? These are clues, not inconveniences.
2 – Practice Somatic Awareness
Try simple body scans. Sit quietly and mentally “check in” with each body part. Where is the tension? What’s it trying to say?
3 – Respond, Don’t Override
Instead of ignoring the tightness or pushing through the fatigue, respond with kindness: a stretch, warmth, stillness, or soothing touch.
4 – Track Your Patterns
Keep a notebook: When does the pain flare up? What was happening emotionally that day? Patterns will start to emerge.
5 – Introduce Gentle Movement
Yoga, stretching, or even slow walking can help reconnect you with your body in a safe way. No pressure to perform, just move with awareness.
🧡 Key Takeaway
Your body may remember what your mind tried to forget, but it’s not the enemy. It’s the messenger. When you begin listening with compassion, you don’t just ease pain, you begin to heal the pattern.
💬 If you think this could help somebody – please share it.
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