Many people think of trauma as something that belongs to the past, stored in our memories, in mental images, or in the stories we tell ourselves. But in reality, traumatic experiences often stay with us, showing up again and again throughout our lives.
How does this happen? Trauma lives in our bodies, nervous system, and muscle responses — that’s what it’s all about. Even our breathing and posture can store traumatic events in our memory. The very deep connection between the body and trauma is at the heart of somatic therapy.
Why is it important to look at this problem from this particular angle? Let’s try to figure it out together with therapist Denver from embodiedintegrations.com, a place where you can find comprehensive solutions for somatic therapy and other methods of combating depression, stress, and anxiety.
The science behind the problem
When faced with traumatic events — such as an accident, violence, or some degree of humiliation — a very ancient part of the brain called the limbic system is activated. This, in turn, triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response, which is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. If our body is simply unable to complete this reaction, that is, in other words, we cannot run away, defend ourselves, or express ourselves, the energy remains locked in our body, and this is what is known as unprocessed trauma, which carries a huge burden because it stays with us throughout our lives and has an extremely negative impact on our body, mental state, and inner balance.
There are many studies by scientists, in particular Peter Levine, which confirm that memories of trauma remain not only in words but are stored in bodily sensations, such as feelings of heaviness, numbness, or tension. In turn, the autonomic nervous system, as an automatic function for processes such as breathing and pulsation, often remains in a state of chronic anxiety with all the ensuing consequences for a person. The body can recall this trauma through certain triggers, even if we are not aware of it and do not even understand what exactly provoked the reaction.
Traumatic events can haunt each of us, and it is very important not to ignore them. These traumas need to be worked through with specialised professionals, whom you can find at embodiedintegrations.com, where you will find the experts who offer online therapy Denver and other Colorado state cities. Every problem has a solution; you just need effective methods and qualified professionals to work through the trauma.
