Trauma is not stored in a single organ, but rather throughout the body's nervous system, brain, and tissues, often described as "the body keeping the score". The brain’s amygdala stores emotional memories of trauma, while the nervous system and muscles hold chronic physical tension. Key areas of storage include the neck, shoulders, hips, and pelvic floor.
Many trauma survivors find that even after years of talk therapy, their bodies still feel tense, reactive, or shut down. That is because trauma is not only stored in memory. It is held in muscle, fascia, breath, and nervous system patterns.
This storing happens on a subconscious and autonomic level and may be experienced separately from conscious recall of the actual traumatic events that happened. This bodily storing or remembering of trauma happens through visceral responses, autonomic and muscle memory and habits.
What are the physical signs your body is releasing trauma?
When your body releases trauma, you might experience physical shifts like shaking, tingling, or warmth, muscle relaxation (especially neck, jaw, shoulders), changes in breathing (deeper or irregular), and digestive relief. You may also feel emotionally lighter, have sudden crying/laughter, experience vivid dreams, or notice increased body awareness, signaling your nervous system is calming down from "fight-or-flight" and processing stored stress.
There are many different ways to release trauma from the body. Therapeutic approaches such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or somatic experiencing can help with releasing trauma from the body. In addition, mind-body practices such as yoga or breathwork can be beneficial as well.
How the body keeps the score on trauma | Bessel van der Kolk for Big Think+
How to release trauma trapped in your body?
To release trauma from the body, use mind-body practices like yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) to calm the nervous system and process stored tension through gentle movement, grounding, and mindfulness; incorporate rhythmic exercise and creative therapies (art, music, dance) for non-verbal expression; and seek professional help like EMDR or somatic experiencing for guided release. Focus on reconnecting with your body safely to move out of fight/flight/freeze states.
The parasympathetic response is regulated largely by the vagus nerve. It contributes to digestion and immune response. Therefore, chronic stress and trauma can negatively impact this nerve leading to issues with your internal processes.
Updated 05/10/2024. Trauma dumping is defined as unloading traumatic experiences on others without warning or invitation. It's often done to seek validation, attention, or sympathy. While some initial relief may come from dumping your trauma onto someone else, the habit actually does more harm than good.
Healing childhood trauma without therapy requires self-care practices. As well as the trust of certain individuals. It involves incorporating mindfulness, establishing healthy boundaries, engaging in physical activities, and exploring creative outlets.
But in my experience, emotional healing happens in seven stages: awareness, acceptance, processing, release, growth, integration, and transformation. We don't move through these seven stages in a straight line, but we do pass through them all eventually on the path to healing.
Here are some things to look for that could mean you're holding on to unprocessed trauma: Intense feelings like sadness, fear, or anger that appear suddenly or linger too long. Trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much. Having nightmares or flashbacks.
Many people who carry emotional stress often feel it in their upper body. What emotions are stored in the neck and shoulders? Typically, feelings of burden, responsibility, and unexpressed grief settle in these areas.
The classics usually associate anger with the Liver, which is why the Liver is the General, but in fact [the emotions of] the Liver include melancholy, hatred, neuroticism, and all the Seven Emotions 七情.
Whenever you experience something shocking, traumatic, or that you (consciously or subconsciously) perceive as a threat, your psoas muscle constricts and 'locks in' the tension in the body.
It won't rid you of PTSD and your fears, but let your tears flow and you'll maybe feel a little better afterwards. 'Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain.
While all traumas leave a profound mark on an individual's life, there's a different level of difficulty in recovering from what's called "complex trauma." Unlike single-incident traumas, complex trauma stems from repeated experiences of stressful and traumatic events, usually in environments where there's no escape.
To release trauma from the body, use mind-body practices like yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) to calm the nervous system and process stored tension through gentle movement, grounding, and mindfulness; incorporate rhythmic exercise and creative therapies (art, music, dance) for non-verbal expression; and seek professional help like EMDR or somatic experiencing for guided release. Focus on reconnecting with your body safely to move out of fight/flight/freeze states.
Stage 1: Denial. The first stage of trauma is denial. ...
Stage 2: Anger. Once you have moved past the first stage of trauma, the realities of your terrifying experience can start to hit home, leading to the second stage of trauma—anger. ...
Oversharing can be a trauma response as a way to seek connection, create feelings of intimacy, or protect yourself by pushing people away. It's a part of the fawn response, in which you over-disclose to appease others and avoid rejection, conflict, or harm.
The person needs to have a corrective experience, one that is opposite from the trauma. For example, if they were hated, they need to feel loved. If they were neglected, they need to feel connected. If they were hit, they need to feel physically safe.
As you release trauma, you may notice that your muscles start to relax, and you feel more loose and flexible. Increased Energy: Releasing trauma can free up energy previously tied up in coping with stress and emotional pain. The increase in energy will be gradual and not overwhelming.
What are physical signs your body is releasing trauma?
When your body releases trauma, you might experience physical shifts like shaking, tingling, or warmth, muscle relaxation (especially neck, jaw, shoulders), changes in breathing (deeper or irregular), and digestive relief. You may also feel emotionally lighter, have sudden crying/laughter, experience vivid dreams, or notice increased body awareness, signaling your nervous system is calming down from "fight-or-flight" and processing stored stress.
