Can trauma be stored in the body?
By Orit Krug | June 17th, 2020
I’m genuinely surprised at how often I’m asked “Can trauma be stored in the body?”.
Why?
Because it is absolutely impossible for trauma NOT to be stored in the body.
The very triggers that cause our nervous system to react are all based on fragments of our sensations and memories of trauma which our bodies hold onto.
The science behind how trauma is stored in the body
When we experience trauma, the higher functioning part of our brain – the pre-frontal cortex which processes information and makes logical decisions – simply shuts down. Our traumatic memories are then stored within the amygdala and hippocampus; two areas of our brain that are responsible for recognizing similar events and expressing emotions.
This is why, if you’ve experienced a traumatic event, you might notice that some smells, sounds, tones, or even expressions, can trigger a response from your nervous system.
Even if you think some triggers are minimal or insignificant – maybe your partner lovingly sneaks up on while you’re doing the dishes – your body has stored the trauma and your nervous system is responding to the memory because it believes the trauma is about to start all over again.
Trauma trapped in the body can also impact healthy relationships
It isn’t out of the ordinary for senses or memories from trauma to trigger nervous system responses within healthy, loving relationships. Our nervous systems are wired to remember the past trauma from childhood or ex-partners and so, seemingly fleeting moments, may result in you feeling like you’re under threat.
Your nervous system is wired to react this way because trauma that is still stored within the physical body has yet to be released.
Working to rewire your nervous system within a supported therapeutic relationship will help you to release the trapped trauma and work towards being able to stay present in your relationships and beyond.
This means that you’ll be more able to get through conflict with your partner, rather than you fighting back, running away, freezing, or completely shutting them out.
Get on the right path to healing trauma from your body and nervous system.
If you are drawn to dance movement therapy, working with an Embodiment Coach like myself can assist you to finally release the trauma stored in your body and rewire your nervous system for healthier responses to external triggers in your relationship today.
Many people spend decades and thousands of dollars in traditional therapies trying to heal their trauma. Unfortunately, even the most popular therapies are scientifically shown to be limited in accessing trauma stored in the non-verbal brain and body.
Even alternative approaches, such as EMDR and Brain Mapping, are often not enough to fully heal from the physical body or the nervous system.
This makes trauma healing a very frustrating journey for so many people. They often blame themselves for being “un-healable” and decide that they’re broken.
This is NOT true!
Every human being is 100% neurophysiologically capable of healing from the past, because we all have wiring and neural pathways that can be rewired from fear and overprotection, to love and openness.
My unique, scientific-backed process via Dance Therapy has helped hundreds of clients finally heal from past trauma and transform their relationship (even after decades of trying in other therapies).
You can heal too, but you need the right methodology.
Sign up for my online course (ranges from free to $20 USD) to begin a unique, body-based learning experience that will teach you:
- Science-backed education about how trauma is stored in your body and nervous system. You’ll gain an understanding why it has NOT been your fault you haven’t healed yet from past trauma.
- Gentle, guided body-based movement that is necessary for integrated healing. This is crucial if you want your mind’s intentions to match your body’s behaviors in relationships.
- An embodied approach to healing that has helped hundreds of clients break unhealthy relationship patterns and let in healthy, lasting love.
