Signs Your Body is Releasing Trauma

Signs Your Body is Releasing Trauma

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a highly traumatic event can attest to the intense effect it had on them. While we usually focus attention on the psychological effects of trauma, few know that trauma embeds into the body itself. The release of trauma from the body, through therapy or experiential activities, manifests in a variety of ways. Read on to learn to recognize the signs your body is releasing trauma.

Understanding Trauma

A trauma is a sudden, unexpected, shocking event that causes us to feel like we are in danger. Experiencing or witnessing a trauma overwhelms our nervous system, making us feel out of control and vulnerable.

When we encounter a traumatic situation, our brains activate the fear response in our bodies, flooding the system with cortisol and adrenaline. This effect is known as the fight, flight, or freeze response. The stress hormones create in us a sense of panic or fear that cause the resulting trauma effect.

Examples of traumatic events:

• Childhood sexual abuse, neglect, physical assault, or abandonment
• Sexual abuse or rape
• Sudden death of close loved one
• Violent assault
• Serious injury or medical condition
• Witness to a violent event or crime
• Natural disasters, such as losing your home in a fire, flood, or earthquake
• Trauma related to military deployment
• Serious accident

Although it is upsetting and frightening to experience a trauma, the brain and body are resilient and allow us to gradually overcome the effects. In time, we are able to process the incident and begin the subsequent healing. 

However, sometimes the traumatic event is so psychologically upsetting that we might struggle for weeks, months, or even years. This type of prolonged trauma response is called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

PTSD is present when the emotional distress caused by the traumatic event persists for a month or longer. In most cases of PTSD, the effects of the trauma can cause impairment in daily functioning.

PTSD symptoms include:

• Experiencing strong emotions, such as anger, sorrow, despair.
• Mood swings
• Difficulties at work
• Easily startled, jumpy
• Intrusive memories
• Problems in relationships
• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Insomnia
• Persistent state of anxiety or fear
• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Difficulty concentrating
• Isolating behaviors
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Depression
• Avoidance of any place, person, situation, or object that might trigger memories of the event

Places in the Body Where Trauma is Stored

When an individual experiences a disturbing event that causes intense fear, it causes a chemical response in the body. The limbic system and the brain stem, known as the emotional part of the brain, undergo chemical changes. Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk studied the neuroscience of trauma and how it impacts bodily systems. 

A trauma may be stored in the body for many years after the event or incident occurred. Each person’s trauma experience is highly unique, which means that the location that the trauma effects are stored vary widely. This explains why certain activities, such as yoga, are so helpful in releasing trauma from the body.

8 Signs Your Body is Releasing Trauma

It may surprise us to experience a variety of symptoms as the body attempts to dislodge the stored trauma. Here are some common signs your body is releasing trauma:

1. Sudden Emotional Release. You may find yourself laughing or sobbing hysterically for no known reason as your body releases the trauma.
2. Deep Fatigue. Intense fatigue is a sign that your body is attempting to heal from trauma. 
3. Vivid Dreams. Recurring or intensely vivid dreams can tell us what the body is trying to work through.
4. Physical Symptoms. Sudden shaking or trembling, headache, muscle aches and pains. nausea, or dizziness may accompany the release of trauma.
5. Digestive Problems. As the body attempts to release trauma, you might experience diarrhea, constipation, or stomach cramps.
6. Sensory Sensitivity. The heightened sensitivity to loud sounds, bright lights, and textures is common when trauma is being released.
7. Changes in Sleep Patterns. The release of trauma can disrupt your usual sleep patterns, causing insomnia or hypersomnia.
8. Sudden Need to Move or Stretch. As trauma is released from the body, you may feel a sudden burst of energy. You have an immediate need to start stretching, running, walking, or dancing.

Retreats for More Intensive Trauma Therapy

If you feel “stuck” in trauma mode, you may benefit from a residential treatment program that offers focused healing techniques. These mental health retreats provide a respite from the stressors of daily life, allowing you to spend your energy on getting better.

Types of trauma-focused therapies offered at a trauma retreat include:

• Exposure therapy. This short-term psychotherapy can help you become less sensitive to memories of the trauma. As you discuss the event within a safe, supportive space, the impact of the trauma is gradually reduced.
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. TFCBT helps you reshape the thoughts and emotions associated with the trauma as you share your feelings about the incident.
• Trauma-informed yoga. Yoga designed for trauma victims allows you to practice the yoga poses while becoming aware of the emotions that emerge. The instructor is trained to encourage you to stay present and not to dissociate from the body.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a type of therapy that helps you to desensitize from the disturbing memories of the trauma. EMDR features a repetitive eye movement following an object or finger back and forth while discussing the disturbing incident.
• Somatic experiencing. This type of body-focused therapy helps you become aware of the physical sensations attached to the trauma. By focusing on the body sensations instead of the actual trauma, you can release the stored stress and tension.

Mental Health Hope Offers Guidance for Individuals with Trauma Disorder

Mental Health Hope provides guidance and access to effective treatment options for individuals struggling with the effects of trauma. If you want information about the signs your body is releasing trauma, please reach out to our supportive team today at (424) 622-6369.