BEYOND MEMORIES: THE BODY’S ROLE IN HEALING TRAUMA

When a person experiences a traumatic event, the impact extends far beyond the mind and memories.

Our bodies bear the weight of our experiences, often storing elements of past trauma within our very tissues.

As the saying goes, "Your issues are in your tissues." Understanding the connection between trauma and the body opens us up to other avenues for healing and recovery.

When we experience trauma, our bodies instinctively react.  The autonomic nervous system has two components to it the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. When we are under threat, the body will respond by being mobilized or immobilized,  “fight or flight” or “freeze or fawn”.

These systems are part of our evolutionary history and have allowed our ancestors and us to survive. We evolved with this intricate system of organs, nerves and hormones that is very effective of communicating together so we can survive. If there’s a threat, we need to be able to fight or run. If we cannot do either of those, we dissociate to avoid feeling the pain.

This process of mobilization or withdraw is our nature and a balanced system allows us to move through these activated states in a balanced way. When there is a scenario in which we are unable to mobilize or process these experinces the response can become unprocessed or stuck. This can be experienced as continuing to be on guard even when there is no threat, being in hypervigilance, for example. When a person is constantly on guard – “waiting for the shoe to drop”. Likewise, being in a “freeze” response can leave a person feeling powerless or stuck, and tense or tight even though they are perfectly safe.

This stuckness takes a toll on the body.

One vital element in understanding the body's response to trauma lies in the fascia. Fascia is a complex web of connective tissue that wraps around our muscles, organs, and bones, providing support and structure. Experiencing chronic PTSD or anxiety can cause the fascia to become tight, constricted, and distorted, restricting movement and contributing to physical discomfort. This tension in the fascia can also impact our emotional well-being, reinforcing the feeling of stickiness and powerlessness. The mind senses the tightness and believes that something bad is going to happen.

While traditional therapy approaches focus primarily on the cognitive and emotional aspects of trauma, incorporating bodywork can be immensely beneficial in supporting healing. Bodywork modalities, such as massage, somatic experiencing, and yoga, offer a unique opportunity to bring release to the body's tissues. By engaging in gentle and intentional movement, we invite the body to let go of its protective armor, allowing for the release of stuckness and promoting a sense of movement, flexibility and restoration.

By combining bodywork with therapy, we bridge the gap between the mind and body, a holistic approach to healing trauma. Adding body-centered practices can complement traditional talk therapy, providing a safe space to explore and release tension in the body. It offers an avenue for reconnecting with the body, cultivating self-awareness, and fostering self-compassion.

It is important to note that incorporating bodywork into your healing journey should always be done in collaboration with a skilled and trauma-informed massage therapist. They can provide a safe and supportive environment for navigating the complexities of trauma, ensuring that the process is tailored to your individual needs and boundaries. If this idea feels unsettling, try to start with minimal touch like a chair massage where you are fully clothed or a pedicure then build up to working with a body worker who specializes in trauma informed massage therapy and share your intention to have body work be parallel to your therapy in healing from trauma.

When on a journey of healing from trauma, remember that the body is with you in the journey and healing involves reconnecting with the body you have. Learning to feel safe again in the body is an incredibly powerful experience and essential to the journey of recovery from trauma.