Signs of Stored Trauma in the Body
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Why does my body feel so tense all the time?” or “I sleep for hours but still wake up exhausted,” you’re not alone.
As a somatic therapist, I often see how unresolved trauma shows up not just in thoughts and emotions, but in the body. Trauma doesn’t always stay in the past — it can live in our nervous systems and reveal itself through physical symptoms that are confusing, frustrating, and sometimes overwhelming.
Before we go further, I want to stress something important: if you’re experiencing ongoing or chronic physical symptoms, it’s essential to check in with a trusted medical professional. Sometimes symptoms that look like trauma may be signs of an underlying medical condition. And sometimes, the ongoing stress of trauma can actually contribute to or worsen health problems. Both deserve attention and care.
How Trauma Can Show Up Physically
When trauma or adverse experiences are stored in the body, they can look and feel like:
Tension that never seems to let up — tight shoulders, jaw, or back.
Unpleasant sensations — buzzing, prickling, or that heavy “weighed down” feeling.
Stomach distress — nausea, bloating, or knots in your gut.
Chronic pain that lingers without a clear medical explanation.
Jitteriness or restlessness — feeling “on edge” and unable to settle.
Exhaustion — either not sleeping at all, or sleeping constantly and still feeling tired.
If any of this resonates, please know: you’re not making it up, and you’re not broken. Your body may simply be doing its best to manage stress signals it never had a chance to fully process.
Why the Nervous System Gets Stuck
Our nervous systems are wired to protect us. After trauma, though, they sometimes get stuck in “survival mode,” scanning for danger long after the danger has passed. Over time, this can condition us to focus mostly on pain, stress, and threat — while barely noticing what feels safe, joyful, or nurturing.
The beautiful thing is, the nervous system is also capable of change. Just as it can get trained to zero in on danger, it can be retrained to notice what’s soothing, supportive, and life-giving.
How Somatic Therapy Supports Healing
Somatic therapy bridges the mind and body. Together, we slow down, listen to the signals your body is sending, and gently release what’s been stored for too long. This isn’t about “fixing” you — it’s about creating more room for safety, ease, and joy.
Over time, clients often notice they can relax more deeply, sleep more peacefully, and feel a greater sense of aliveness in their day-to-day lives.
You don’t have to keep carrying the weight of unresolved trauma on your own. Healing is possible, and your body can be part of that process.
✨ If you’re curious about how somatic therapy might support you, I invite you to schedule a consultation. Together, we can explore what healing could look like for you.
