How Trauma Shows Up in the Body: The Mind-Body Connection Explained
When most people think of trauma, they think of memories, flashbacks, or emotions. But trauma doesn’t just live in the mind, it lives in the body, too. If you’ve ever felt tense, restless, or physically drained after recalling a painful event, you’ve experienced the body’s powerful role in storing trauma.
At Well Mind Body, our trauma-informed therapists specialize in integrative care that addresses the full picture: your thoughts, emotions, and physical wellbeing. Understanding how trauma shows up in the body can help you take the first step toward healing.
The Mind-Body Connection in Trauma
Research shows that trauma can change the way the brain and body function. When we face overwhelming stress, our nervous system shifts into survival mode; fight, flight, freeze or fawn (van der Kolk, 2021). While this response is protective in the moment, the body sometimes gets “stuck” in this state, even long after the threat has passed.
This can lead to:
Muscle tension and chronic pain
Digestive issues or nausea
Rapid heartbeat or shallow breathing
Sleep disturbances
Feeling “on edge” or easily startled
In fact, trauma is increasingly recognized as not just a mental health condition, but a whole-body experience that affects immune, hormonal, and neurological systems (Shalev et al., 2023).
Common Ways Trauma Manifests Physically
Chronic Stress and Fatigue
The constant activation of stress hormones like cortisol can leave the body feeling depleted and exhausted (Miller et al., 2021).
Somatic Symptoms
Headaches, stomachaches, and muscle pain often appear when trauma is unresolved. These symptoms may not respond well to traditional medical treatment until the underlying trauma is addressed.
Dissociation and Numbness
Sometimes the body responds by “shutting down.” Survivors may feel disconnected from their bodies or emotions, which can make everyday life feel flat or unreal (American Psychological Association, 2022).
Heightened Sensitivity
Trauma can make people more sensitive to sounds, touch, or even bright lights. The nervous system remains on alert, scanning for danger.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Trauma
One of the key players in the mind-body connection is the vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body. It connects the brain to major organs such as the heart, lungs, and gut. When functioning well, the vagus nerve helps regulate calm states, digestion, and emotional balance. However, trauma can disrupt vagal tone, leaving the nervous system in a chronic state of hyperarousal or shutdown (Porges, 2022). This is why many trauma survivors experience physical symptoms alongside emotional distress.
Therapies that stimulate the vagus nerve—like deep breathing, mindfulness, and polyvagal-informed therapy—can restore balance to the nervous system. By working directly with the vagus nerve, clients learn to shift from survival mode into a state of safety, connection, and healing.
Trauma-Informed Therapies at Well Mind Body
Healing from trauma requires more than talking, it requires approaches that integrate both the mind and body. At Well Mind Body, our Houston-based trauma-informed therapists use a range of evidence-based therapies to meet clients where they are:
Somatic Therapy: Uses body awareness, gentle movement, and grounding to release stored trauma in the nervous system.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Calms the body and mind through present-moment awareness and breathwork.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Helps reshape unhelpful thought patterns linked to trauma.
Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: Works with the nervous system and vagus nerve to restore a sense of safety and regulation.
Attachment-Based Therapy: Supports healing relational wounds and building healthier connections.
Research confirms that combining trauma-focused talk therapies with body-based approaches significantly reduces trauma symptoms and improves overall wellbeing (Cloitre et al., 2020).
Why Work With a Trauma Therapist in Houston?
Trying to heal from trauma alone can feel overwhelming. Working with a therapist who understands the mind-body connection gives you the tools to:
Feel safe in your body again
Understand your triggers and responses
Build resilience and emotional regulation
Strengthen relationships and self-confidence
At Well Mind Body, our trauma-informed therapists are available to see clients in person at 3801 Kirby Drive, Suite 344, Houston, Texas 77098 and virtually across the state of Texas. Whether you’re dealing with childhood trauma, grief, or recent life stressors, you don’t have to carry it by yourself.
Ready to Begin Healing?
If you’ve noticed trauma showing up in your body through tension, fatigue, or emotional overwhelm, it may be time to seek support. Healing is possible, and you deserve to feel whole again.
We invite you to book a session with one of our Houston trauma therapists today. Together, we’ll help you reconnect with your body, restore balance, and move forward with strength and hope.
👉 Schedule your appointment now at Well Mind Body
References
American Psychological Association. (2022). Trauma and physical health. https://www.apa.org
Cloitre, M., Petkova, E., Wang, J., & Lu, L. F. (2020). An examination of the effects of PTSD and depression on functioning and quality of life in sexual assault survivors. Depression and Anxiety, 37(7), 687–695. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23026
Miller, M. W., Lin, A. P., Wolf, E. J., & Miller, D. R. (2021). Oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroprogression in PTSD. Biological Psychiatry, 90(2), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.013
Porges, S. W. (2022). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 16, 871227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.871227
Shalev, A., Liberzon, I., & Marmar, C. (2023). Post-traumatic stress disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(7), 657–668. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2210535
van der Kolk, B. (2021). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.
