What is trauma?

Trauma is a deeply personal and complex experience that can leave lasting effects on both the mind and body. Whether it stems from a single life-threatening event or repeated exposure to stress, trauma can shape how a person thinks, feels, and responds to the world—sometimes for years or even decades after the event.

Understanding what trauma is and how it affects your nervous system is a vital first step in the healing process. In this article, we’ll break down the meaning of trauma, how it impacts your body and brain, and why trauma-informed healing is essential for long-term well-being.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is not just what happens to you—it’s how your nervous system responds to overwhelming experiences. Trauma occurs when an event or series of events exceeds your ability to cope or process what’s happening. This can lead to a sense of fear, helplessness, or a total loss of safety.

Common Causes of Trauma:

• Car accidents or physical injuries

• Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse

• Neglect or abandonment in childhood

• Loss of a loved one

• Domestic violence or partner abuse

• War, displacement, or being a refugee

• Medical trauma or invasive procedures

• Natural disasters or sudden crises

It’s important to note that trauma is subjective. What traumatizes one person might not affect another in the same way. Trauma is less about the event itself and more about how it is experienced and stored in the body.

How Trauma Affects the Body

When trauma occurs, the body reacts by activating its survival systems—fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. These are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which prepares us to escape danger or shut down when escape isn’t possible.

If the trauma is not processed or resolved, the body can remain stuck in survival mode, even long after the danger has passed. This leads to chronic dysregulation of the nervous system, which can manifest in a variety of physical symptoms.

Long-Term Physical Effects of Trauma:

• Chronic muscle tension or pain

• Fatigue or low energy

• Digestive issues or gut imbalance

• Headaches and migraines

• Sleep disturbances or insomnia

• Hormonal imbalances

• Weakened immune function

The body literally remembers the trauma—storing it in tissues, muscles, and the nervous system. This is why somatic and body-based healing practices are so important in trauma recovery.

How Trauma Affects the Mind

Trauma changes how the brain functions. During a traumatic experience, the amygdala (your brain’s alarm system) becomes hyperactive, constantly scanning for threats. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, which helps you think logically and stay present, may shut down. This imbalance can lead to lasting changes in how you think and feel.

Mental and Emotional Effects of Trauma:

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Depression or emotional numbness

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories

• Dissociation (feeling disconnected from your body or surroundings)

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering

• Hypervigilance (always feeling on edge)

• Low self-worth or shame

• Difficulty trusting others or forming relationships

Over time, trauma can distort your internal sense of safety, making the world feel unpredictable or dangerous—even in calm environments.

The Mind-Body Connection in Trauma

One of the most profound realizations in trauma research is that the body and mind are not separate. Trauma affects both simultaneously and must be addressed through integrated, holistic healing. This is why practices like somatic healing, trauma-informed yoga, and mindfulness-based therapy are so effective.

Many trauma survivors report feeling “disconnected” from their bodies. They may struggle to feel physical sensations or emotions clearly. This disconnect is a form of dissociation, which the brain uses to protect you from overwhelming pain—but it also blocks your ability to feel joy, calm, or aliveness.

Why Trauma Can Last for Years

Trauma doesn’t always heal with time alone. In fact, many people carry unresolved trauma for years—sometimes without realizing it. This happens because trauma is not stored as a memory, like a story—it’s stored as sensory fragments, body sensations, and emotional responses that can be triggered at any time.

Without proper tools to process the trauma, your nervous system can stay locked in patterns of fear, tension, or numbness. This is why people may experience symptoms long after the original event and why traditional talk therapy, on its own, may not always be enough.

Healing From Trauma: A Somatic Approach

Healing trauma requires more than just talking about it—it requires reconnecting with your body, calming your nervous system, and creating a new internal sense of safety. This is where trauma-informed, body-based practices come in.

Trauma Healing Practices That Support the Mind and Body:

• Somatic healing yoga: A gentle, inward-focused practice that rebuilds body awareness and regulation.

• Breathwork: Helps release tension and regulate the nervous system.

• EMDR therapy: A proven trauma treatment that helps reprocess stuck memories.

• Polyvagal-informed therapy: Focuses on the vagus nerve and creating safety in relationships and the body.

• Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Bring you back to the present moment and help manage overwhelm.

Healing is not about forgetting the trauma—it’s about changing your relationship to it, so it no longer controls your body or your life.

Final Thoughts: Trauma Is Not a Life Sentence

Trauma can feel heavy, isolating, and confusing—but it is not the end of your story. With the right support, tools, and compassionate care, you can begin to release what your body has held and move toward a life of resilience, connection, and peace.

If you’ve felt stuck, anxious, or disconnected for years, know that you’re not broken—you’re carrying pain that deserves to be healed. And healing is always possible.