Your Cells Remember: How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body—and How to Release It
We tend to think of trauma as a memory—a past event that lives in the mind.
But what if I told you your body remembers too?
Every time your heart raced, but you couldn’t scream…
Every moment your stomach tightened, but you had to stay polite…
Every betrayal, every shame spiral, every freeze-response you talked yourself out of…
Your body was listening. And it still is.
Trauma isn’t just psychological. It’s cellular.
It’s held in the fascia, the nervous system, the gut, and even your posture.
And real healing isn’t about just “thinking differently.” It’s about moving differently. Breathing differently. Feeling safe inside your skin again.
Let’s talk about how trauma lives in the body—and how to lovingly let it go.
What Science Says: The Body Keeps the Score
Renowned trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk says it clearly: “The body keeps the score.”
Trauma is not just about what happened to you—it’s about what happened inside you as a result.
When we experience overwhelming stress or fear, our body often enters survival mode: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. If the event isn’t fully processed (and many aren’t), those protective responses get stuck in the body. They don’t disappear just because time passes.
These trapped responses can show up years later as:
Chronic pain or muscle tension (especially jaw, shoulders, hips)
Digestive issues
Anxiety or numbness
Hormonal imbalances
Autoimmune conditions
Fatigue that no supplement can fix
Why? Because unprocessed trauma changes the way your nervous system operates. It teaches your body to stay on guard—even when the threat is long gone.
The Fascia: Where Emotion Hides
Fascia is the thin, web-like connective tissue that wraps around muscles, organs, and joints. Fascia is deeply responsive to emotion and contracts during trauma. You cn think of it as your body’s “emotional fabric”
You’ve probably heard of fascia—it’s the thin, web-like connective tissue that wraps around muscles, organs, and joints.
What many don’t know? Fascia is deeply responsive to emotion. It contracts during trauma.
Think of it like the body’s “emotional fabric.”
When trauma happens, the fascia tightens to protect the body. But if we don’t release that tension later, it becomes chronic—impacting flexibility, breath, energy, and even how emotions flow.
Have you ever cried during a deep massage or yoga pose? That’s trauma leaving the body.
Somatic Healing: Feeling Is the Path to Freedom
Somatic work is all about helping your body release what your mind can’t.
Here are gentle, powerful practices to start:
Remember: this isn’t about re-living trauma. It’s about completing the cycle your body never got to finish.
Somatic breathwork: Controlled breathing to release stuck patterns
Tremoring (neurogenic shaking): A natural trauma release mechanism (like animals do after fear)
Myofascial release: Gentle movement or massage to soften the fascia
Intuitive movement or dance: Letting the body express what words can’t
Vagus nerve activation: Humming, gargling, or cold water exposure to regulate the nervous system
Somatic experiencing therapy: Working with a trained practitioner to process trauma through body sensation
Energetic Hygiene: Clearing What Isn’t Yours
Not all trauma is yours. Empathic women often absorb energy from others—especially in childhood or codependent relationships.
If you’re highly sensitive, energetic hygiene is essential.
Some daily tools:
Salt baths or clay foot soaks
Smudging with sage or palo santo (intention is key)
Visualization: Imagine a golden light clearing your field
Cord cutting: Release entanglements from the past
Time in nature: Let the earth recalibrate your frequency
Intentional touch: Massage your heart space, belly, and hips with nourishing oils
Final Thought: You’re Not Broken. You’re Brilliant.
If you’ve ever felt like nothing’s “wrong” but you still don’t feel quite right, it might be your body calling you home.
You don’t need to fix yourself. You need to feel yourself—fully, gently, bravely.
Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s protecting you.
And when it finally feels safe enough to release, your energy, health, and vitality come rushing back.
Let that be the new standard for healing: not just surviving—but returning to your body with reverence.
