The Body Remembers: Understanding Trauma, Somatic Energy & the Path to Release
We often think of trauma as something that happens to the mind. But what if I told you that your body holds just as much—if not more—of the story?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of emotional overwhelm, chronic tension, or self-sabotage…
If your body reacts before your mind can make sense of it…
If you feel disconnected from your joy, your creativity, or your own inner wisdom…
This is your body asking to be heard.
In this blog, we’re exploring what it really means when trauma is stored in the body, how it shows up somatically and energetically, and how you can begin to release it gently and safely using simple practices—on your own and with support.
Trauma Lives in the Body, Not Just the Mind
Unprocessed trauma doesn’t just disappear. It gets stored—in the tissues, the nervous system, the breath, and the body’s energy field.
This isn’t just energetic theory—modern science backs it up.
Studies in neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, and trauma research show how traumatic stress impacts the autonomic nervous system, hormone balance, inflammation response, and brain function.
Energetically, trauma disrupts the flow of life force energy—often referred to as chi, prana, or vital force. This leads to feelings of stagnation, numbness, or emotional “shutdown.”
When the body doesn’t feel safe to process something fully, it pauses that experience and holds onto it—until it feels safe enough to release it.
What Does “Somatic” Really Mean?
The word somatic comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “the living body.”
Somatic healing invites us to shift from thinking to sensing—to be in direct relationship with the sensations, impulses, and signals the body is sending.
In somatic work, we don’t just ask, “What happened?”
We ask, “How does that live in your body?”
This might be through tension in the jaw… a flutter in the chest… a pit in the stomach. The body knows—even when the mind forgets.
How Stored Trauma Shows Up
Stored trauma can manifest in many ways:
Physically:
Chronic pain or tightness (especially in the jaw, neck, shoulders, hips)
Digestive issues
Fatigue or insomnia
Difficulty breathing deeply
Emotionally/Behaviorally:
Hypervigilance or anxiety
Emotional numbness or shutdown
Outbursts, reactivity, or panic
Avoidance, dissociation, or people-pleasing
Energetically:
Feeling stuck, heavy, or “off”
Disconnection from your intuition or inner voice
Depleted or chaotic energy fields
Cyclical thoughts or suppressed emotional loops
Trauma doesn’t always look like drama. Sometimes, it looks like disconnection.
Why Energy Gets Stuck
When something overwhelming happens—especially in childhood or moments of powerlessness—your system goes into survival mode.
If there’s no safe place to express or release the experience, your body holds onto it.
Imagine your body as a container for energy. If there’s no release valve, that pressure builds.
Over time, that trapped energy can become chronic stress, emotional reactivity, or even physical illness.
How to Identify Where Trauma Lives in You
You don’t have to have a specific memory to know you’ve got trauma stored in the body.
Here’s how to start tuning in:
Body scan in stillness: What areas feel tense, heavy, tight, or numb?
Emotional triggers: What situations create a reaction that feels bigger than the moment?
Self-inquiry: What parts of my body do I avoid? When do I leave my body?
These small observations are the first step toward deep self-awareness.
How to Begin Releasing Trauma Gently
You don’t have to relive the pain.
You just need to reconnect to the present moment—safely and consistently.
Here are a few self-guided techniques:
1. Somatic Movement
Let your body move intuitively. Sway, stretch, shake, or dance. Movement discharges stagnant energy.
2. Breathwork
Use breath as a tool to regulate your nervous system. Try:
Box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4)
Long, slow exhales to downregulate anxiety
3. Grounding + Self-Touch
Place a hand over your heart or belly and just breathe. Let your body know: I’m here now.
4. Vagal Toning
Humming, chanting, or toning calms the vagus nerve and shifts the body into a state of rest and safety.
When to Seek Support
Sometimes, your body needs to feel safe in the presence of another. That’s where trauma-informed healing professionals come in.
You might benefit from:
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Trauma-informed bodywork or yoga
Reiki energy healing
Reiki for Trauma Release
Reiki offers a gentle, non-invasive way to clear stuck energy. It helps regulate the energetic field, bring awareness to blocked areas, and support emotional release—all while grounding you in a state of calm presence.
Clients often report feeling lighter, more centered, and emotionally balanced—even without needing to “talk through” the pain.
Your Reflection for This Week
Let this question guide you gently:
“If I stopped believing I had to carry this… what might I feel instead?”
Let that inquiry move through your body, not just your mind. What shifts? What softens? What opens?
Listen to the Podcast Episode:
The Body Remembers: Understanding Trauma, Somatic Energy & the Path to Release
Free Download: Healing the Body Worksheet
To help you go deeper into this process, I’ve created a free companion worksheet to guide you through:
Identifying where trauma lives in your body
Mapping emotional and physical triggers
Daily somatic and energetic release practices
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Rewriting the stories you’re ready to let go of
Download your Healing the Body worksheet now:
Or click the link in the show notes.
You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone
Your body is wise.
Your pain is valid.
Your healing is sacred.
And with every breath, every moment of presence, and every release—you’re remembering the truth of who you are:
Whole, worthy, and already in the process of becoming free.