How Does Trauma Affect the Body?

Those who experience traumatic events in their lives can suffer from several lingering effects — increased anxiety, depression, or even the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, beyond the mental and emotional afflictions of trauma, there can be some physical effects of PTSD and physical effects of trauma on one’s body, as well.

PTSD physical symptoms can create any number of additional hurdles in one’s recovery from a traumatic experience, and these physical ailments can continue to affect every other aspect of an individual’s life until addressed.

How Does PTSD Affect the Body?

The physical ailments of trauma can have many different sources, and the PTSD effects on the body can come in different forms. For some, the nature of their trauma may have resulted in physical injury in addition to the psychological damage done. Breaking bones, being in a car accident, having bruises or scars from an abusive relationship or assault, or having burn marks following any number of disastrous events all need to be addressed.

Those who have suffered a physical injury from their experience can have their anxieties compounded as they have to work through the mental and emotional damage of the traumatic event while in physical pain that reminds them of their experience.

Others may experience the physical effects of trauma even if they are not immediately physically injured following a traumatic event. One’s emotional state can first affect one’s diet — causing them to either begin eating more than usual or, more commonly, one may cease eating almost entirely.

This can have a major physical effect on the body, with it becoming more malnourished as anxieties continue to build. The recovery process takes a lot of energy, both physically and emotionally, and not having the proper nutrients can inhibit a person’s recovery path as well as how they feel on a daily basis.

The body’s physiological response to trauma can also have several adverse effects. During times of duress, the body may begin to focus all of its energy into a complete “survival” state of mind, ensuring that the brain is hydrated and getting the energy it needs to remain vigilant. However, this means that water is being drawn from other places of the body — most notably, one’s skin. Not only can this create dry skin in areas, but it can also make it much easier for the body to scar during this time.

One’s emotional and mental turmoil following trauma can also manifest as aches and pains throughout the body. Anxiety and hypervigilance following a traumatic experience can cause the muscles to tense up tightly, which can lead to these aches throughout one’s body, even if they were not physically injured.

Physical Symptoms of PTSD

Each individual will experience their own mental, emotional, and physical effects of trauma-based on their unique experiences and perceptions of the traumatic event. As a result, not all people will express the same symptoms. However, some of the symptoms that may appear are:

1. Weight gain

2. Severe weight loss

3. Scarring

4. Insomnia

5. Hypertension

6. Aches and pains

7. Headaches

8. Poor circulation

9. Fatigue / exhaustion

Coupling these with any of the emotional and mental effects of PTSD makes recovery from these traumatic events complicated. However, there is always treatment available, regardless of the way that trauma affects each person. Finding a way to personalize one’s own recovery plan based on their symptoms is paramount throughout each stage of the recovery process.

How Does Trauma Affect the Body: Treatment Options Available

Coping with trauma and PTSD is difficult, but healing is always possible. Finding a place of safety, both physically and emotionally, is a priority to begin the healing process. For some, this will involve finding dedicated recovery facilities to detach from one’s life and focus on their wellbeing while in a recovery-curated environment. Individual and group psychotherapy and community building can help deconstruct one’s mental and emotional walls that may have been put up as a defense mechanism.

An individual can explore their experiences in a safe space during recovery. Understanding how does trauma affects the body is an important part of this process. Practicing breathing techniques and mindfulness can help an individual begin to recognize and ease some of their physical responses. By taking time to breathe and question your immediate reactions to stimuli, you can start to understand how trauma affects the body on a fundamental level. This awareness can ultimately support a deeper understanding of the mental and physical effects of PTSD.

Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is also essential to provide the body with the necessary nutrients it needs to continue trying to repair itself. This can help the skin become rehydrated and provide the brain with the energy it needs to work through other therapies and internalize coping mechanisms more effectively.

Experiential therapies and physically active recovery routes can also support an individual in identifying and addressing the physical effects of their trauma. By getting the body moving and being more introspective about one’s own physical state, these therapies can highlight symptoms that may have initially gone unnoticed. Exploring how trauma affects the body in these ways is often the first step toward building a personalized plan for healing. Doing so in a safe and supported environment is key to fully addressing these effects.

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Trauma is defined by its fundamentally impactful nature on one’s worldview, and a traumatic experience can reframe the way that a person interprets every aspect of their lives. Knowing how trauma affects the body directly can help each individual begin to better understand how trauma can impact their daily lives and inform how to begin creating an effective recovery plan for dealing with the intense effects of trauma and PTSD.

At Chateau, we offer an extensive array of programs designed to help you better understand, address, and overcome the effects that trauma has had on your life. Our trauma recovery plans are malleable and designed to be adjusted to meet your unique needs and goals throughout the recovery process. We utilize individual and group therapy, medication-assisted therapy, art, experiential practices, and individual case management to help you uncover ad address your unique experience with trauma.

For more information on how we can personalize your time with us, call us today at (435) 222-5225.

About The Author

Ben Pearson, LCSW, Clinical Director

Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director

With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.