Have you ever felt like your body was holding onto something long after your mind wanted to let it go? Maybe your shoulders tense up for no clear reason, or your heart races even when you’re safe. Maybe certain sounds or places make your stomach drop.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many people don’t realize that trauma isn’t just stored in our memories — it can also live in our bodies.
At New U Therapy Center & Family Services, we see this all the time. People come in feeling confused or even frustrated that they “can’t just move on.” But there’s a good reason for it, and most importantly, there’s hope.
How trauma gets “stuck” in the body
When you go through something scary, overwhelming, or deeply upsetting, your brain and body switch into survival mode. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tighten, and your body releases stress hormones to help you either fight, run, or freeze.
But when the danger is over, sometimes your body doesn’t get the message. This is especially true if you didn’t have the chance or support to process what happened. Instead, your nervous system stays on high alert, like it’s still waiting for the next bad thing.
This is why trauma can show up as:
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Headaches or stomach aches that seem to have no cause
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Trouble sleeping or always feeling tired
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Jumping at sudden noises or being easily startled
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Feeling numb or disconnected from your own body
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A heavy, tense feeling that won’t go away
Your body isn’t broken — it’s trying to protect you. It just doesn’t realize the danger has passed.
How therapy helps your body and mind heal
The good news is you don’t have to stay stuck forever. Therapy can help you gently process what happened so your body and mind can start to feel safe again.
Different types of therapy work in different ways. Talk therapy gives you a safe space to share your story and your feelings, without judgment. Other approaches, like somatic therapy or EMDR, help you connect with how trauma lives in your body — and release it.
Over time, therapy helps teach your nervous system that it doesn’t need to stay on guard all the time. Your muscles can soften. Your breath can slow. Your mind can stop racing. Little by little, your whole system learns that it’s okay to rest.
You deserve to feel free
If you’ve been carrying the weight of trauma in your body, please know this: it’s not your fault, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Healing is possible, even if it doesn’t always feel that way right now.
At New U Therapy Center & Family Services, we’re here to walk beside you. Whether you’ve been through a recent crisis or have old wounds that never fully healed, we offer compassionate, expert care to help you find relief and feel more like yourself again.
Ready to take the first step?
If you’re curious about how therapy can help you or someone you love, reach out to us today. Your story deserves to be heard, and your body deserves to feel safe again.
Contact New U Therapy Center & Family Services to learn more or schedule an appointment. You don’t have to heal alone.