Yes, trauma can also manifest as physical symptoms. Your body and mind are closely interconnected. When your nervous system is constantly in a state of high alert, you often notice this physically as well. For example, many people with trauma experience headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, sleep problems, or tension in muscles and joints.
Physical symptoms can occur immediately after a distressing event, but also long afterwards. Especially with childhood trauma or complex trauma, you often see chronic health problems develop in the long term. When the stress system remains dysregulated for a prolonged period, it affects your immune system, your hormone balance, and the functioning of your organs. This increases the risk of various problems, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and gastrointestinal issues.
You can see these physical symptoms as traces of trauma. It emphasizes that trauma is not only in your head, but also in your body. That is why in trauma therapy also attention is needed for the body and a body-oriented therapy form can be very helpful if you experience many physical complaints. Â
