The Body Remembers: An Introduction to Somatic Symptoms
You've been having debilitating headaches ever since you gave birth. Or maybe it's a constant, churning stomach ache and digestive issues that never seem to resolve. You might have chronic shoulder pain or a strange ache in your hips that wasn't there before. You've been to doctors, maybe even specialists, and they've run tests. The frustrating conclusion is always the same: "Everything looks normal. It's probably just the stress of having a new baby."
While stress is certainly a factor, what you're experiencing may be much deeper than that. Unresolved emotional trauma can manifest as very real, very persistent physical symptoms. This is not "all in your head"; it is a physiological reality based on the science of how your nervous system responds to overwhelming events. If you had a difficult or traumatic birth, your body may be holding onto the memory in the form of physical pain. Understanding this connection is the first step to finding a path to healing that addresses both your mind and your body.
When Trauma Lives in Your Tissues
The idea that the body stores trauma—often referred to as "the body keeps the score"—is a foundational concept in trauma recovery. During a traumatic event, your body is flooded with stress hormones and primed for a fight-or-flight response. When that response cycle isn't completed (because you couldn't fight or flee), the immense energy of that activation can get "stuck" in your nervous system and tissues, leading to chronic physical symptoms. These are known as somatic symptoms.
It's Not Hypochondria; It's a Physiological Response
Experiencing physical symptoms from emotional trauma is not a sign of weakness or that you are imagining things. It is a legitimate, involuntary physiological response. Your pain is real. Your fatigue is real. And it is directly connected to your experience of
Common Physical Manifestations of Postpartum Trauma
While everyone's experience is different, there are several common ways that unresolved birth trauma can show up in the body.
Chronic Pain and Muscle Tension
Your muscles may be chronically tensed as if you are still bracing for impact. This can lead to unexplained pain in your neck, shoulders, back, and jaw. Many people with trauma experience conditions like fibromyalgia or other chronic pain syndromes.
Digestive Issues (IBS-like Symptoms)
The gut is often called the "second brain" because it is so deeply connected to our emotional state. Chronic stress and trauma can wreak havoc on your digestive system, leading to symptoms like nausea, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and food sensitivities that mimic Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Headaches and Migraines
Tension headaches and migraines are a very common physical manifestation of a nervous system that is stuck in a state of high alert, or postpartum hypervigilance.
Overwhelming Fatigue That Isn't from Sleep Deprivation
This is a bone-deep exhaustion that sleep doesn't seem to touch. It's the physical result of your body expending a massive amount of energy just to maintain its constant state of high alert.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Pain
The pelvic floor can physically hold the tension and trauma of a difficult birth, especially one that involved a perineal tear, episiotomy, or forceps. This can lead to painful intercourse (dyspareunia), incontinence, or a generalized feeling of pelvic pain and disconnection.
Why Does Emotional Trauma Cause Physical Pain?
The connection between your mind and body is not mysterious; it's biological.
The "Stuck" Fight-or-Flight Response
As mentioned, a traumatized nervous system is often stuck in survival mode. This means your body is chronically flooded with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Your heart rate may be elevated, your breathing shallow, and your muscles tense, all of which contribute to pain and exhaustion over time.
The Role of Cortisol and Inflammation
Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to systemic inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is a known contributor to chronic pain, autoimmune issues, and a host of other physical health problems.
The Frustrating Journey of Seeking Answers
For many, the journey to connect their physical symptoms to their birth trauma is long and frustrating.
When All the Medical Tests Come Back "Normal"
It can be incredibly disheartening to be in real pain and have a doctor tell you that there is "nothing wrong" with you based on tests and scans. This can lead to self-doubt and a feeling of being completely alone in your experience.
The Pain of Being Told It's "Just Stress"
While stress is a component, having your symptoms dismissed as "just stress" is deeply invalidating. It minimizes the profound impact of the trauma and overlooks the need for specialized, trauma-informed care. A partner who understands this and can advocate for you can make a huge difference, but they may need their own support if they were a helpless witness to the birth.
How to Heal the Body by Healing the Mind
Because these symptoms are rooted in the nervous system, true healing requires an approach that goes beyond just managing the physical pain.
Why Talk Therapy Alone May Not Be Enough
While talking about your trauma is important, it may not be enough to resolve deeply held somatic symptoms. Because the trauma is stored in the body, the healing process must actively involve the body.
Body-Based (Somatic) Therapies for Trauma
Therapies that are specifically designed to help the body process and release stored trauma can be life-changing. These include:
- Somatic Experiencing (SE): A gentle therapy that helps you track your body's sensations and supports your nervous system in completing the self-protective responses that were interrupted during the trauma.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): While often thought of as a "brain-based" therapy, EMDR for birth trauma is highly effective at processing the physical sensations tied to the traumatic memory.
- Trauma-Informed Yoga or Physical Therapy: Working with a practitioner who understands trauma can help you safely reconnect with your body and release tension.
The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Medical Team
Finding doctors, physical therapists, and other providers who understand the connection between trauma and physical health is key. They will take your pain seriously and work collaboratively with your mental health provider.
Listening to Your Body's Story
Your body is not betraying you. Its symptoms are a way of communicating an unresolved wound.
Your Symptoms Are Signals, Not a Life Sentence
These physical symptoms are not a sign that you are broken or will be in pain forever. They are signals from your body asking for help to resolve the trauma it endured. Listening to these signals is the first step toward healing.
A Path to Reconnecting and Feeling Safe in Your Body Again
Healing is a process of teaching your body, on a deep, physiological level, that the danger has passed and it is safe to relax. With the right support, you can release the stored trauma and find your way back to a place of peace and well-being in your own skin.
If you believe your physical symptoms are connected to a traumatic birth, schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Phoenix Health care coordinator to learn about somatic and trauma-informed therapies.