Healing from past experiences is a deeply personal journey, and for many, understanding the signs your body is releasing trauma is a crucial part of moving forward. In my experience as a Clinical Criminologist and Counsellor, I’ve seen countless times how our bodies hold onto the residual stress and tension from difficult events, even long after the immediate danger has passed.
Recognizing these physical and emotional cues isn’t a sign of weakness; in fact, it’s a powerful indicator that your innate capacity for healing is active and that your system is actively working to process what was “stuck.” In this article, I want to help you understand these vital signals, empowering you on your path to recovery and wholeness.
If you’re seeking professional guidance, know that compassionate support is available to help you navigate these profound shifts, and it’s something I specialize in here at Dr Ingrid McGuffog.
Important Disclaimer:
The information below is general in nature and is not a substitute for personalised mental-health or medical advice. Results and experiences vary. If distress escalates, please seek immediate
professional support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions people ask when they begin to explore trauma healing:
Q1: What are the most common signs your body is releasing trauma?
The most common signs your body is releasing trauma can range from physical sensations like trembling, heat or cold flashes, muscle twitches, or yawning, to emotional shifts such as intense mood swings, vivid dreams, or sudden waves of emotion. These are natural biological responses as your system discharges stored stress.
Q2: How long does it take to release trauma?
I always tell my clients that the timeline for releasing trauma varies significantly for every individual. It’s truly not a linear process and depends on factors like the nature and duration of the trauma, your individual resilience, and the type of support you receive. There’s no fixed endpoint; rather, it’s a journey of gradual integration and healing.
For a comprehensive and structured approach to healing, I’ve developed programs like my signature Reframe your life.
Q3: Is it normal to feel worse before feeling better when releasing trauma?
Yes, this can absolutely be part of the process. As your body and mind begin to process unresolved experiences, you might temporarily feel heightened emotions, physical discomfort, or revisit difficult memories. This is often a sign that suppressed material is surfacing to be integrated.
Working with a qualified professional, perhaps through my Psychotherapy services, can provide a safe and contained environment to navigate these challenging moments.
What Happens When Your Body Holds Onto Trauma?
When you experience a traumatic event, your brain and nervous system instinctively activate survival responses: fight, flight, or freeze. Often, these responses aren’t fully completed. Perhaps you couldn’t fight back, or escape wasn’t an option. When this happens, the intense energy generated for survival gets “stuck” or “trapped” in your body. It’s much like an alarm system that never quite resets.
This stored tension can manifest as chronic muscle tension, unexplained aches, digestive issues, or even persistent feelings of anxiety and unease. Your body is still operating as if it’s in danger, even if the external threat has passed. This continuous state of alert can lead to various traumatised symptoms, impacting your physical and mental well-being over time. My work focuses on helping you understand and release these patterns.
Recognising the Physical Signs Your Body Is Releasing Trauma
As your body begins to process and release this stored energy, you might experience a range of physical sensations. These are often involuntary and can feel strange or even unsettling at first. Understanding them can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed during your healing journey.
Tremors, Shaking, or Spasms:
This is one of the most common and primitive ways your nervous system discharges excess energy. It can range from subtle vibrations to noticeable shaking, often in your limbs or torso. Think of an animal shaking off stress after an escape – your body can do it too.
Temperature Changes (Hot or Cold Flashes):
Your autonomic nervous system plays a key role in regulating body temperature. As it rebalances and trauma is released, you might experience sudden waves of heat or cold, or even sweating, as energy moves through your system.
Digestive Upset or Changes in Appetite:
The gut is often called our “second brain,” and it’s highly sensitive to stress and trauma. As your body releases tension, you might notice temporary nausea, “butterflies,” changes in bowel habits, or shifts in your desire to eat.
Fatigue or Restlessness:
The process of trauma release can be incredibly taxing on your body, leading to profound exhaustion. Conversely, some people experience restlessness or difficulty sleeping as the nervous system processes and tries to regulate itself.
Muscle Tension Release and Aches:
Chronic stress often leads to sustained muscle tension. As your body lets go, you might feel deep relaxation, but sometimes this release can be accompanied by temporary aches or soreness as previously held tension dissipates.
Changes in Breath Patterns:
You might find your breath becoming deeper, more expansive, or even spontaneous sighs and yawns as your respiratory system releases constrictions.
It’s important for me to convey that these ptsd physical symptoms during release are powerful signs your body is releasing trauma, not signs of harm. Your body is naturally trying to return to a state of balance.
Emotional & Psychological Shifts During Trauma Release
The physical release of trauma is often intertwined with significant emotional and psychological shifts. These can be profound and sometimes challenging, as buried feelings and memories surface. This is a normal and necessary part of healing psychological trauma.
Mood Swings or Heightened Emotions:
As emotions that were previously suppressed or numbed begin to surface, you might experience intense sadness, anger, fear, or even joy. These emotions, while strong, are moving through you rather than being stuck.
Vivid Dreams or Nightmares:
Your subconscious mind often processes unresolved experiences during sleep. You might have more frequent, vivid, or emotionally charged dreams as your brain attempts to integrate past events.
Resurfacing Memories or Flashbacks:
While often distressing, the re-emergence of memories or flashbacks (often fragmented) can be a sign that your mind is ready to process them in a safer context. This is where my professional support becomes invaluable.
Increased Self-Awareness and Clarity:
As the fog of unprocessed trauma begins to lift, you might gain new insights into past behaviors, relationships, or your sense of self. This can lead to a deeper understanding of your own patterns and needs.
A New Sense of Calm or Lightness:
Ultimately, as trauma is released, many of my clients report feeling a profound sense of relief, peace, and a lightness they haven’t experienced before. This signifies a nervous system that is finally able to relax and integrate.
Navigating the Trauma Release Process: Essential Steps for Healing
Experiencing these signs your body is releasing trauma can be intense. Knowing how to support yourself through them is vital for effective healing.
Practice Self-Compassion and Patience:
Healing is not a race. I always encourage my clients to be kind to themselves, acknowledge the difficulty, and remember that progress isn’t always linear. Some days will be harder than others.
Create a Safe and Supportive Environment:
It’s essential to ensure you have spaces where you feel secure, both physically and emotionally. This might mean setting boundaries, seeking comforting routines, or connecting with trusted individuals.
Engage in Gentle Movement and Mindfulness:
Practices like gentle stretching, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or mindful meditation can help ground you and facilitate your body’s natural release mechanisms. These methods can gently guide how to release trauma from the body.
Prioritise Rest and Nourishment:
Your body is doing significant work during this process. Ensure you are getting adequate sleep, eating nourishing foods, and hydrating well to support your system’s recovery.
Seek Professional Guidance:
While your body has an innate capacity to heal, attempting to navigate deep trauma alone can be overwhelming or even re-traumatizing. A qualified professional, like myself, can provide a safe space and effective techniques to guide you through the process. For more information on complex trauma and its symptoms, I often recommend resources like the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health.
What Happens in Our Therapy Sessions and Why
In my work at Dr Ingrid McGuffog, I understand that true healing involves addressing the roots of your distress. In sessions I combine somatic awareness with cognitive and emotion-focused
techniques. These approaches are supported by research into neurobiology of trauma (e.g. Porges, 2011; Perry, 2021). They aim to help you notice, name and safely release survival energy at your own pace. This often involves:
- Somatic Awareness: I guide you to safely connect with and understand the physical sensations associated with trauma, allowing for gentle release without re-traumatisation.
- Emotional Regulation Skills: I teach you practical tools to manage intense emotions that may arise during the release process.
- Cognitive Restructuring: I help you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns that stem from trauma.
- Developing Resilience: My aim is to build your capacity to cope with future stressors and empower you with lasting tools for well-being.
My Reframe your life program is specifically designed to work with these principles, offering a structured yet flexible path to transform addictive and self-destructive cycles often fueled by unresolved trauma. This program integrates therapeutic techniques to facilitate safe trauma release and foster sustainable change.
Additionally, my Consulting service for court participants often addresses underlying trauma that contributes to their behaviors, highlighting the broad application of trauma-informed care in my practice.
Conclusion: Embracing Your Path to Wholeness
Recognizing the signs your body is releasing trauma is a profound step in your healing journey. These physical and emotional shifts are not random; they are your body’s intelligent way of processing stored experiences and moving towards a state of greater balance and peace. Embracing this process with understanding and self-compassion is key to genuine recovery.
Remember, you don’t have to navigate these complex waters alone. My professional guidance provides the expertise and safe environment needed for deep and lasting transformation. If you’re ready to understand and heal from the invisible chains of trauma, I encourage you to explore more insights on my blog about Reframe your life embrace suffering for healing and transformation or reach out to me today to discuss how I can support your unique healing journey.
You can take the first step towards a more integrated and peaceful life by visiting my contact page or booking an appointment today.
Your Partner in Healing,
Dr. Ingrid McGuffog