Trauma is an unavoidable fact of life. Studies show that at least 90 percent of U.S. adults will endure trauma in their lifetime. Not every traumatic event will result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this outcome is common enough to affect about 8 percent of adults (more frequently with women than men).
You may be familiar with some of the psychological symptoms of PTSD. This may include nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and a withdrawal from social interactions. But did you know that trauma can be equally dangerous for your body?
How Trauma Impacts Your Body
Our bodies are designed to respond to stress—the more intense the stress, the more intense the response. For example, an important stress hormone like cortisol is increased. Stress hormones prepare the body to handle a crisis. So far, so good. Right? Well… that depends.
When the stress has passed, your body is also designed to slide out of crisis mode. However, some folks feel as if the threat never passes when exposed to something traumatic. In other words, the body doesn’t forget. They live in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight. This not only wears them down emotionally but is also detrimental to the body.
Case in point: Cortisol helped save the day at the moment of urgency. If allowed to keep flooding your system, it becomes toxic. Your physical health is now under threat. This has the potential to further sustain the sense that an emergency is happening. From there, the cycle will keep going until you take active steps to heal.
5 Physical Effects of Trauma
1. Hyperarousal
This is a fancy way to say your body is always on high alert. You’re easily startled. Your muscles feel tense. Sleep disturbances have become the norm.
2. Heart Problems
There is plenty of research that points to this link. For example, consider children who have experienced trauma and abuse. They are 50 percent more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than those who experienced little or no trauma during childhood. Since heart disease is America’s number one killer, this is a connection to take very seriously.
3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS presents with chronic abdominal pain. It can also result in both extreme diarrhea and constipation. The causes of IBS are not settled, but its relation to PTSD is widely known. It could be connected to another stress hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). CRF has been shown to negatively impact the digestive system.
4. Fibromyalgia
Once again, the causes of this condition remain unknown. However, it often arises after the person has undergone trauma and/or abuse. A hallmark of fibromyalgia is musculoskeletal pain. This may be accompanied by fatigue and tenderness in the areas of pain.
5. High Blood Pressure
Studies down with adults who lived through trauma in childhood show a clear relation to high blood pressure in adulthood. In turn, high blood pressure increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and dementia.
The Body Doesn’t Forget
These are just some of the potential physical effects of trauma. As more work is done, it is expected that further connections will be confirmed. It’s important to know this for two reasons:
Understanding the trauma/body connection enables you to recognize symptoms that must be explored and addressed.
Identifying trauma as the cause of your physical problems enables you to seek the proper help and support you need.
Yes, initially, the body does not forget the trauma you have endured. However, working with a therapist has been shown to facilitate healing. As you resolve the trauma, the body is given permission to finally forget.
