How the Body Stores Trauma—and How We Can Heal Through Somatic Experiencing

When we think of trauma, we often focus on its emotional and psychological toll. But trauma is just as much a physical experience as it is a mental one. Our bodies remember what our minds sometimes can’t process. This understanding is at the heart of Somatic Experiencing®—a powerful, body-based approach to healing trauma.

The Body Remembers

Trauma isn't only stored in memories—it’s stored in muscles, in posture, in the nervous system. When a person experiences overwhelming stress or danger, the body’s natural fight, flight, or freeze response can become “stuck.” If we are unable to complete that response (due to shock, immobilization, or suppression), the energy meant for survival becomes trapped in the body.

This unresolved survival energy may show up later as:

• Chronic tension or pain

• Anxiety or hypervigilance

• Emotional numbness

• Digestive or immune issues

• Trouble sleeping or focusing

The body essentially holds on to the trauma until it feels safe enough to release it.

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing (SE), developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a therapeutic approach that helps people release stored trauma through awareness of bodily sensations. Unlike traditional talk therapy, SE focuses less on reliving traumatic events and more on tracking the physical sensations associated with them.

Rather than diving into overwhelming memories, SE gently guides individuals to notice subtle shifts in their body—tremors, tightness, warmth, breath changes—and follow these cues toward a natural release and reset of the nervous system.

How Healing Happens

1. Creating SafetyThe first step is establishing a sense of internal and external safety. This allows the nervous system to begin to soften and trust the process.

2. ResourcingClients are guided to connect with positive memories, supportive images, or calming body sensations. These “resources” help ground and stabilize during difficult moments.

3. TitrationSE works in small doses—gently “dipping into” trauma rather than flooding the system. This prevents re-traumatization and helps build resilience over time.

4. PendulationThe therapist helps clients move between a state of discomfort and a state of ease. This back-and-forth allows the body to complete survival responses that were interrupted during the original trauma.

5. Completion & IntegrationAs stuck energy is discharged—through shaking, crying, deep breathing, or other natural responses—the body begins to return to regulation. Clients report feeling more present, embodied, and alive.

Why It Works

Trauma isn’t just in the story—it’s in the nervous system. By working directly with the body, Somatic Experiencing bypasses the cognitive defenses and reaches the root of the trauma. Healing doesn’t require a detailed narrative—it requires presence, permission, and patience.

Final Thoughts

The body holds wisdom. Even in the aftermath of trauma, it’s constantly seeking balance, healing, and wholeness. Through Somatic Experiencing, we learn to listen to the body’s language—and in doing so, we reclaim the safety, connection, and vitality that trauma may have stolen.