Fear of Trauma Stored in our Body

Unhealed trauma is stored in the tissues of our body. Traumatic experiences are either processed completely or partially or perhaps hardly at all. They cause a disconnect from ourselves and the present moment. This “leaving the scene” is part of our defense system, our survival mechanism.

People who have safe connections with others and within themselves are able to feel and be present with their experience. They attend to the memories, thoughts, images, words, feelings and energy in their body. To the extent we are able to do that, the energy moves through. If we are attacked and are able to run, that will discharge some of the energy. If we are attacked and freeze or are held down, that burst of energy of the flight mechanism is unable to discharge. The effect is similar if there is a literal attack and holding or if it is due to threat and power, like a child who knows they can’t tell on the adult harming them.

We can’t afford to feel it — that fear in the moment of attack or the chronic fear and anxiety from long term abuse or neglect. The original traumatic experience felt life-threatening. That is why our system protected us from feeling it. The next step is to be sure it never comes up again. That we never feel that threat and terror again. This is the foundation of chronic anxiety and a host of addictions from substance use to shopping from gambling to…