The Psychology of your 20s 327. How trauma gets trapped in the body
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Sep 2, 2025 Trauma is often misunderstood, seen only as extreme events, but its impact can be subtle and long-lasting. The discussion uncovers how trauma can affect our bodies and mind, leading to feelings of numbness and disconnection. Listeners learn about survival strategies that persist into adulthood and the connection between emotional pain, shame, and physical health. Innovative therapeutic methods, like bilateral stimulation and body-focused practices, are explored as pathways to healing. This insightful conversation promotes understanding and resilience.
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Mind And Body Are Entwined
- The book The Body Keeps the Score reframed trauma as stored in the body, not only a cognitive story.
- Jemma credits it with shifting focus to the mind-body relationship in trauma care.
Polyvagal Ladder Explains Stuck Responses
- Polyvagal theory explains trauma as nervous-system dysregulation across ventral, sympathetic, and dorsal states.
- Getting stuck in hyper- or hypo-arousal leaves the body trapped waiting for a safety signal.
Vagus Nerve Breaks Communication
- The vagus nerve is the communication highway; trauma can 'blow up' that highway and scramble signals.
- Dysregulated signaling explains chronic pain, digestive issues, and immune problems after trauma.
