The Body Remembers: How Trauma Gets Stored Physically and How to Release It

Trauma isn’t just something that happens in the mind. It’s something the body remembers.

People often think of PTSD as a mental health condition, but trauma doesn’t just exist in thoughts or emotions—it gets stored in muscles, the nervous system, and even the way a person holds themselves.

If you’ve ever felt tense for no reason, experienced unexplained aches and pains, or found yourself reacting strongly to a situation without knowing why, it could be that your body is still holding onto past trauma.

Understanding how trauma gets stored in the body—and how to release it—is key to healing.

How Trauma Gets Trapped in the Body

When something traumatic happens, the body reacts instantly. The nervous system doesn’t think—it responds.

Your heart races. Your breath speeds up. Your muscles tense, preparing to fight or escape.

This is the fight-or-flight response, a survival mechanism designed to protect you.

But what happens when the trauma isn’t fully processed?

If the nervous system remains stuck in survival mode, the body continues to carry tension, as if the danger is still present. Some people experience chronic tightness in their shoulders, jaw, or stomach. Others feel their chest tighten when they try to relax. For some, emotions like fear, anger, or sadness get buried so deeply that they become physical symptoms—headaches, digestive issues, or persistent pain.

Even years after the trauma, the body may still be reacting to something that happened long ago.

Signs That Trauma Is Still Stored in the Body

Many people assume they have “moved on” from trauma because they don’t think about it much. But the body tells a different story.

Unexplained tension, sudden emotional reactions, or feeling frozen in moments of stress are all signs that trauma is still active beneath the surface. Some people experience digestive issues, difficulty breathing, or a sense of being constantly on edge. Others feel numb and disconnected, as if their body is stuck in a holding pattern.

Because trauma isn’t just a memory—it’s an experience that remains unresolved—the body continues to react until it is properly released.

Why Talking Alone Doesn’t Heal Trauma

Many PTSD treatments focus on talking through trauma, but trauma isn’t stored in words.

Some people in therapy logically understand their trauma but still feel stuck. Others feel emotionally numb, unable to connect with what happened. And for some, talking about their experiences actually reinforces the distress rather than resolving it.

The nervous system doesn’t respond to words—it responds to safety. Until the body recognises that the trauma is over, it will keep reacting as if the threat is still there.

How to Release Trauma from the Body

Healing doesn’t happen through force—it happens when the body is given permission to release what it was unable to process at the time of the trauma.

The Boulderstone Technique works by finding where trauma is stored in the body and guiding the nervous system to complete what was left unfinished. Instead of forcing someone to relive their past, it helps the body reset gently, allowing the trauma to process without overwhelm.

Once the body recognises the trauma is truly over, the tension, anxiety, and physical symptoms begin to fade.

Why Stillness Is the Key to Letting Go

Most people live in a constant state of tension without realising it. Modern life keeps the nervous system overstimulated—whether it’s stress, social pressures, or unresolved trauma. For those with PTSD, the body never fully relaxes, always staying slightly on edge.

To release trauma, the body needs a moment of complete stillness—a Still Point—where it can finally stop holding onto the past. This is why so many people experience deep relief after a session. Once they reach that Still Point, healing begins naturally.

Trauma isn’t just something that lives in the mind—it’s something the body carries, often for years. When therapy or coping strategies don’t seem to help, it’s often because they aren’t addressing the way trauma is stored physically.

But when the body finally lets go, everything changes.