Trauma in the body — somatic approaches

Traumatic experience does not stay only in memory — it reorganizes the nervous system, alters stress hormone rhythms, reshapes posture and breath, and can be held in the body long after the events have passed. Somatic approaches to trauma — including sensorimotor therapy, EMDR, yoga, and body-based mindfulness — work directly with this physical residue rather than only the narrative. Healing trauma often requires attending to the body alongside, or even before, the story.