The body keeps score.

But what does that actually mean?

It means that when we experience complex trauma, it’s our body that’s physically changed. This is why sayings like “just let it go” or “can’t you move on” are meaningless. When we understand biology, we understand our past lives within us. And when our past includes complex trauma— our body is always trying to protect us by staying in a heightened threat state.

Complex trauma is trauma that occurs over a period of time. This can be anything from childhood emotional neglect, emotional abuse, abusive relationships, betrayal, financial trauma, abandonment, chronic bullying/shaming, unstable or unpredictable environments. Usually complex trauma happens within our relationships. Where we’re helpless and learn overtime that we must adapt.

Over time, the body will show post traumatic stress. Our nervous system will go into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. In this state we’re dissociated. We’re living life but we’re not in our bodies. We’re hyper-vigilant and on edge because our nervous system is working overtime. Startling easy is quite common. So is fidgeting because our sympathetic nervous system is overloaded. And it’s trying to release some of that energy.

Some of us go into functional freeze. We can barely do the dishes. Life feels like a complete chore and we can barely get the energy to brush our teeth. This is the body protecting us— conserving our energy only for survival. Our thoughts are scattered and it’s hard to concentrate. Some of us are told “it’s just anxiety” or we’re exaggerating. But our body says differently.

If you rock, rub your arms, or shake your legs, your body is naturally attempting to self soothe. To regulate and bring you back to homeostasis.

The body remembers. And it’s wisdom isn’t something to suppress— it’s something to listen to #selfhealers