The Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets
How Trauma and Dissociation Affect the Physical — and Three Ways to Begin Healing
We often think of trauma as something that happens in the past. But the body doesn’t keep time the way the mind does. When something deeply painful happens — abuse, loss, fear, betrayal — the mind might try to protect us by disconnecting, a response called dissociation.
But the body never really forgets.
It stores the memory in muscles that stay tight, in guts that twist, in hearts that race for no reason. Many people, especially women who’ve experienced abuse, carry these hidden echoes for years — often being told their symptoms are “all in their head.”
But what if the truth is that their body is telling the story their mind can’t yet speak?
When the Mind Disconnects, the Body Holds On
Dissociation isn’t weakness — it’s survival. It’s the brain’s way of saying, “This is too much. I’ll hold the memory somewhere else until it’s safe.”
But while the mind may forget the details, the body keeps the score.
Research published in PubMed and trauma journals shows that survivors of early abuse or prolonged stress often experience higher rates of chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, gut issues, migraines, and fatigue — even decades later.
The nervous system, once wired for threat, keeps scanning for danger long after the danger is gone.
That constant state of “high alert” floods the body with stress hormones and inflammation. Muscles stay braced. The gut stops digesting properly. Sleep patterns break down. And over time, that invisible tension turns into visible pain.
It’s not imagined pain. It’s stored pain.
The Healing Starts at the Root
Modern medicine often treats symptoms — back pain, IBS, migraines — without asking why. But lasting healing starts when we ask deeper questions:
What happened when these symptoms began?
When did I start to feel unsafe in my body?
What might my body be trying to say?
Healing isn’t just about physical recovery — it’s about reclaiming safety, piece by piece.
You can’t separate mental, emotional, and physical health. They’re woven together.
When we finally begin to reconnect mind and body, the healing shifts from management to transformation.
Three Gentle Ways to Begin Healing
1. Ground daily in your body.
Pause and take five slow breaths. Feel your feet against the floor. Name three things you can touch or sense. This reconnects you to the now — a small but powerful step away from dissociation.
2. Move with intention.
Gentle stretching, walking, yoga, or dancing help release the tension trauma traps in the muscles. It’s not about exercise for fitness — it’s movement for freedom.
3. Speak what the body remembers.
Whether through journaling, therapy, or trusted conversations, let the story come forward in safety. The more your truth is given voice, the less your body has to carry it alone.
A Closing Blessing
May you have the courage to listen to what your body has been whispering all along.
May each breath remind you that safety is possible again.
And may your healing — slow, steady, and sacred — bring both your mind and your body home.
🪷💙
Jen
💫 If this spoke to you, explore more reflections on mind-body wellness at Fine Tuning Fitness — where healing begins with understanding, not quick fixes.