Trail Marker #9 - How Health Challenges Are Due To Trauma In The Body

During this month of May, it is dedicated to raising awareness for many chronic illnesses. This could include individuals who have lupus, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, mitochondrial disorders and so many other types of chronic illness. Raising awareness allows for more funds to be raised to help with research studies.

If you are an individual that is living a daily battle with chronic illness, I do want you to know that I understand and I applaud you for your continued persistence to improve your health but also for being the patient advocate that you need to be in order to decrease some of the health problems that you actually have. Now I have been ill since birth. I have a rare genetic condition that affects every organ in my body so over the years I have spent a great deal of time trying to understand my health challenges. That included going to multiple doctors, trying various alternative therapies, reading journals, medical studies; anything that I could get my hands on to find out what was going on in my body. What I found along the wrong way is that because of the trauma that I experienced that trauma was actually stored in my body.

Other medical studies that I have read show that this is also happening to many of us who have experienced trauma. Now please understand I am not saying that your illness is all in your head. I have had doctors tell me over the years that that I was making up my symptoms. Thankfully as years have passed along with more articles written about pain in chronic illness, medical doctors are more apt to not blame it on psychological problems so that is a step in the right direction as far as raising awareness. In talking about trauma being stored in the body, one book that I have read is called "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel Van Der Kolk. He points out that when we are faced with trauma our bodies automatically go into either fight, flight or freeze.

For me I notice often I will either freeze which causes my nerves and my muscles to constrict, or I will go into flight mode. In flight mode, often it leads to me feeling hopeless - which leads to depression -which leads to lack of sleep and then I noticed that I have digestive issues along with other problems.

Perhaps you are experiencing this as well. When you go into fight, flight or freeze mode, do you notice any other health issues when that happens. Many times the trauma we experience leads to hyper arousal, or hyper vigilance, insomnia, or flashbacks. Many of us who have experienced trauma will detach from our feelings or isolate ourselves due to anxiety and fear. This can either create health issues or exasperate the health issues that you actually have.

The message that is being sent throughout your body may actually be related to circumstances that we had no control over in childhood. It can also be circumstances related to betrayal, abandonment, divorce, job loss, grief over a loved one dying and other things we have no control over as adults. Our body is not betraying us, it oftentimes is just trying to get our attention. It is important to acknowledge the feelings that come up to resolve the emotions.

Bessel Van Der Kolk explains in his book, "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma:"

“After trauma the world is experienced with a different nervous system. The survivor’s energy now becomes focused on suppressing inner chaos, at the expense of spontaneous involvement in their lives. These attempts to maintain control over unbearable physiological reactions can result in a whole range of physical symptoms, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and other autoimmune diseases. This explains why it is critical for trauma treatment to engage the entire organism, body, mind, and brain.”

I love that quote from him because it clearly states what is going on when trauma is stored in the body. As I have read various medical journals, I came across a study several years ago that was focused specifically on people who have fibromyalgia. What they discovered was over 85% of the participants had experienced some form of a sexual assault. As I read this study, I thought about how it related to my life experiences of multiple traumas. When I am in flight or freeze mode, my muscles and nerves are tense often related to hyperarousal. The constriction leads the muscles and nerves to be overworked to the point of not working properly. The result for me is extreme pain from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. The trauma is also tied to my adrenal system. When your adrenal system is not working properly that can lead to adrenal fatigue.

Along your health journey the medical community will prescribe multiple medications which bring on different side effects. What I have found from many of you in the autoimmune community is that we are diagnosed with multiple health issues. As we process our trauma, at times other health issues will crop up.

Peter Levine, who is a well known expert in post traumatic stress disorder, has found that 15 to 20% of individuals who have PTSD experience at least one or more chronic illness. He explains that our bodies get stuck when we're in trauma. One quote from his book, "Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body," states

“Although humans rarely die from trauma, if we do not resolve it, our lives can be severely diminished by its effects. Some people have even described this situation as a “living death.”

Those of us who experienced extreme pain often feel like we are barely surviving. The statistics of individuals who commit suicide because of their chronic illness is higher than you might think. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and the pain is overwhelming, please reach out and get help. Text 988 for the National Suicide Hotline. What you are experiencing happens for others.

Years ago I was given a workbook by Howard Schubiner and Michael Betzold called "Unlearn Your Pain." He is a wonderful functional medical doctor that is located in Southeast Michigan. The workbook provides journal prompts to help you process unresolved emotions. He has found that individuals, who have completed the workbook or attended his in-person sessions, worked through this workbook as well as his in person sessions, they have found a decrease in their symptoms including any side effects that may be experiencing. This book is another one that I would recommend adding to your reading library.

As we raise awareness of chronic illness this month, it is important to know how your health problems begin. Take the time to look at the progression. If you use a pain journal, track how the stress, anxiety and trauma may be exacerbating your illness. Remember that you do not need to do life alone. It is ok to look for answers not just from your medical doctors, but through a professional counselor, or a life coach who specializes In processing trauma.

As a life coach who specializes in trauma and the impacts of health, I am here to help you. Please reach out to me and begin living your best life. I offer free 30-minute discovery virtual calls which will help determine how we can work together on this walk towards restoration. Subscribe to the blog and Share with those who have an autoimmune disorder or who have experienced trauma. We can process the trauma which will lead to whole body wholeness.