PTSD – A Way Out.com A mindful way to heal

Pixabay: vinsky2002

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Trauma takes its toll on the body in many ways. We need to comprehend the physical damage that Cptsd wreaks on our bodies to motivate us to adopt practices that help us to heal on this level.

Most of the physiological damage of extended trauma occurs because we are forced to spend so much time in hyper-arousal–stuck in fight, flight, freeze or fawn mode.

When we are chronically stressed out [stuck in sympathetic nervous system activation], detrimental somatic changes become ingrained in our bodies.

Here are some of the most common examples of body-harming reactions to Cptsd stress:

Hypervigilance

Shallow and Incomplete Breathing

Constant Adrenalization

Armoring, i.e., Chronic muscle tightness

Wear and tear from rushing and armoring

Inability to be fully present, relaxed and grounded in our bodies

Sleep problems from being over-activated

Digestive disorders from a tightened digestive tract

Physiological damage from excessive self-medication with alcohol, food or drugs

Moreover, in cases of physical and sexual abuse, our capacities to be physically comforted by touch are eliminated or compromised; and, in cases of verbal and emotional abuse, our capacities to be comforted by eye-and voice-contact are undeveloped or seriously diminished.

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