How Trauma and Pain Are Often Linked

When we think about trauma, we tend to focus on emotional or psychological wounds. When we think about chronic pain, we often assume it must have a clear physical cause. But for many people, these two experiences are deeply connected—and understanding that connection can be a crucial part of healing.

Trauma and pain often go hand in hand. If you've ever experienced persistent physical pain that doesn’t seem to fully resolve—or if medical tests come back “normal” while your body still aches—unresolved trauma could be playing a role.

The Body Remembers

Trauma isn’t just “in your head”—it lives in the body. When we experience trauma, especially if we don’t have the tools or support to process it, our nervous system stays on high alert. This constant state of tension or hypervigilance can lead to real, physical symptoms.

Over time, unprocessed trauma may contribute to:

• Muscle tension and chronic tightness

• Headaches, back pain, or jaw clenching

• Gastrointestinal issues or IBS

• Fibromyalgia or other pain syndromes

• Fatigue or physical exhaustion without clear cause

This is not about imagining pain. The pain is real—but its origin may be emotional, not just structural.

Why Trauma Can Turn Into Physical Pain

Here’s how the trauma-pain cycle often works:

1. Fight-or-Flight Activation: Trauma activates the stress response system. Adrenaline and cortisol flood the body, keeping muscles tight and ready to react.

2. The Body Doesn’t “Come Down”: If the trauma isn’t processed or resolved, the body may remain in this activated state—even after the danger has passed.

3. Sensitization Over Time: The nervous system becomes hypersensitive, interpreting even minor signals (like normal muscle tension) as pain. This is called central sensitization.

4. Emotional Pain Feeds Physical Pain: Feelings of fear, helplessness, or grief can further amplify physical symptoms, especially if they’re stored in the body without release.

Types of Trauma Often Linked to Chronic Pain

• Childhood trauma or neglect

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse

• Car accidents, surgeries, or medical trauma

• Combat or first-responder experiences

• Ongoing stress or relational trauma

In many cases, people may not even recognize their experiences as traumatic until they begin to explore the mind-body connection.

What Healing Looks Like

Managing pain when trauma is part of the picture requires a whole-person approach. While medical care is important, true relief often comes from integrating emotional healing into your care plan.

1. Trauma-Informed Therapy

Modalities like Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, IFS, or trauma-focused CBT help process trauma safely—both mentally and physically.

2. Body-Based Practices

Gentle movement (yoga, tai chi, stretching), breathwork, and grounding exercises can release tension and teach your body to feel safe again.

3. Nervous System Regulation

Therapy and mindfulness practices can help you identify when you’re in a fight-flight-freeze state—and give you tools to come back to calm.

4. Validation

Just being believed—that your pain is real, even if it’s connected to trauma—is incredibly healing. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone.

Final Thought

Trauma and pain are deeply linked, not because you're broken, but because your body has been doing its best to protect you. When we begin to understand this connection with curiosity and compassion, healing becomes possible—on both physical and emotional levels.

If you're living with chronic pain and suspect trauma may be part of your story, therapy can help you explore the connection, process what’s unresolved, and begin to feel safe in your body again.