How Trauma Changes the Brain and Body, and the Path Towards Healing

Apr 23, 2026

Experiencing a traumatic event is not as uncommon as you may think.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 50% of people in the United States will experience a significant trauma in their lifetime, and many people go on to experience multiple traumas. When we are exposed to trauma, our stress-response system (fight, flight, freeze) is activated. Sometimes, that stress-response system gets stuck, and we continue to suffer at work, at school, and in our relationships.

Trauma doesn’t stay in the past. It can shape how the brain responds to stress, how the body feels day to day, and how safe the world feels overall. Research shared by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) helps explain why trauma can affect both emotional and physical well-being, and why compassionate, trauma‑informed care is so important.

Learn more below about ways in which trauma exposure can affect us and how FamilyMeans is here to support you.

Trauma Puts the Nervous System on High Alert

According to ADAA, trauma can cause the brain’s amygdala, or alarm system, to become overactive. When this happens, the body may remain in survival mode long after a threat has passed. This can lead to anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or feeling constantly on edge, even in everyday situations.

Trauma can also affect the brain regions responsible for emotional regulation and decision‑making, making it harder to feel calm or grounded during stressful moments.

Trauma Lives in the Body, Too

Trauma isn’t only emotional, it’s physical. ADAA notes that long‑term stress responses can contribute to symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, or digestive concerns. These responses are not signs of weakness; they are signs of a nervous system that learned how to survive.

At FamilyMeans, we recognize the close connection between mind and body, and we honor the full experience clients bring with them to therapy.

How FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy Helps

FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy provides trauma‑informed counseling rooted in safety, connection, and respect. Our therapists understand that trauma responses are adaptive, not something to “fix” or push through. We focus on helping clients:

• Understand their symptoms through a brain‑and‑body lens
• Build skills for nervous system regulation
• Strengthen emotional resilience and coping strategies
• Restore a sense of control and stability
• Support healing within individuals, families, and relationships

Our therapists are trained in a variety of trauma-focused treatments, including EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Trauma-Focused CBT.

Healing Is Possible

Trauma changes the brain and body, but those changes are not permanent. With informed, compassionate support, healing is possible at any stage of life.

If you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed by the effects of trauma, FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy is here to help with care that meets you where you are and supports where you want to go.

https://www.familymeans.org/counseling-therapy/

651-439-4840

Reference

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2025, March 11). 5 Ways Trauma Changes Your Brain and Body (And How You Can Start Taking Back Control).
https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/ways-trauma-changes-your-brain-and-body