Being Informed: The Body Keeps the Score

Deepening Our Understanding of Trauma, Recovery, and Culturally Sensitive Support Across the Lifespan

Introduction

“The body keeps the score” is a transformative concept in the world of mental health and therapy, reminding us that our bodies absorb and reflect the imprint of trauma as powerfully as our minds do. Rooted in the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, this idea highlights how traumatic experiences leave an enduring mark—not only on our memories but within our muscles, our hormones, our immune systems, and our very sense of self. Understanding this intricate connection between body and mind is crucial for individuals, families, professionals, and communities striving to foster resilience and healing across generations and cultures.

Key Definitions from the Therapy World

To fully grasp the significance of “the body keeps the score,” let’s clarify some essential terminology from trauma studies and therapy:

• Trauma: Trauma is any event or series of events that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It can be acute (a single event, like an accident), chronic (repeated events like ongoing abuse), or complex (exposure to multiple traumatic experiences). Trauma is subjective: what is overwhelming for one person may not be for another.

• Somatic Memory: This concept describes how the body stores memories of traumatic events, sometimes in the form of physical symptoms, tension, or sensations that arise even when the conscious mind is unaware of the connection.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A clinical diagnosis given when someone continues to experience distressing symptoms—like flashbacks, nightmares, or hypervigilance—long after the traumatic event has passed.

• Resilience: The innate or cultivated ability to adapt and recover after trauma, adversity, or stress. Resilience can be fostered by supportive relationships, cultural practices, and access to resources.

• Body-Mind Connection: The ongoing interplay between psychological experience and physical health. This includes the ways that stress, trauma, and emotional pain can manifest as physical illness or discomfort.

• Vicarious Trauma: The emotional residue or strain that can result from empathetically engaging with another person’s trauma—often experienced by caregivers, therapists, medical professionals, and family members.

  
  

Research: The Science Behind Trauma and the Body

Decades of scientific research have illuminated how trauma alters both brain and body. Studies using brain imaging show that traumatic experiences can disrupt the functioning of the hippocampus (memory), amygdala (emotional response), and prefrontal cortex (decision-making), making it difficult to process and integrate traumatic memories. The stress response system—governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—can become overactive, resulting in chronic release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This impacts everything from heart health to immune function.

Furthermore, epigenetic research demonstrates that trauma can affect gene expression, potentially passing vulnerability (or resilience) to future generations. Studies have also shown that trauma survivors are at increased risk for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, and autoimmune disorders. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, for example, found that individuals who experienced multiple types of early trauma had a significantly higher lifetime risk for both mental and physical health issues.

Examples Across the Lifespan

Infancy and Early Childhood

Children exposed to neglect, family violence, or sudden loss in their earliest years may show delayed development, frequent crying, stomach complaints, or attachment difficulties. For example, a toddler who witnessed domestic violence might become fearful, have trouble sleeping, or avoid certain adults.

School Age Children

In elementary-aged children, trauma can emerge as learning difficulties, aggression, withdrawal, unexplained aches, and regressive behaviours (such as bedwetting). A child who survived a natural disaster might struggle to concentrate at school and experience headaches or stomach issues triggered by storms or loud noises.

Adolescents

Teens may cope with trauma through risk-taking, substance use, or social withdrawal. They might manifest trauma in the body through chronic pain, fatigue, or changes in appetite. For example, a teenager coping with bullying might develop migraines or eating disorders, and may gravitate toward peer groups for support or escape.

Adults

For adults, trauma can be triggered by accidents, violence, loss, workplace stress, or complex life transitions. Symptoms may include anxiety, muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, and feeling disconnected from one’s body or emotions (dissociation). An adult survivor of a car accident, for instance, might find their heart racing when entering a vehicle, or notice persistent back pain long after physical injuries have healed.

Older Adults

Trauma in older age can be due to bereavement, the loss of independence, or resurfacing of childhood traumas. Physical symptoms may include chronic pain, digestive disturbances, or cognitive changes. For example, an elderly war refugee might experience nightmares, fatigue, or sudden physical distress when exposed to reminders of their past.

Cultural Contexts and Community Considerations

Responses to trauma—and paths to healing—are deeply influenced by culture, faith, and social networks. In some cultures, collective healing practices such as talking circles, prayer, or communal rituals are central to processing trauma. Others may place a premium on privacy or stoicism, making disclosure more difficult. For recent immigrants, refugees, and minority groups, trauma may be compounded by language barriers, discrimination, or fear of authority. Traditional healing, storytelling, art, and music can be powerful avenues for recovery—sometimes more accepted or accessible than formal therapy.

Understanding cultural humility and competence is vital. Practitioners and supporters should approach every person with curiosity and respect, asking about their values, customs, and preferred sources of support, and being aware of the impact of historical trauma, (such as colonisation or systemic oppression), on entire communities.

Ways to Support Yourself

• Self-awareness and Compassion: Notice your physical and emotional states. Practice self-compassion—remind yourself that healing is a process and it’s normal to have ups and downs.

• Mind-Body Practices: Experiment with yoga, tai-chi, dance, art, or mindful walking. Activities that unite movement and breath can help regulate your nervous system and reconnect you with your body.

• Grounding Techniques: Use grounding exercises such as describing your surroundings out loud, holding a comforting object, or focusing on your breath to anchor yourself in the present.

• Expressive Outlets: Writing, drawing, music, or storytelling can help process feelings that are hard to speak about

• Professional Support: Don’t hesitate to seek help from a therapist, especially one knowledgeable about trauma and sensitive to cultural differences. You might also find support in faith leaders, elders, or peer groups.

• Routine, Nutrition, and Rest: A predictable daily routine, wholesome food, movement, and adequate sleep are foundational for recovery.

• Setting Boundaries: Protect your energy by saying no to additional stressors when needed and prioritise what feels most nourishing.

  
  

Supporting Colleagues, Family, and Community

• Active and Nonjudgmental Listening: Offer your full attention, withhold immediate advice, and create a safe space for sharing.

• Small Acts of Kindness: Offering a cup of tea, a note of encouragement, or help with daily tasks can provide comfort and stability.

• Culturally-Informed Encouragement: Where appropriate, suggest professional or community supports that respect the person’s cultural beliefs, whether that’s a therapist, a spiritual leader, or a healing circle.

• Respect Autonomy: Let people decide when and how to share. Sometimes just “being there” is enough.

• Encourage Social Connection: Help loved ones or colleagues maintain or rebuild ties to their support networks—friends, family, cultural or religious communities.

• Educate Gently: Share information about trauma and recovery if welcomed, perhaps by offering books, podcasts, or articles that demystify the process.

• Support for Caregivers: Recognise that those supporting trauma survivors also need breaks, validation, and community.

  
  

Conclusion

Being informed about the ways “the body keeps the score” equips us to nurture healing within ourselves and our diverse communities. By understanding the science, honoring all cultural backgrounds, and practising kindness to ourselves and one another, we can foster resilience, restore hope, and build a more supportive world for every generation.