If my medical tests come back clear, does that mean it's psychosomatic?

Possibly, but not necessarily. First, it's important to rule out physical causes. If no organic pathology is found and symptoms are persistent — a psychosomatic component (including one related to trauma) is probable. “Psychosomatics” does not mean “imagined” — these are real physical symptoms with a psychological component in their origin.

Is it important to work with the body in trauma therapy?

It's not strictly necessary to explicitly "work with the body" in the literal sense. But awareness of bodily sensations — the integration of the body into therapy — improves outcomes. Purely "talk" therapy may not address aspects of trauma stored in the body. Somatic approaches (SE, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy) specifically address this level.

How Psychological Trauma Manifests in the Body: Symptoms and Mechanisms

Psychological trauma lives in the body. What somatic symptoms of trauma are, why they occur, and how body-oriented therapy aids healing.

🌿psybot.app·June 19, 2026·2 min read

"Every time I think about it, my stomach clenches." "I can't relax my shoulders — even when everything is fine." "After that, I developed pains I didn't have before." Bessel van der Kolk's book "The Body Keeps the Score" (2014) brought to mass audiences what clinicians had long known: trauma is stored in the body.

1. Why Trauma Settles in the Body

Under threat, the brain activates the "fight or flight" system: adrenaline, cortisol, muscle tension, rapid heart rate. If the response doesn't complete (threat ends, but the body didn't "act it out" — strike, flee), the nervous system remains in a state of activation.

With chronic trauma or when response was impossible (freezing) — the body literally "freezes" the incomplete response.

2. Somatic Symptoms of Trauma

Chronic muscle tension (especially neck, shoulders, diaphragm)
Pain without organic cause (headaches, muscle pain, stomachaches)
Breathing disturbances (shallow, breath-holding)
Numbness or dissociation in the body
Bodily hypervigilance (startling, excessive reaction to touch)
Sexual function disturbances

3. Body-Oriented Approaches

Somatic Experiencing (SE, Peter Levine) — working with incomplete defensive responses through gentle tracking of bodily sensations.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy — working with bodily impulses and movement.

Trauma-sensitive yoga — research shows its effectiveness as a complement to traditional PTSD therapy.

4. Starting Point: Contact With the Body

A simple step: deliberately noticing bodily sensations. "What's in my body right now?" Not evaluating — just noticing. This develops interoceptive awareness — the foundation of body-based trauma work. Safety begins with the ability to feel one's body.

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Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in a crisis situation, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a crisis helpline.

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