How CPTSD Can Sneakily Affect Your Body and Mind
When we think of trauma, we often picture emotional pain, flashbacks, or anxiety. But Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) doesn’t just stay in the mind—it can ripple through your entire body, creating symptoms that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Chronic pain, relationship struggles, stomach issues, overthinking, anxiety, depression, and even eating disorders can all be tied back to unresolved trauma and the relational wounds that come with it.
The Body Remembers: How Relational Trauma Shows Up Somatically
Trauma isn’t just a memory stored in your brain; it’s a full-body experience. Relational wounds—whether caused by neglect, abuse, or emotional invalidation—can leave your nervous system stuck in survival modes of fight, flight, freeze, or shut down. While these states are meant to protect us in moments of danger, staying in them for prolonged periods can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health.
For example:
Chronic pain may stem from muscles that stay tense due to a persistent fight-or-flight response.
Stomach issues and other digestive problems can arise when the body is stuck in a stress state, diverting energy away from digestion.
Relationship struggles often reflect patterns learned in unsafe environments, leading to difficulty trusting others or setting boundaries.
Anxiety and overthinking are common when the nervous system is on high alert, constantly scanning for danger.
Depression and feelings of numbness can result when the body shuts down in a freeze response.
Eating disorders can become coping mechanisms for overwhelming emotions or a sense of lack of control.
Despite being considered “unrelated” by many, these issues often share a common root in the body’s response to trauma.
The Role of the Nervous System in Trauma and Healing
Your nervous system is designed to move fluidly between states of alertness and calm. The “green zone,” or ventral vagal state, is where we feel safe, connected, and grounded. In this state, we can approach life with curiosity and compassion. However, trauma disrupts this natural flow, keeping the nervous system stuck in survival modes.
When the body stays locked in fight, flight, freeze, or shut down for extended periods, it can lead to chronic health issues, emotional distress, and a pervasive sense of disconnection from yourself and others. The body simply isn’t designed to function in these states long-term.
How Somatic Trauma Therapy Can Help
The good news is that your nervous system is adaptable. With the right tools and support, you can retrain it to access the green zone more often, leading to profound changes in your mental and physical health. Somatic trauma therapy works directly with the body to:
Release stored tension and stress that contribute to chronic pain and health issues.
Restore balance to the nervous system, helping you feel safer and more connected.
Reduce overthinking and anxiety by teaching your body to recognize cues of safety.
Address eating disorders by uncovering their roots in trauma and building healthier coping strategies.
Strengthen relationships by resolving relational wounds and fostering trust and connection.
Why I Focus on Somatic Therapy, Eating Disorders, and Chronic Pain
In my practice, I see how all these issues are deeply interconnected. Chronic pain, eating disorders, and CPTSD often share a common thread: a dysregulated nervous system. By addressing the root cause through somatic and trauma-informed approaches, we can create lasting healing that touches every aspect of your life.
I offer immersive sessions designed to help you step out of survival mode and into a state of ease and authenticity. These extended, focused sessions provide the space you need to deeply engage with your healing and see meaningful progress.
Imagine What’s Possible
When your nervous system learns to access the green zone more frequently, everything changes. Overthinking and insecurity give way to clarity and confidence. Chronic pain eases as your body releases tension. Eating disorder behaviors decrease as you reconnect with your body in compassionate ways. Most importantly, you feel more like yourself—calm, curious, and fully alive.
Healing from CPTSD isn’t just about managing symptoms; it’s about reclaiming your life.
Take the First Step
If this resonates with you, let’s talk. I offer virtual services to Colorado residents, specializing in trauma, chronic pain, and eating disorders. I use a somatic approach to deactivate the nervous system so you can access more safety and connection. Together, we can create a plan to help you heal the root of your symptoms and you can start living the life you deserve.
About the Author
Martha Carter is a licensed therapist providing virtual services in Colorado. She is trauma-informed and trained in somatic, neurobiology-based modalities to help people with all types of trauma, chronic pain, and eating disorders heal from the inside out.
(Colorado residents only)
