Trauma is the disruption of an individual’s Emotions, cognitive processes, and behaviors caused by negative and intensely stressful experiences. These disruptions can manifest not only psychologically but also through physical symptoms, significantly reducing the individual’s quality of life. This article aims to contribute to the current knowledge in the field by clarifying the physical symptoms that occur after trauma and to support future research by offering a perspective that will guide them.
Somatic symptoms are quite common after intensely stressful experiences. Some of these symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, insomnia, and dizziness. Furthermore, anxiety levels after intense trauma increase proportionally, increasing bodily arousal. This is called “hyperarousal.” This state of hyperarousal also affects the digestive system. After trauma, the brain continues to continuously signal “danger.” This activates the sympathetic nervous system, and individuals begin to experience physical symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. Because the body remains stuck in “fight or flight” mode, symptoms can persist for extended periods. At this point, the problem lies not with the individual’s digestive system, but with the brain’s threat alert state (Özgen & Aydın, 1999).
After severe trauma, the sympathetic nervous system not only remains aroused but also becomes hypersensitive to environmental stimuli. The “tightening” sensation felt in the body, especially during times of stress, arises from the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, the hypersensitive sympathetic nervous system after trauma can increase heart rate and trigger other symptoms, such as shortness of breath (Özgen & Aydın, 1999).
An individual’s physical symptoms can also be retriggered by environmental cues related to the trauma. Being alone at night, being exposed to smells and sounds evocative of the trauma, or entering an environment that evokes any detail related to the trauma can trigger the trigger. This occurs because the brain associates any detail with the trauma based on previous experiences. Thus, the individual may reactivate the stress system, thinking, “That situation was dangerous, it could happen again.” (Özgen & Aydın, 1999)
In individuals experiencing trauma and intense stress, the Self is constantly stuck in danger mode, believing that a potential threat is ongoing. This causes the sympathetic nervous system, which governs the defensive response, to remain chronically active. When this system is constantly active, the body focuses its resources on survival and begins to function accordingly. The physiological changes that occur in this situation also form the basis of hypersensitivity to common post-traumatic symptoms (Özgen & Aydın, 1999).
There are many evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing the physical symptoms that occur after trauma. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in particular, reduces the tendency for individuals to catastrophize after trauma, significantly reducing the tendency to misinterpret physical symptoms as threatening. With CBT, individuals can evaluate their symptoms more realistically, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of physiological reactions (Çetin & Varma, 2021).
Behavioral exposure is a key method for breaking the cycle of avoidance due to trauma. Individuals are gradually exposed to the traumatic experience and stimuli they have been avoiding in a safe environment. This reduces the inaccurate emotions and thoughts attributed to the trauma, and the individual’s perception of threat is restructured (Çetin & Varma, 2021).
Mindfulness and body awareness-based approaches are also highly effective in reframing post-traumatic symptoms. These methods teach individuals to respond neutrally to the bodily sensations that arise in response to trauma symptoms, rather than reacting with panic. This fosters acceptance, rather than combating trauma symptoms and chronicizing the process, and this, in turn, reduces physical sensitivity (Çetin & Varma, 2021).
Trauma and intense stress trigger distinct somatic reactions, such as nausea and loss of appetite, in the individual’s sympathetic nervous system. These reactions are considered a natural response to stress. Cognitive behavioral processes, such as avoidance and catastrophizing, that develop after trauma further reinforce the process, making it chronic. Therefore, considering the physical symptoms of trauma as a holistic mind-body response may be more effective for future studies—strengthening Resilience in recovery.
References
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Çetin, Ş., & Varma, G. S. (2021). Somatik belirti bozukluğu: tarihsel süreç ve biyopsikososyal yaklaşım. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 13(4), 790–804.
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Özgen, F., & Aydın, H. (1999). Travma sonrası stres bozukluğu. Klinik Psikiyatri, 1(34–41).