Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime:
Your body remembers what your mind tries to forget.
We like to think that trauma is something you think your way through. That it's all in your head.
But trauma isn’t just emotional—it’s physical. And sometimes, the biggest health issues people face didn’t come from genetics, bad habits, or bad luck.
They came from surviving things no one should have had to survive.
According to research, including the famous ACEs study (Adverse Childhood Experiences), certain types of trauma can raise your risk of serious health problems by up to 80%.
Let that sink in.
🚨 10 Types of Trauma That Can Raise Your Health Risks
These are some of the most common, most overlooked, and most damaging experiences—especially when they happen in childhood:
Physical abuse – The body never forgets being hurt.
Emotional abuse – Words can wound, and they echo for years.
Sexual abuse – This trauma often lives in silence, but its impact is everywhere.
Neglect – Sometimes the pain comes from what didn’t happen: love, safety, comfort.
Witnessing domestic violence – Even if it wasn’t aimed at you, your body still flinched.
Parents divorcing or separating – Especially when it was loud, messy, or sudden.
Living with someone who abused drugs or alcohol – Unpredictability becomes the norm.
Living with someone with mental illness – You become the caretaker too early.
Having a loved one go to prison – The shame and silence cut deep.
Losing a parent or being abandoned – The ache doesn’t go away with time.
🧠💔 So... What Happens Inside the Body?
When trauma hits, your brain says: "We’re not safe."
Your nervous system stays in survival mode—ready to run, fight, or freeze at any moment. Over time, this leads to:
🔥 Chronic inflammation
❤️ Heart disease
😣 Digestive issues
🧠 Anxiety, depression, burnout
😴 Sleep disorders
⚡ Autoimmune diseases
🩺 Even higher risk of cancer or stroke
It’s not that your body is “broken.” It’s that it’s been working overtime to protect you—even long after the danger passed.
🌱 The Good News? Trauma Is Not Your Destiny
Yes, these experiences are linked to higher health risks.
But that does not mean you’re doomed.
It means you need healing, not blame. Support, not shame.
Here’s what helps:
💬 Therapy (especially trauma-informed therapy like EMDR or somatic approaches)
🧘 Mind-body healing (breathwork, yoga, bodywork, even dance)
👫 Safe relationships (people who make you feel seen and safe)
📚 Learning your triggers (so you can respond, not just react)
✨ Letting go of the myth that you need to “tough it out”
❤️ Final Thought: You’re Not “Too Sensitive.” You’re a Survivor.
If any of this sounds familiar—if your body’s breaking down in ways you don’t fully understand—please know this:
You're not crazy. You're not weak. You're not imagining things.
You are a human being who lived through hard things. And your body has been screaming what your voice didn’t always get to say.
Healing is not linear. But it is possible.
And it starts by telling the truth—out loud, with compassion, and without shame.
Let’s stop pretending trauma ends when the event ends.
Let’s start listening to our bodies—and believing people when they say, “I’m still healing.”
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