5 Signs Your Body Is Carrying Trauma (Even If You Don't Think You Have It)

Have you ever wondered if your body might be carrying something your mind has never fully named? In this episode Dr. Christine Baker walks through five signs that your nervous system may be stuck in protection mode, even if you have never experienced what most people think of as trauma. This is Episode 5 of the What is Somatic Therapy series. If you are new here, make sure to start with episode one! 💡 IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: The critical difference between Big T and little t trauma and why it matters for you Why your nervous system cannot reliably tell the difference between the past and the present moment Five specific signs that your body may be holding unprocessed survival energy The science behind each sign with specific researcher attributions A simple three-part vagus nerve practice called The Safe Anchor that resources all five signs at once ⚠️ THE FIVE SIGNS: Chronic muscle tension or physical pain without a clear cause Hypervigilance — always scanning, never fully at rest Emotional reactions that feel bigger than the situation warrants Digestive issues, gut problems, or a chronically unsettled stomach Difficulty feeling present in your body, numbness, or chronic dissociation ✨ THE SAFE ANCHOR PRACTICE: Step 1: Orienting — consciously scan your space and find safety Step 2: The Physiological Sigh — double inhale followed by long slow exhale to tone the vagus nerve Step 3: Self-Compassion Touch — hands on body to gently return to contact with yourself 🔬 RESEARCHERS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score Dr. Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory Dr. Emeran Mayer, gastroenterologist and neuroscientist at UCLA, author of The Mind-Gut Connection 💬 Which of these five signs do you recognize in yourself? Drop it in the comments. I read every single one and I would love to know what landed for you today. 🔍 ABOUT DR. CHRISTINE BAKER: Dr. Christine Baker is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 13 years of experience in trauma recovery and a certified Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She is the host of Everyday Simple Somatics and the founder of the Somatic Wellness Collective, an online membership community for people who want to go deeper in their nervous system healing. 💫 WANT TO GO DEEPER? The Somatic Wellness Collective is Dr. Christine's online membership community where you get access to on-demand somatic healing classes, live monthly sessions including Q&A and guest interviews, movement classes, an integration workbook, and a private supportive community. SWC: https://drcbtherapy.com/resources/som... 📲 FIND DR. CHRISTINE: Instagram:   / drcbtherapy   🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SuKw9O... #TraumaHealing #SomaticTherapy #NervousSystemHealing #TraumaSigns #SomaticHealing #BodyBasedHealing #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealth #VagusNerve #SomaticExperiencing