Your body holds the score when you have unresolved trauma. Your mind will frequently try to forget about a traumatic experience or event; however, the body does not forget. Many people, even long after the unfortunate moment of stress, will have headaches, fatigue, or stomach soreness. This is what makes seeking proper trauma treatment so very important.Â
For those looking for trauma treatment or considering a psychiatrist in McKinney, understanding how your body stores trauma is a great first step in recovery.
Research shows that 23% of injury survivors will still have symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder one year later. Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder often show up as even physical problems, not just emotional problems. Understanding how the mind and body work together helps you to recognize what your body is saying.
How the Body Stores Trauma
The brain and body are interconnected. When a traumatic experience occurs, the body reacts with an influx of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. While this is helpful in the moment, the body can get locked into a survival response when the stress does not resolve. Over time, that survival response may lead to chronic physical symptoms.Â
A psychiatrist in McKinney might discuss that this connection is part of why individuals with PTSD also have physical health complaints. For example, studies indicate that untreated trauma may increase risk for conditions such as chronic pain, digestive problems, and even suppressed immune function. Trauma focused psychiatric treatment provides individuals with more than just addressing the emotional pain, and it also works to restore balance in the body as well.”
Physical Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma Backed by Research
Many people with PTSD carry tension in their muscles without even realizing it. This often leads to back pain, jaw clenching, and constant headaches. In fact, one study found that nearly 39 percent of orthopedic trauma patients met criteria for PTSD. The pain they reported was not only physical but also linked to untreated traumatic stress disorder.
Sleep Disturbances and Fatigue
Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD. When the brain is hyper-alert, falling asleep feels unsafe. Many people wake up several times a night or feel exhausted even after sleeping. A psychiatrist may recommend prescribed medications or outpatient programs to help restore healthy rest patterns.
Digestive Problems
The gut and brain are connected through the nervous system. Stress from unresolved trauma can cause bloating, nausea, or stomach pain. People with PTSD often report irritable bowel syndrome, showing how deeply trauma affects the whole body.
Headaches and Migraines
When the nervous system stays in fight or flight mode, blood vessels narrow and muscles tighten. This often results in frequent headaches or migraines. Trauma treatment can help reduce these symptoms by calming the nervous system.
Immune System Suppression
Trauma does not just cause pain; it also lowers immunity. A study of burn survivors with PTSD showed that 82 percent still had skin tightness and immune-related symptoms even after a year of recovery. Without treatment for PTSD, the body stays inflamed and vulnerable.
Why Trauma Treatment Matters
Ignoring these physical signals only deepens the problem. Left unattended and ignored, PTSD symptoms could become so problematic that you would have difficulty working, socializing with others, or simply enjoying life. One study found that 30 to 40 % of surgical patients reported PTSD symptoms several months after their procedure.
This is why professional psychiatric care is so important. Most trauma care often consists of medication management and structured outpatient programs designed to re-align what the body and mind have misaligned together. A psychiatrist in McKinney can provide trauma informed care that meets both the physical and emotional layers of the healing process
Finding Trauma Treatment Near Me
If you are not sure where to start but have been looking up trauma treatment near me, this is a logical first step. You will hopefully find a mental health treatment in McKinney that is “trauma informed” and methods a mental health professional can assess your symptoms and consider prescribing medication if appropriate, etc.
The early help is meaningful and impactful. There is evidence to suggest that you can treat acute stress and post traumatic stress disorder within the first few weeks of the incident that might prevent the incidence of long-term PTSD, by 50%, within the first two to three weeks of the incident; this is only some of the evidence. This is the type of mental health psychiatric treatment that can prevent you from suffering for many miserable years.
Online Psychiatry Services as an Accessible Option
There may be times where meeting in person just is not feasible. This is where online psychiatry services enter the fold. Telehealth means that you can easily meet with a psychiatrist from the comfort of your home. Since 2020, telehealth has increased access to psychiatric treatment across the United States by over 30%.Â
For individuals with PTSD specifically, online psychiatric services can offer privacy, convenience, and timely access to treatment for PTSD. You can access the support that you need without worrying about a long commute or being put on a waiting list. Additionally, online psychiatry services will enable consistent follow up for medication management and monitoring progress.Â
Take a Leap of Faith, Give Yourself a Chance
The body keeps the score – but it is your body and you can choose to change the story. If you start to see signs, chronic fatigue, for instance, or headaches or digestive pain – which often could represent unprocessed trauma. These representations are real and deserve to be treated. Learn more about permanent treatment for trauma and how early intervention changes outcomes
Seeking trauma treatment is not a weakness, it is a very courageous thing to do. Whether you look for trauma treatment near me, or you schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist in McKinney or somewhere else – the first step is usually the hardest step. When you do take that first step, you can begin to heal.
Conclusion
Recovery is a process that takes time, and each journey is different. Fortunately, there is effective treatment for trauma. MindVibe connects people with caring psychiatric services that emphasize treating the whole person. Offering services designed for both online and in-person psychiatry, MindVibe assists people in moving forward from trauma and finding hope. Learn more at MindVibe and start your journey to feeling whole again.
