How Trauma Shows up as Muscle Tension

Trauma often shows up as muscle tension in the body. Tight shoulders, chronic pain, frozen muscles, flinching, tense shallow breathing — this isn’t your body being “difficult.” It’s your nervous system staying prepared for threat. Muscles learn to hold when it wasn’t safe to relax. Even after the danger has passed, the body can keep gripping out of habit and protection. Soft movement, breath, and