The Body Remembers: Healing Beyond Words 

Dear Echo Breaker,

You can walk away from the relationship, block the number, move to a new city — and still feel your body flinch at a sound, tighten at a tone, or collapse in exhaustion for no clear reason. That’s because trauma doesn’t live only in the mind. It lodges in the body.

The slammed doors, sharp words, or cold silences of abuse are remembered in your nervous system. Maybe your shoulders hunch when someone raises their voice. Maybe your heart races when you hear footsteps behind you. Maybe you struggle to sleep because your body stays on high alert.

This isn’t weakness. It’s biology. Your body was doing its best to protect you in unsafe situations. But now, outside of that abuse, those survival patterns can feel like chains.

Healing means inviting the body back into safety. This doesn’t require complicated rituals — it begins with noticing. unclench your jaw. Relax your tongue from the roof of your mouth. Take one long, deep breath into your belly. Stand up and stretch slowly. These small acts tell your nervous system: we are safe now.

Movement is medicine. Walking, dancing in your kitchen, yoga, even shaking out your arms — all of these shift stored tension. Pairing movement with mindful breathing helps the body release what it has been holding.

Your body is not your enemy. It is your ally. It remembers the pain, yes — but it also remembers joy. The sound of laughter, the warmth of sunlight, the rhythm of music. Part of healing is teaching your body that life is more than survival. It is safe to rest. It is safe to play. It is safe to trust again.

If this resonated, you’re not alone — reach out to explore coaching with me.

Dr. James