PTSD isn’t just about memories—it’s about how your nervous system reacts to the world. Here’s why understanding that difference matters for healing.
By Sergio Toledo
Editor-in-Chief, Heed to Heal
Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder is often misunderstood as something rooted solely in the past. People imagine flashbacks, painful memories, or nightmares tied to a specific event. But PTSD is more than a memory problem—it’s a nervous system issue. Even when the trauma is long over, the body can remain on high alert, scanning for threats, reacting to harmless cues, and struggling to find a sense of peace. Understanding this shift—from a psychological lens to a physiological one—can change the way we talk about healing.
PTSD Lives in the Body
Trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts—it settles in your nervous system. When something deeply distressing happens, especially over time or without support, the body may learn that the world is unsafe. It responds by staying in a chronic state of hypervigilance, where even small stressors feel overwhelming.
You might notice this as:
- A racing heart, even when you’re at home
- Being easily startled
- Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
- Feeling unsafe even when there’s no visible threat
These aren’t “overreactions.” They’re survival responses your nervous system has learned in order to protect you.
Triggers Aren’t Always Obvious
One of the most frustrating parts of PTSD is that triggers can be subtle. A smell, a tone of voice, a place, or even a time of day might set off your nervous system without you realizing why. That’s because PTSD isn’t about conscious memory—it’s about how your body remembers.
This is why healing doesn’t always come from “thinking it through.” The body has to feel safe again, and that’s a process that can’t be rushed or reasoned with.
Fight, Flight, Freeze—And Beyond
PTSD responses aren’t always loud or dramatic. You might freeze, go numb, dissociate, or shut down emotionally. You might become overly accommodating to avoid conflict, or feel irritable and reactive when overwhelmed.
These responses were adaptive at one time. Your nervous system was doing its job. But when they persist long after the threat is gone, they can disrupt your daily life and relationships.
What Healing Can Look Like
Healing PTSD often involves learning to regulate the nervous system, not just talking about the past. This might include:
- Grounding techniques to stay present
- Breathwork and body-based therapies (like somatic experiencing or EMDR)
- Working with a trauma-informed therapist
- Practicing mindfulness and nervous system awareness
- Creating routines that signal safety and predictability
Most importantly, it means giving yourself compassion. You’re not weak or broken. Your body adapted to survive—and now it’s learning how to feel safe again.
References
- van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
- Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma.
- Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation.
- National Center for PTSD. (2023). Understanding PTSD and the Nervous System
- Greater Good Magazine. (2022). How Trauma Rewires the Brain and Body
Originally published by Heed to Heal, 07.31.2025, under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.
