The Body Keeps the Score, But It Can Also Set You Free

Helping Your Body Let Go of What Your Mind Can’t Forget

Sometimes, even when everything seems fine, your body carries quiet stories your mind no longer remembers. Your shoulders ache without reason. Your stomach tightens before you speak. Your heart races when there’s nothing to fear. That’s your body speaking.

Every sigh, every tear, every deep breath is your body’s way of saying

I’m coming home.

It’s been holding on to moments you couldn’t process, the times you had to be strong, hide your pain, or stay calm when your heart was racing inside and while the body keeps those memories safe, here’s the beautiful truth is it also knows how to let them go.

What It Means When We Say “The Body Keeps the Score”

When you go through something painful or stressful, your body instantly reacts to protect you. It might make your muscles stiff, your breath shallow, or your heartbeat faster. That’s your body’s survival mode:  its way of saying, “I’ve got you. I’ll keep you safe.”

But sometimes, after the stress is gone, your body doesn’t realize it’s over. It keeps that energy stored, like a song stuck on replay. That’s why old stress can show up as tension, fatigue, restlessness, or anxiety, even when you don’t know why. Your body isn’t betraying you; it’s just waiting for permission to release what it’s been holding.

 What Is Somatic Healing?

“Somatic” means of the body. So, somatic healing is a gentle way of helping your body let go of the stress and emotions it has stored over time. Unlike talk therapy, which works through thoughts, somatic healing works through sensation, what you feel inside your body.

It can include:

• Deep, mindful breathing

• Gentle movement or stretching

• Awareness of body sensations

• Grounding and relaxation exercises

Through this, you slowly remind your body that it’s safe again. And when the body feels safe, it begins to release the pain it once held so tightly.

Why It Works

Researchers like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (author of The Body Keeps the Score) and Dr. Peter Levine (creator of Somatic Experiencing) discovered that trauma isn’t just stored in memories, it lives in the nervous system.

That means healing can’t only happen by talking; it happens when the body feels calm and safe enough to let go. Each time you breathe deeply, stretch, or sigh with relief, your body sends a message to your brain:

It’s okay now. We’re safe.

This is how the mind and body work together to heal.

 How You Can Start Listening to Your Body

You don’t need fancy techniques to begin, just presence and kindness. Try these gentle steps:

Pause and Notice – Ask yourself, “What’s happening in my body right now?” Maybe your jaw feels tight or your chest feels heavy. Just notice it.

Breathe Softly – Take a deep breath in, and a longer breath out. Exhaling longer helps your nervous system relax.

Move a Little – Stretch, sway, or walk. Movement helps the body complete stress cycles.

Ground Yourself – Feel your feet on the floor. Notice that right now, in this moment, you are safe.

Let Feelings Flow – If you feel like crying or sighing, that’s your body releasing energy. Let it happen gently.

Your Body Isn’t the Enemy

Sometimes we get frustrated with our bodies for being tired, anxious, or tense. But what if your body isn’t the problem, what if it’s the messenger?

It’s been carrying your pain, holding your tears, and keeping you alive through hard times. Somatic healing is your chance to say,

“Thank you for protecting me. You can rest now.”

That’s what freedom feels like not forgetting the past, but no longer being controlled by it.

Healing Takes Time

Healing doesn’t mean you’ll never feel stress again. It means your body learns how to come back to calm, again and again. Each deep breath, each gentle movement, each safe moment tells your body: You made it. You’re safe here. That’s how the body, slowly and tenderly, sets you free.

Healing doesn’t mean the past disappears,

 it means your body no longer lives there