The Flame Within

Have you ever had someone say or do something that caused swift and deep pain, often times causing overwhelming physical body sensations. When someone treats you poorly, or you’re suddenly thrust into a moment that echoes painful circumstances from your past, your body often knows it before your mind is aware. You might feel tightness in your chest, your hands may tremble, your stomach may churn—or maybe your left feeling numb and frozen. These are somatic trauma responses, and they are your body’s way of saying: “Something feels unsafe.”

✨ What Are Somatic Trauma Responses?

Somatic responses are physical reactions to emotional wounds. If you’ve lived through trauma, your body carries these memories in it’s core. The body keeps the score. The body’s memory when you’re triggered willl send immediate survival hormones to alert you for self-preservation and survival. This is often caused —by a harsh word, rejection, anger, certain sounds and smells, or even a familiar tone. Your nervous system when threatened will kick into survival mode: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.

Many people feel and are often told this is some type of weakness. Absolutely not: It’s your body trying to protect you. It’s biology. In fact, it is the way God made each one of his children and all His creation.

🙏 God Cares About Your Whole Being—Body, Mind, and Spirit

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

God doesn’t just care about your soul—He cares about your entire being, including the body where trauma still lingers.

🌱 How Can You Manage These Symptoms?

1. Gentle Internal Questioning
   When your body reacts, pause and ask:
   • What am I feeling in my body right now?
   • When have I felt this before?
   • What might my body be trying to tell me?

Ask with curiosity, not judgment. There is now no condemnation to those in Christ. God invites us into truth, and truth begins with awareness. “The truth will set us free.”

2. Grounding in Prayer
   Use breath prayer to anchor you:
   • Inhale Slowly: “The presence of Jesus.”
   • Exhale Slowly: “Calm my soul and body”

Pray God’s word.

A good verse –
Psalm 46:1—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Prayer is not just asking God for things; it’s abiding in Him, feeling His presence with you all the time. Especially, when your nervous system is triggered.

3. Mindfulness Techniques with Faith at the Center • 5-4-3-2-1 technique: Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste. (It works… TRY IT!)
   • Place your hand on your heart and breathe deeply. Imagine Jesus laying His hand over yours.
   • Visualize a safe space with God—perhaps a quiet garden, the beach, in the mountains, a grandma’s couch, or beside still waters (Psalm 23).
4. Affirm Your Identity in Christ

Trauma can make us feel powerless, but 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Whisper truth to your heart: “I am safe. I am okay. I am loved. I am not alone. I am healing.”

🌷 Final Encouragement

Healing takes time, it’s a journey, not a destination. Everyone has somatic responses on some level, it doesn’t mean you’re broken— it means you’re surviving. Let your trauma responses become signals, not shameful verdicts. In fact, shame halts healing. Remember, God understands your pain. He knows the exact cause or our triggers and why our nervous system is heightened. He sees every racing heartbeat and every tear. He seems the one who caused your the pain – He is an aware God. He holds space for your healing, patiently and faithfully.

Pause when you find yourself in this triggered and uncomfortable place; Ask God to reveal the reason for your symptoms. He will!

Important: Always be kind to your body. Be honest with yourself. Invite God into the process—He’s already there, waiting with open arms.

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🤗 If you found this helpful, feel free to share or save it for the next time your body needs a gentle reminder:
You are not alone. You are not crazy. You are healing—with God, moment by moment.

Blessings, Crystal