Anxiety, Depression, and the Body: How Trauma Lives Inside Us

Have you ever felt like your body is stuck in overdrive, even when your mind tells you everything is fine? Or like your energy disappears, leaving you numb or foggy, without knowing why?

If you struggle with anxiety, depression, or a sense of emotional exhaustion, the root of the problem may not be just in your mind. It might be in your body.

At Cherry Creek Therapy, we help clients in Denver understand how unresolved trauma can manifest physically—shaping the way you feel, respond, and relate to the world around you. When trauma isn’t processed, it doesn’t simply go away. It lives on in your nervous system, impacting everything from your mood to your ability to connect with others.

What Is Trauma—and How Does It Live in the Body?

Most people think of trauma as a single, catastrophic event—like an accident or an assault. But trauma is any experience that overwhelms your capacity to cope and leaves a lasting imprint of fear, helplessness, or emotional pain.

Trauma can come from:

• Childhood emotional neglect

• A difficult breakup or betrayal

• Chronic stress or financial insecurity

• Loss of a loved one

• Medical procedures or illness

• Verbal abuse or being constantly criticized

When the body isn’t able to fully process the event, it stores the distress in the nervous system.

Signs of Trauma in the Body:

• Chronic muscle tension or unexplained pain

• Digestive issues or nausea when anxious

• Insomnia or hypervigilance at night

• Numbness, zoning out, or emotional detachment

• Feeling "on edge" or easily startled

• Shallow breathing, racing heart, tight chest

These symptoms are not imagined. They’re embodied survival responses—your nervous system’s way of protecting you.

How Trauma Fuels Anxiety and Depression

When trauma remains unresolved, your nervous system stays stuck in a protective mode.

• Anxiety often stems from a fight-or-flight response: the body perceives danger even when you're objectively safe. You might feel panicky, restless, or constantly worried.

• Depression can arise from a freeze response: the body shuts down to protect you from further overwhelm. You may feel heavy, numb, or emotionally flat.

Even if you can’t consciously recall a traumatic event, your body remembers. Trauma doesn’t always come with memories—it comes with symptoms.

Why Talking Alone Isn’t Always Enough

Cognitive therapy can be incredibly helpful—but when trauma lives in the body, understanding your story intellectually doesn’t always lead to relief.

Many clients say things like:

“I know it wasn’t my fault, but I still feel frozen.”
“I’ve done years of talk therapy, but I’m still anxious.”
“I can explain my trauma, but I still feel unsafe in my body.”

That’s because trauma is a body-based experience. Healing requires reconnecting with the body—not just analyzing the mind.

How Therapy at Cherry Creek Therapy Supports Embodied Healing

At Cherry Creek Therapy, we use trauma-informed and body-based modalities to support deep emotional repair. These methods help you process the experiences you’ve carried—not just talk about them.

✅ EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based method that helps reprocess traumatic memories. EMDR reduces the emotional intensity tied to past events and allows your nervous system to release its fight-flight-freeze response.

✅ Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS therapy helps you identify and heal the inner “parts” of you that carry fear, shame, or emotional pain. It fosters internal safety, self-compassion, and clarity.

✅ Mindfulness & Somatic Awareness

Mindfulness-based techniques teach you how to notice and regulate sensations in the body. Over time, you learn to reconnect with your breath, calm your nervous system, and stay grounded in the present.

Each client receives a personalized approach based on what feels safe and supportive. There's no rush—we move at your pace.

What Healing Looks Like

Trauma recovery isn’t about “forgetting what happened.” It’s about teaching your body that the danger is over—and that it's safe to relax, feel, and connect again.

With consistent support, you may notice:

• Fewer panic attacks or intrusive thoughts

• Increased emotional regulation

• Restful sleep and more physical energy

• Reduced chronic tension or physical discomfort

• More ease in relationships and daily life

• A deeper sense of inner safety and resilience

Therapy helps you rebuild trust in your body—and in your ability to feel, heal, and move forward.