How long does it take to release trauma from the hips? If you’re not familiar with the physical impact of psychological trauma, this may seem like an odd question. But as you learn more about the comprehensive effects of traumatic experiences, you will be better prepared to find the ideal source of care for yourself or a loved one.
If you or a loved one are suffering from trauma and can’t find a way out, help is here. Peachtree Wellness Solutions offers mental health treatment in Atlanta that can help you create a new chapter in your life. Call us now at 770-202-1274 or verify your insurance.
What Is Trauma?
Prior to focusing on how long does it take to release trauma from the hips, let’s take a few moments to review what trauma is, and how it can affect the body as well as the mind.
In a mental health context, trauma refers to the psychological impact of particularly troubling experiences. Trauma can occur in the aftermath of events such as:
- Physical attacks
- Sexual assaults
- Verbal or online harassment
- Abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Military combat
- Acts of terrorism
- Automobile accidents
- Tornadoes, hurricanes, and other violent weather
- Serious illnesses
The common thread among these types of events is that they can cause a person to fear for their life or for the life of someone else.
A person can be traumatized by directly experiencing one or more of these events, or by witnessing them. Individuals who are frequently exposed to the aftermath of traumatic events, such as firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), may also have an elevated risk of trauma.
Psychological trauma can cause a variety of disruptive symptoms, including:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Intense nightmares
- Emotional numbness
- Problems focusing and concentrating
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Guilt and shame
- Dramatic, unpredictable mood swings
- Flashbacks, or a sense of re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Hypervigilance
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal thoughts
As we will discuss in the next section, psychological trauma can also be a source of considerable physical discomfort.
How Trauma Is Stored in the Hips and Other Body Parts
Emotional trauma can have a powerful impact on the body, leading to physical symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Stomach aches
- Muscle tension
- Chest pain
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Exaggerated startle response
- Stiffness in the hips and lower back
One of the many challenges of recovering from trauma is that a person may not even realize that symptoms such as these are related to a traumatic event from their past.
In some cases, such as adults who endured trauma during childhood, people may not even remember what they went through. This can occur because the brain may block particularly difficult memories as an unconscious trauma response.
Once a person understands that they have been living with untreated trauma, it is important that they receive comprehensive care to address their physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms.
Techniques for Releasing Trauma from the Hips and Other Areas of the Body
There are a variety of techniques for releasing trauma from the hips and other body parts. However, as is the case with so many aspects of mental and behavioral health treatment, there isn’t one single technique that is universally effective.
This emphasizes the value of finding a provider that will work closely with the patient to identify their needs and then develop a truly personalized treatment plan.
Depending on a variety of personal factors, the following techniques may be sources of considerable relief:
- Yoga: Various forms of yoga, including trauma-informed yoga and trauma-sensitive versions, have proved to be effective means of releasing trauma from the hips and other body parts. Yoga is a holistic service that offers opportunities for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, which can make it an especially powerful technique for trauma patients.
- Massage: Trauma-informed massage therapy, which places great emphasis on concepts such as trust and consent, can also promote both physical and psychological healing. An experienced massage therapist can help patients release trauma that they have stored in their necks or shoulders, back, hips, and other areas of the body.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture, which involves the strategic insertion of needles into various areas of the body, has been employed by Eastern healers for thousands of years. As this practice has become more common in Western medicine over the past few decades, studies have demonstrated that it can be beneficial for people who have PTSD.
- Light exercise: Walking, swimming, and other types of light exercise can help people rebuild a healthy mind-body connection, which can be valuable for alleviating trauma that they have stored in their lower back, hips, or other areas. Light exercise can also offer the general benefit of helping people become more comfortable with (and in) their own body.
Techniques don’t have to be physical in nature to help people release trauma from their bodies. One example of this is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
The goal of EMDR is to use rapid bilateral eye movements and therapeutic guidance to alleviate emotional pain that is linked with certain traumatic memories. This approach is structured into eight phases, one of which is a body scan. The body scan phase focuses on identifying where the patient has stored trauma in their body, so that this physical tension can also be eased.
How Long Does It Take to Release Trauma From the Hips?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question, how long does it take to release trauma from the hips (or from any other body part). Every person who experiences trauma is affected in a unique way, and no two people will have identical recovery experiences.
Factors that can influence how long does it take to release trauma from the hips include:
- The individual’s age and overall health
- The nature and severity of their traumatic experience or experiences
- How long they have been living with untreated trauma
- If their trauma is linked with any co-occurring mental health or dual diagnosis disorders.
- If their trauma has pushed them into substance abuse and addiction
- The type of treatment they receive
While you are recovering from trauma, it is understandable to want the healing process to occur quickly. But this is a case where the journey is just as important as the destination. Rushing this process could cause you to overlook an issue that could one day undermine your efforts.
Instead of worrying about how long does it take to release trauma from the hips, you may be better served by focusing on the progress you are making. Treat yourself with compassion, acknowledge the effort you are making, and appreciate how far you have already come.
Learn More About Trauma Treatment in Atlanta
If you or someone in your life has been living with untreated trauma, Peachtree Wellness Solutions is here to help.
Our trauma and PTSD treatment in Atlanta, Georgia, is a safe and highly supportive place where you can receive customized care at the residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and/or intensive outpatient levels. We understand the many ways that trauma can impact your mind and body, and we are committed to providing the focused services that will help you achieve true and lasting healing.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
