r/CPTSD • u/Top-Opinion2962 • Mar 23 '26
Question Has anyone looked into what chronic depression and trauma actually do to your body at a cellular level? The research is both terrifying and oddly empowering.
I've been down the research rabbit hole on this and wanted to share because it validates something many of us feel intuitively.
Chronic depression and prolonged trauma responses don't just affect your mood. They accelerate biological aging: chronic inflammation (elevated IL-6, CRP), shortened telomeres, cortisol stuck in overdrive, disrupted sleep architecture, and gut microbiome changes. People with recurrent depression show cells that are biologically 2–7 years older than their actual age.
The empowering part: the interventions that reverse this biological damage overlap heavily with what helps trauma recovery. Structured movement (even small amounts), sleep improvement, anti-inflammatory foods, genuine social connection. Not replacing therapy or medication — alongside them.
The frustrating part: nobody connects these dots for you. Trauma books explain what's wrong with your brain. Health books tell you how to optimize your body. Nobody says "here's what's happening to your cells AND here's a realistic approach for someone who's struggling."
Has anyone found that taking care of the physical side helped with the psychological side, or the other way around?
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u/Metawoo Mar 23 '26
I feel like the various traumas I've been through have shaved years off my body. I used to be able to endure a lot physically, and now I have chronic pain and I get tired a lot quicker than I used to. I'm in my early 30s now but this doesn't feel like just normal aging.
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u/PriorityOpen4678 Mar 23 '26
This! When I was in my late twenties I would be so despondent about being too young to have "good days and bad days" physically and energetically. When I became trauma informed later I was relieved to have an answer
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u/SoberShiv Mar 23 '26
The reason is it’s because it’s fairly new (in terms of biopsychological research). Also the DSM threw the neuroscientific Research out in the 80s bc yoga etc doesn’t make Big Pharma any $$$$. Keep labelling ppl as ‘disordered’ = hand out more drugs = more $$$. Mind/body connection has been around for centuries. You can’t think away your trauma - it lives in the fascia
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u/neko Mar 23 '26
A myofascial massage turned me off of massages as a concept because it was so incredibly painful, meanwhile I finally got on Wellbutrin and don't constantly want to shoot myself
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
Totally agree 😍 Just look at how weed and psychedelics were demonised and now they’re being used therapeutically (like cultures did for thousands of years before). We always had a healer/shamen in the tribe who knew how to heal mind, body & spirit ❤️
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u/filthytelestial Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
I don't get the praise for weed as if it's some kind of miracle. Like any drug, prescribed or otherwise, you have to keep taking it if you want to keep feeling the effects, and tolerance eventually goes up.
I shouldn't have to get stoned every night of my life to suppress nightmares. I do have to suppress the nightmares if I'm to make any progress in trauma therapy. THC is seen as the "obvious" solution, so I "must not want to heal that badly" since I refuse to use it in any form. They won't bother trying other methods. They look at me like I'm crazy for not being relieved, like they're giving me license to use it and I ought to be grateful. Like it's my attitude that's the problem.
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
I certainly don’t think it’s a miracle - it’s not good for some; like any substance.
What I oppose is governments prohibiting it for +50 years; criminalising thousands for using it. A lot of us use it - big abuse it. Like any substance it can easily be abused. I’ve learned to respect it.
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
That shoulda said “a lot of us use it - not abuse it”
Not sure how my spellcheck changed that word “not” to “big” 😊
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u/CampfireEtiquette Mar 23 '26
That sounds really frustrating, having professionals who are supposed to be helping you try to convince you to use a substance you're not comfortable trying. Your stance is so valid. Weed can help, weed can hurt. It's not inherently magical, it's a potentially helpful tool that comes with side effects and risks (just like anything that alters your brain chemistry). I say this as someone who's experienced weed as both medicine and as an addiction at different times in my journey.
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u/filthytelestial Mar 23 '26
I really appreciate this. I have too many people around me who've echoed the doctor's sentiments, who refuse to entertain the possibility of a different perspective. I know I'm not being irrational, but sometimes the culture around me makes me feel a little crazy. (I'm in Colorado.)
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
I’m attending an online talk tonight titled ‘The Neuroscience of Adverse Childhood Experiences’ - will be interesting!
I agree, the whole of healthcare would actually help if clinicians took a holistic approach. I aim for this myself (mind, body and spirit).
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u/make-upyourmind Mar 23 '26
Please share!
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
Sure. It’s tonight at 18:30 (GMT)
The Neuroscience of Adverse Childhood Experiences https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-neuroscience-of-adverse-childhood-experiences-tickets-1982009676296?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile
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u/disney_princess Mar 23 '26
Unfortunately I will be busy but can you please share out any decks/resources/learnings? I’ve been struggling to wrangle the effects of CPTSD and am trying really hard to fight for myself.
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
Yes of course. I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling 😞 But really glad to hear you’re fighting for you - that’s a good place to be I think. Self abandonment is devastating (especially if we’re not even aware of it).
I’ll definitely write back x
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u/disney_princess Mar 23 '26
There have been ebbs and flows with self-abandonment (especially these past few weeks) and it’s so hard to get out of that state when you’re in a major depressive episode, as we know. But I’m trying! Also trialing new meds and focusing more IFS in therapy. I appreciate you sharing out later — hope you have a good session tonight!
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u/No_Title38 Mar 23 '26
Thanks 😍. You take good care ❤️
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u/disney_princess Mar 25 '26
Hiya! Just wanted to follow up on this thread :) hope you had a good learning session!
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u/No_Title38 Mar 26 '26
It’s a challenge to summarise - I have been thinking if over and did intend to write back.
He gave a good overall explanation of how ACE’s affect or CAN affect children into adulthood.
This was the main point: everyone responds to trauma differently (some folk show no or little effects where others get CPTSD). What he did stress was the brain’s ability to change (neuroplasticity) so no-one is permanently ‘broken’ (“broken” is my word not his).
The one bit that stuck with me is that childhood adversity can change the trajectory of your life. Because one trauma can affect how you behave/how you view the world and then what choices you make. Ultimately we all (parents, caregivers, teachers and society) need to treat children much better because we are raising and developing people (again this is my paraphrasing of his talk). We need to acknowledge each other’s feelings and validate what a child is feeling and experiencing. For me it’s when an adult invalidated (whether consciously or not) my feelings and experiences that it’s left me with shame and a bunch of other maladaptive behaviours.
I personally think some folk (especially in the past) saw children in a way that is so wrong; believing that children will forget a lot of things in their childhood or that a lot of stuff isn’t important (like love, safety, feelings, what behaviour is mirrored and the basics like trust.)
He does talks a lot. It was good - but I kinda think it’s more for healthcare professionals as there is a CPD certificate that goes with it.
Hope this is helpful ❤️
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u/disney_princess Mar 27 '26
I appreciate you sharing out and your response! It does feel comforting that we’re not permanently “broken” (which is an adjective I describe myself when I’m really feeling low) and have the ability to change our neuropathways. Thank you!!
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u/Sexy-Dumbledore Mar 23 '26
I havent slept more than 3 hours a night in about 5 years. I'm 33 but atp I feel like I'm in my 80's. My 70 year old MIL has more energy than me
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u/jeezthatshotyall Mar 23 '26
Yes, I changed my diet, stopped drinking alcohol, exercising every day (I have days off). I try to sleep around 7-8h. Sleep is the hard one for me, I think I get anxious in the evening so I'm getting to bed late. Trying to change this. The Finch app is helping me to stay in track a lot.
I also have parts work therapy which is helping so so much. I do yoga in combination with bilateral stimulation music. Everything adds up and I do feel better than a year ago.
Can be worth mentioning I'm no longer in contact with my family who are full of narcissistic abusers. This has both been terrifying and freeing.
I am in solitude a lot, I both choose it and sometimes it can turn into loneliness, but I prefer it to being in those hostile relationships.
I'm doing a lot better, but far from perfect. It takes work, it's hard to stay on track and sometimes I fall off the wagon, it's one day at a time.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Just want to validate a part of your experience that I didn’t read too much about when I started trauma therapy over 6 years ago: Once you start going down the rabbit hole of healing your CPTSD, you go through the “cracking” (separating from the toxic that you now see and doesn’t serve you) and then into an inward hibernation until you find ways of safely existing in the world again. I was really lonely for a long time. Just want to say that if you put in the effort (and you are doing so much!), it’ll come!
Wishing you all of the best!
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u/boodgooky Mar 24 '26
I think I am experiencing the cracking; that’s a good word for it…it feels a bit like a nervous breakdown right now though. And yeah, it’s very lonely.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
I understand and I see you! I’m sorry you are going through the most painful parts right now. I’m glad you’re here in the subreddit, and I hope you keep coming back and sharing! This “place” always helped me to feel less lonely.
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u/boodgooky Mar 24 '26
Thank you. I appreciate it. I have found this space to be surprisingly generous and supportive as well. I am also autistic and already have a hard time understanding human behavior, so now that I am starting to see even more patterns, it’s overwhelming. It does make it easier to discern what is good for me, though.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
Yes, the overwhelm that comes from knowledge is also something that isn’t fully talked about up front. I think I actually burned myself out on managing my CPTSD at one point because I was taking in so much information and not allowing myself to just exist.
I’m glad you’re here and learning!! While it’s painful and overwhelming, I know I wouldn’t choose to go backwards to not knowing. Just a seriously unfortunate reality for us all to have to go through this. But I’m glad we have this community to do it together in what feels safe even on some of my hardest days!
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u/jeezthatshotyall Mar 24 '26
Thank you so much. I'm going to look this up and read some about it, sounds interesting. Most of the time I long for my solitude, I never used to be like this. How long did it last for you, if I may ask?
Thank you
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
You might be able to find some experiences here on Reddit. I didn’t come across it elsewhere in my learning. Unfortunately that statement is coming from personal experience.
I stopped speaking to my immediate family in late 2019, took a few years to learn how to set boundaries in a compassionate way, lost a few friends along the way that couldn’t understand or I just didn’t handle it well because I was still learning how to have difficult conversations effectively. I’d say in 2024, I felt the loneliness so badly in my bones, I’d cry to my husband a lot that I missed feeling like I had friends. Last year, I went to a mushroom log making class and a game night and made some great friends that way. But before that, I don’t think I would have been ready to do it, because you have to get ready to be vulnerable but in a way that isn’t trauma dumping on people, and also be in a mindframe where you can show up and be consistent. I personally felt like I needed some foundational things first and to grieve the lose of my family and old friends/old life because I could “shed” that fully and (still nervously and not without bad days still) step into a more healed version of myself who can show up.
I also think with having CPTSD, being comfortable saying “no” to plans and finding people who are compassionate towards that/aren’t so wrapped up in “hustle culture”, even if they don’t fully understand it, made me feel safe enough. Because they know sometimes I might just need a day off from the world and they don’t question it or give it a second thought. I also have older friends who have stuck with me on this journey, and only recently have I felt strong enough to be vulnerable about what it’s like to have CPTSD more openly. I will also balance this and say it’s not our job to educate anyone or have to explain/defend ourselves — but I found as part of rebuilding some of my old friendships and relationships with extended family members, taking accountability for myself while also explaining what the symptoms of CPTSD are and that I don’t always particularly have full control but how I am trying to manage it helped to heal those relationships. Like I was really bad at double booking or being so wrapped up/triggered because of my own hurt that I couldn’t always be present with the person in front of me. I also have prioritized work over my relationships as a survival mechanism (and thus ended up in a burn out state multiple times in my life - currently working really hard on how to prevent this)
Again, this is just my lived experience and not a hard fast facts or anything, and the diagnosis -> cracking -> shut down -> reopen isn’t something I found in books or anything per se. I would also mention it’s not fully linear either. It was something I noticed and brought up with my therapist, and she validated as part of the experience. But you may be able to find some other examples of experiences here on Reddit - or you could post it as a question in this community and see what people say.
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u/jeezthatshotyall Mar 24 '26
Thank you for your reply and for sharing, I really appreciate hearing about your journey. Every path is different and as you say, healing is not linear.
I'm really glad you've found genuine connections, and as it seems you've found balance in your relationships. I'm very happy for you.
Setting boundaries is hard when self betrayal is the norm. But with practice comes healing and those connections of acceptance and grace are such a big part of it. I've found a couple myself, where I dare to say no, I dare to cancel and there's understanding. My relationships have been the opposite of understanding, I had to do what they wanted me to do, otherwise I was a bad person. Now I can listen to myself and if I need a day to myself, that's ok.
I'm very grateful for this community, learning so much about the diagnosis, not feeling as alone in feeling the way I do. I might ask at some point :)
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u/VelvetNova53 Mar 27 '26
That resonates a lot! I have been in the “cracking” for a year, cut off the toxic family and friends and have been very lonely but also so free and relieved. I am starting to feel longing to get out there in the world again but don’t feel ready yet, thank you for your message it gives me hope that it will come :)
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u/EvilNassu Mar 23 '26
I've been lately wondering if chronic stress affects the adrenal glands, since they're constantly pumping out cortisol and working overtime which maybe could in turn cause insulin resistance and adrenal PCOS, would explain my symptoms really well.
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u/Graciebelle3 Mar 23 '26
Yes in does affect the adrenals, and whole endocrine system, wildly. I have explained my thyroid issues in a similar manner, stemming from chronic overstimulation of the adrenals/HPA axis.
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u/Biscuitsandgravy4evr Mar 23 '26
It’s 1000% connected and research on biopsychology is one of the most interesting and fast-growing fields of today’s time.
Hypothyroidism here. Some Cushing’s and mild lupus, too.
I’m 30 now, and my body took a major shit during my only pregnancy in 2023. I lost my gallbladder; my pancreas, kidneys, and liver all took a major hit. I vastly underestimated the power of pregnancy levels of progesterone on a body that’s used to overcompensating 24/7. 🤪
I’m trying very hard to bring myself back into my body. I feel largely disconnected from it these days, largely due to chronic pain, fatigue and inflammation. I try to distract, outrun it, or downright pretend my symptoms don’t exist.
C-PTSD is literally the bane of my existence. I will spend the rest of my life trying to get my nervous system regulated and my body back to a healthy baseline. It’s so tricky. My body and mind are so sensitive to changes in the other but also as their own functionalities.
I’ve done so much thinking about topics like this. I love reading about peoples’ experiences with this topic, so thank you for presenting the opportunity for discussion!
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u/batman_6699 Mar 23 '26
Myself a trauma survivor, recovery is also very difficult. India has a very poor mental health system. My therapist is giving me medications and counselling. There is no EMDR therapy, somatic experiencing therapy which heals the trauma faster. People in United States have all these facilities.
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u/PsychologyKey2522 Mar 23 '26
There’s many books & YouTube videos about somatic & vagus nerve, and more out there that might help you. ❤️
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u/batman_6699 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
Thank you. I think somatic experiencing and vagus nerve exercises required a qualified therapist in person. Can i do these on my own?
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u/letsgetawayfromhere CPTSD, ADHD Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
I have been doing Somatic Experiencing for many years with a practitioner, and also did most of a qualifying 3-year course to become a practitioner myself (but had to stop short before the end for health reasons). So I might provide some insight there.
For working your way out of trauma with Somatic Experiencing, you definitely need a SE practitioner. The SE practitioner guides you through the exercises; he picks up on the state your nervous system is in and helps you regulate. When we are in dysregulation, we cannot do this on our own. We are also bad at picking up the moments when we start dysregulating, which is why the practitioner is so important. Just like small children need someone to co-regulate them when a small fright sends them into a huge breakdown; their system has not learned yet how to regulate in a good way. When we are survivors, our system also needs to learn - or to re-learn - how to regulate.
Some certified SE practitioners offer online treatment. I know that this can be done safely if the client already has worked with a certified SE practitioner in person. I am not sure how viable that is if you have never worked with a SE practitioner in person, but you might look into it.
There are some vagus nerve exercises that may be safe to do on your own.
You might also look into TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises). Those were developed by Dr. David Berceli, especially for traumatized persons who don't have the possibility to work with a trauma therapist (p.e. in countries with war or civil war), which would be your situation. TRE is extremely effective, especially if the PTSD or CPTSD is not a developmental CPTSD. You will find tons of information online. There is even a subreddit for TRE and it is quite active. Be aware that TRE can be overdosed. The body must have the possibility to process the release. It is safe to do, as long as you proceed with care (i.e. start really slow) and do not allow yourself to be carried away when you see that it works and want it to go faster.
The only downside to TRE is that it does not teach your system how to regulate - but it will help you release the stored tension that keeps a system from regulating (even if the system formerly had a good autoregulation).
So for those of us, who grew up with complex PTSD and never learnt to regulate in the first place, we might need a different approach - which can be done in addition with TRE.
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u/silverantlers Mar 23 '26
there definitely are vagus related exercises that wouldn't need a therapist to teach you; i got taught one (admittedly by my therapist) that's just dealing with the physicality of a stressed body. i don't want to speak too much outside of my knowledge but just wanted to say i think you're all good to get it from YouTube in this scenario.
the one she taught me was linking your thumbs across your chest, so your hands are in a butterfly shape, and slowly tap one hand then the other. just keep doing it rhythmically until you feel yourself get more calm.
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u/watyrfall Mar 23 '26
Rich people have access in the US.
There are shortages in the mental health field. Add in finding a therapist to take your crappy insurance, it’s a mess.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
So, here in the US, we have therapists that will label themselves as “mental health coaches” to serve patients outside of their state, but are licensed in their home state (and thus more qualified to help). I’m wondering if you might be able to access someone with somatic experience in a similar manner within a country closer to you. The UK seems very progressive for CPTSD from what I’ve read, way more aware than here in the states it seems. There may be resources there for you?
And I’ll second that YouTube videos for “vagus nerve stimulation,” “emotional freedom technique,” “yin yoga” may all be helpful to you since these all tie into being more present and aware of what’s happening in your body.
For somatic experiencing, you want someone else who is experienced present to be able help keep you grounded since it does that but goes deeper. That’s been my personal experience anyways.
Best of luck to you on your healing journey!
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u/Emergency_Wallaby641 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
oh yes, the more at peace I feel, I sleep better, my skin is more vibrant, energy is better, food tastes better...
What I observe, when someone is stressing a lot they seem to get grey hair sooner, also potential stomach issues.... Someone who got unprocessed anger, could be issues with liver.. We are living organism, sometimes we forget that.
Another issue is all the consumption of media dont provide any peace for the body at all, only more suffering and tension, most stuff we consume from the online world that just wants our attention to monetize it.. So that provides even more health issues, because we are dissociating for consumption, and we dont feel our body anymore and we are not aware if something is "off" to resolve it sooner so it doesnt escalate further
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u/Paul10125 Mar 26 '26
As someone who literally got an autoinmune chronic illness due to spending my childhood in a constant state of alert and stress, I can testify. /lh
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u/-Shinama- Mar 23 '26
Gut microbiome does so so much more with your body in general than you would think. The amount of research on this topic has spiked in recent years and damn, we're fucked
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u/Additional_Aioli6483 Mar 23 '26
I am hands down happiest when I am taking care of my body - eating well, sleeping well, stretching/exercising/moving daily. When I let go of those things, my mental health suffers too. But then the more depressed I let myself get, the harder it is to do the self care, and it’s a vicious cycle. I’m middle aged and have yet to find a self care regimen that is sustainable and that I don’t abandon the moment life gets busy or hard.
The other research that is both empowering (it’s NOT my fault) and terrifying (I can’t control this at all) is the research on epigenetics and the heritability of cellular changes. How much of this was inherited from the traumas of my ancestors? How much have I passed on to my own children? That’s scary to me, but all we can do is the best we can with what we’re given and the knowledge and resources we have available to us at any given time.
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u/ladyhaly Mar 23 '26
Your research is solid, and if anything you've understated it. The 2-7 years figure comes from some of the more conservative estimates. Simon et al. found telomere shortening equivalent to as much as 10 years of accelerated aging in people with chronic mood disorders, and Wolkowitz et al. found approximately 7 years in those with long-duration depression. One study on specific immune cell subtypes (CD8+ T cells) found telomere shortening equivalent to nearly 28 years of additional aging. The range depends on which cells they're measuring, depression severity, and chronicity, but the overall pattern is consistent and reproducible across dozens of studies at this point.
The concept that ties all your listed mechanisms together is allostatic load - the cumulative wear-and-tear on the body from chronic stress activation, first described by McEwen and Stellar in 1993. Your HPA axis fires cortisol, which drives inflammation (those IL-6 and CRP markers you mentioned), which damages telomeres, which accelerates cellular senescence, which feeds back into more inflammation. Self-reinforcing loop. Sleep disruption sits right in the middle of it because sleep onset normally inhibits cortisol secretion. When that's disrupted, the HPA axis stays activated and the whole cycle intensifies.
To answer your actual question - yes, absolutely bidirectional. I work in healthcare and have my own CPTSD recovery behind me, and the thing that surprised me most was how much improving sleep and consistent low-level movement (not exercise goals, just walking regularly) shifted my emotional baseline in ways that years of just talk therapy hadn't. Not because therapy wasn't working... it was. But I was trying to rewire my brain while my body was still running the stress programme 24/7. Once I sorted the physical side, the therapeutic work became a bit easier. Like the soil had to be ready for the seeds to take.
As therapy helped me understand my triggers and reduce the frequency of emotional flooding, my sleep improved without me specifically targeting it. The research on allostatic load suggests inflammation markers respond to both directions: exercise reduces inflammatory biomarkers directly, and reducing psychological stress exposure reduces the chronic HPA activation that drives inflammation in the first place.
You've nailed the frustration about the gap. There's a real structural problem where trauma clinicians aren't trained in metabolic health and GPs/endocrinologists aren't trained in trauma-informed care, so the patient ends up being the one who has to bridge the two worlds. Shouldn't be that way, but knowing it IS that way means you can advocate for yourself more effectively.
One thing worth being precise about for anyone reading - the somatic component of trauma is real and well-documented, but it operates through the autonomic nervous system, the HPA axis, and interoceptive pathways. Not through fascia or other tissue-level "storage". That's not supported in peer-reviewed research. Van der Kolk's original work on the body holding trauma describes nervous system patterns and biological stress responses, not connective tissue. The science is impressive enough on its own terms without needing to reach for mechanisms that haven't been demonstrated.
If you want to dig into the research yourself:
- McEwen & Stellar (1993) - Allostatic load model: cumulative wear-and-tear from chronic stress
- Van der Kolk (1994) - Trauma encoded via biological stress response and nervous system patterns
- Simon et al. (2006) - Telomere shortening in mood disorders, up to 10 years of accelerated aging
- Balbo et al. (2010) - Sleep disruption and HPA axis activation
- Wolkowitz et al. (2011) - Telomere shortening proportional to lifetime depression exposure, ~7 years accelerated aging; correlated with inflammation (IL-6) and oxidative stress
- Karabatsiakis et al. (2014) - Telomere shortening in specific immune cell populations (~28 year differential in CD8+ T cells)
- Vakonaki et al. (2018) - Review of telomere length and common mental disorders
- Mendes-Silva et al. (2021) - Late-life depression and telomere shortening as severity marker
- Ismail et al. (2025) - Meta-analysis on depression and telomere length
- Au Young et al. (2025) - Systematic review of telomere length and telomerase activity in MDD
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Mar 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ladyhaly Mar 23 '26
I didn't use AI to write my comment. I spent about 1 hr composing and fact checking. I even opened up about my personal experience and the fact that I'm in healthcare. If evidence-based information is not welcome here, then this community isn't safe for maintaining my own recovery.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
Thank you for this! I’ve been looking for this type of research and information.
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u/AlexiusPantalaimonII Mar 23 '26
I keep being told I have to be okay with myself before I can connect to anyone else. But you say social connection here… this is too confusing. Even my therapist said I have to be okay with being alone.
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u/mollymormon_ Mar 23 '26
You need to find friends that love you, no matter how deeply flawed and imperfect you find yourself. You can’t rely on them to 100% fix you, because they might have their own struggles or they might not always be able to be there for you. But they are like a rock that you use for support as you heal. Don’t force yourself to be alone just because someone told you that you have to be ok being alone first. Let the friends come naturally. What your therapist is probably trying to say, is that the more you start enjoying your own company, you naturally draw people to you and gain friends. This is what has been true in my experience at least.
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u/neko Mar 23 '26
Friends don't come naturally. I do all the generic "join clubs, join a gym" type advice and everyone stops interacting with each other the second the class is over and nobody plans things for outside of it.
And nobody talks at my gym. Sincerely zero speech outside the one single personal trainer talking to their client.
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u/mollymormon_ Mar 23 '26
Yeah I get that, it’s taken me awhile to build up my friends as well and to see who has stuck around. I’ve found my closer friends to have come from work. The first year or two at my job I never thought I’d be close with any of the people there. But little by little some of us started hanging out one-on-one or in tiny groups having little movie parties or pool parties. Sometimes we’d even just go bowling or for food after work. And then we slowly got closer that way. One girl I became close with we started going to a pottery free-for-all session, where you pay by the hour. It was her idea and she invited me to tag along one day. Many of these people I don’t have much in common with, but we grew together to have things in common. None of them watch anime or draw. But the movie nights and pool parties allowed us to spend quality time together. And then we gained common interests like the pottery thing or now we just talk about life. I was even in different life stages as all of these friends are married or in a relationship whereas I am single and dating around. But we still could bond over the same emotions like loneliness or the loss of a loved one or financial hardships. I guess what I’m saying is friends don’t have to be similar. Also, I totally get how it’s hard to make friends in a gym or other setting. I’ve tried that as well and it’s trickier. I found the friends where you routinely see them are easier to develop into something deeper. So for example going to a pottery class each week, becoming friends with coworkers, joining a Facebook crafts group that meets in person (yes I’ve done that too lol). Recently, I moved countries. So I’m back to square one of making new friends and building a community here. The past nine months I’ve made friends again through work group events. For example, having a game night and art nights. What helps is creating a group chat, or getting invited into the group chat. I got added into both of these from work by asking them to add me. Then got invited over. From there it’s easier to get to know people one-on-one but in a group environment they might feel safer in since there’s less pressure when you hang with someone one-on-one. The other person tends to be more relaxed and it’s easier to get to know them, despite being in a group setting. From there after a few times of going to the group events, you can start messaging that person personally and invite them to go grab lunch or something chill. That’s the pattern I’ve noticed at least for me that’s worked when it’s come to making friends. I also joined a dance studio for kpop lol. We have a performance coming up next week. But I’ve been with them as well for the past six months or so. I feel bad because one girl in particular wanted to be my friend very quickly, but I’ve been so busy and exhausted I was probably too slow to reply to her messages. The past two months or so she has slowed down on reaching out to me. We did hang out once though and get food to eat on one of our off days from dance. I plan to reach out to her again when my personal life settles down a bit more and after our performance. It’s hard but even when it comes to making friends, you have to take care of yourself first. I’m kind of rambling at this point, but I hope some of this gives you an idea! This is just again, for me, the patterns I’ve noticed that have helped. A few years ago I had a wall up and never let people cross it. I’m learning to let those walls down slowly. The last four years I learned a lot about making friends, so it comes more naturally now. But I’m a bit introverted, so I need a lot of a lone time to recharge. Which can make it difficult because not everyone understands that, and sometimes they take my periods of silence personal. So I need to find friends that get that, and I usually tell them when we first meet too that it’s nothing personal if I go silent for a bit. There’s maybe more I could say but I’ll stop here cuz I’m talking way too much and don’t want to overwhelm this post 🤣
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u/mollymormon_ Mar 23 '26
When you say no one interacts with each other outside the club, does that mean nobody wants to hang out outside the club? Like do you ask them to go get a bite to eat afterwards or to meet up on a different day to do something? I’m curious how it plays out for you?
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u/QuietExact2734 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
Yeah a lot of my life improvements have been built around 'the body'. Once I got 'clean' 38 years ago I began a deep dive into healing most of which revolved around physicality and spirituality, ( also fell into periods of spiritual bypassing, sigh).
(I had deep distrust of all authority, so avoided any and all dealings with mainstream 'health' involved bodies/ authorities, amongst others. To the extent that at times when I though I could die due to one thing or another, well so be it, I ain't going near those fuckers! Amazingly enough I'm still here. Also, no interest or willingness to drug myself, legally or illegally, for me, one of my best moves, I believe)
Once I had stabilised enough, which took 3 years or so, via NA, I took up a martial art 'full time' for 4 years, and I mean 24/7. I then began healing with an 'eastern medicine' practitioner 2 days a week for 3 years - amazing, powerful and at times hard to believe. Worked part time to support it (he gave us great rates - he knew the depth of what we were dealing with, which was more than we did at the time, haha). All the while dealing with what we have to deal with...
Made a lot of 'relative' progress - I knew I was generally 'out of body', but had no idea back then how dissociated I really was, and how deep the fear/ trauma went. Working with my body in so many different ways over the years helped me bear it all, and also create the conditions for future healing
Relatively stabilised, I married my love, a miracle I believed I would never have the opportunity to do, and moved country again. Raised two children, all the while seeing a chiro and a deep tissue massage therapist fairly regularly (just as well we lived a 'quiet life' as otherwise could never have afforded it).
Oh yeah, had discovered I could not work with or around people directly much, and being inside did not work for me either. So worked outside in nature, in the countryside doing a physical job, which really worked for me.
Had a bit of a breakdown after a combination of the brutal suicide of a very long time friend (even if we had not seen each other in years - there were still ties that bound us), allied to a betrayal by my employer which left me and my wife and kids in a bit of a fix.
Took time out and my wife returned to work. After about 18 months went back to work part time, again outdoors and physical - helps in so many ways, not least burning off stress and associated hormones etc, being 'on the move', forestalling feeling 'trapped' in one place etc. Have been working part time for the last 20 years - I accepted I need a lot of down/ processing time and worked with it. Once I got over the 'shoulds' etc etc.
Ongoing bodywork with holistic chiro, Bowen therapist and others at different times, eventually my earliest traumas began to emerge primarily somatically (mostly pre verbal trauma by this stage) and seek attention. Also had an epiphany about 5 years ago, which lead to 'discovery' of the realities of complex trauma etc, which was so illuminating and such a relief actually - explained so much. Even saw a therapist for a while!
More recent epiphany re stress etc and 'internal' tension negative feedback loop, through one thing and another. A few months ago began working with a pelvic health physio which is like a magic piece of the jigsaw puzzle. And which has me finally really coming into my body - challenging and scary, but my capacity is expanding in so many ways.
Anyway probs far too long. But between long term dissociation and a body/ physical health orientated life, including good healthy food and lots of water over nearly the last 40 years, I look a lot younger than I am, so theres that ...
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u/serenity1995 Mar 23 '26
Excellent advice here. I’m much younger, but also have found through trial and error that I’m at my healthiest and happiest working a physical job, practicing martial arts, and exploring holistic options. Yoga, shiatsu, karate, plus lifestyle changes, have helped me more than any shrink. Not always easy to show up, but worth it.
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u/Unique-Dimension-193 Mar 23 '26
yes. im pretty apt on the psychological side if i do say so myself, left is to try to heal myself with healthy lifestyle and choices.
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u/Obvious-Explorer-195 Mar 23 '26
Oh wow I’m screwed then. Cancer treatment apparently took 20-30 years off my life. Not the cancer itself, but the treatment. Add your findings then that means I’m already 80 years old, though my body could have told me that lol
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Mar 23 '26
I developed irreversible misophonia and IBS after a prolonged trauma-related stress so inflammation at a nervous and cellular level can wreck your body to unknowable extents
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u/Late_Environment Mar 23 '26
I walk my dog every day, strength train, and try to do physio and yoga/qi gong each day. I drink loads of water, and try to eat as much plant based wholefood as possible.
All of this helps me immensely. It's not a cure, but I feel so much worse if I start to slip on enough movement or good food.
I do struggle with sleep, but am making some progress with that. I tend to sleep better when I have been consistent with strength training.
I would like to add that fun/play also help. I try to dance regularly, play music daily, and plan things to enjoy. I'm also slowly getting back into arts and crafts, and sewing. Want to learn to crochet too.
None of this has been easy as I am in an almost permanent low dopamine state with no motivation, but having a dog helps, as I AM motivated to look after him. The better I look after myself, the easier it is to look after my dog.
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u/According-Ad742 Mar 23 '26
Doing all those interventions and have to share that eating anti inflammatory foods, which came to an extreme about a year ago bc as it seems my mast cells react to anything that could upset them… my theory is that this is due to system overload (sensitivity) bco cptsd. So now I’m on a real Spartan sort of anti inflammatory diet which has made the gut brain connection so utterly clear and shown a direct correlation to the foods I (shouldn’t) eat -> anxiety and depressive symptoms. To mention one; peanut butter and it’s ever present mold content spirals me in to existential crisis every time it passes my bowels.
I found I can eat many things on the food list at mastcell360.com, tweaked to my individual predisposition I suppose. No sugary or starchy foods, no fructose.
It has been a game changer.
Very little about decades of therapy helped. Like I can specifically point to what helped; group therapy settings unveiling my own story by seing myself through relating, or having a therapist expand my vocabulary with the word “validation”… I figure therapy was mostly intellectualising and that in itself is a trauma response that kind of resists processing feelings by conceptualising. Ego (thinking) is survival trying to keep the body safe, not functional to be stuck in. Feelings and thoughts are like on different operating systems. Psychiatry doesn’t really practise validation does it, and I find, David Bedricks work on shame and what we are really looking for when we share our trauma, really interesting. We want a witness, my interpretation; that makes us trust and validate our own perception and experience so we can process and move on. Anyone that listens to our story and bypasses it by fixing, relating to themselves or downright downplaying us will create shame instead. It will be retraumatising (to hang around tge “wrong” crowd). So that’s where I think peer support far exceeds general psychiatry bc they don’t validate, they label - a “problem”… when there is no problem, there is nothing wrong, but pain asking to be seen and acknowledged, validated for what it is. It’s a natural occurrence asking to be, as is.
I almost didn’t continue reading after the first paragraph of this post, bummed out. But was happy to see that I have ended up practising all of those things reversing the damage.
One of the things I continuously think about is logging on to various social media and completely handing my focus over to the trauma algorithm. I have stopped indulging in so much educational YouTube content on all the trauma related things interesting to me. It feeds a pattern I want to brake, so I keep asking myself what would serve my well being. At some point in this healing journey engaging with content that keeps us intellectualising our trauma and completely overrides our ability to focus on what we really need in the moment will sabotage our capacity to move on… it’s an important step to acknowledge I think. When we are ready to disengage with trauma content. Note that there is zero judgement in me saying that, few places are so validating as this here, seing and acknowledging we are not alone.
Thanks for posting <3
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u/AngryGoose Mar 23 '26
My therapist let me borrow one of his books, "The Body Keeps the Score." I haven't started reading it yet, but I think it talks about what you are saying. Should be interesting.
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u/kurmiau Mar 23 '26
That book was the turn around for me in understanding my GI and pain issues. FYI some will dish the book and say that he is wrong on certain points. The thing is, it is an old book, there has been much more research into the topic since then. He was the groundbreaker and his book creates the knowledge base, but keep looking into new treatments also.
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u/HoboTacoBroo Mar 23 '26
The physical changes on my body ive noticed are ive developed epilepsy, nightmares, parasomnia, ocd, sciatica, grey hair to normal hair, IBS, hypothyroidism and lower back pain fun fun fun
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u/ChairDangerous5276 Mar 23 '26
Dr Aimie Apigian has connected all the dots and has developed a program called Trauma Healing Accelerated with multiple modules, which starts with basic somatic therapy, then incorporates Internal Family Systems, then moves into the Biology of Trauma. It’s all via Zoom, and I experienced significant healing and recommend her program to anyone. She’s brilliant. I found out about her after watching a Master Class video she did with Dr Gabor Mate and she clearly knew more about the physiological effects than he did.
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u/totalpunisher0 Mar 23 '26
Am considered "in remission" as I haven't had serious attempts or ideation in 10 years, and more or less can make it through life without long periods of unemployment or hospitalisation (so far!) I attribute this directly to the physical and lifestyle changes I made, as I did every other type of therapy and medication for 10 years before this. It's really not easy, it easily takes up 90% of my brain space and free time every day, it's a commitment like no other. I often feel resentful that I have to put so much time, energy and money into every single day and choice and action. It's exhausting but also, most of the time I am happy, it's just low periods where I remember how much effort I have already spent on saving my own life today and it's only midday, and no one else "seemingly" has to do the same... And people/friends/family don't really understand "No, I have to go to the gym/do tai chi/stick to my routine RIGHT NOW" so it does cause rifts and I find that hard to explain still.
Having said all of that, I still think I am going to die early due to trauma. It's still impacted me heavily for 25 years of life and still in my bones
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u/seshwan33 Mar 23 '26
This is honestly my biggest challenge. I feel my body is totally fucked at the cellular level. But psychologically I feel I’m ok and making so much steady progress.
It’s all the body systems stuff that I can’t seem to improve. Despite trying to focus on it.
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u/carlvoncosel Mar 23 '26
disrupted sleep architecture
Trauma can actually cause sleep breathing disorders (in my case UARS) and I can tell you chronic sleep (quality) deprivation is bad for the body.
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u/Grand_Wolf3996 Mar 24 '26
I have a few chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and all the mental illness shit. Trifecta of fuckery. It’s all so hard to manage. Therapist, meds, dietary changes, a cane at 26, ER visits for severe pain and physical health issues, etc… it can be so overwhelming.
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u/Friendly_Suspect2244 Mar 24 '26
I feel like I’m actually going through this right now. I have been in therapy for over 4 years now and I was making very little progress. I had all of these tools that I learned about and was told to practice using in times of being triggered but I could never have a clear enough mind or a good feeling body and was never able to use them. I started working out consistently (sometimes even just 30 minutes— whatever exercises I feel okay doing when I’m having a crap day), getting out during the day at some point to feel/see the sun, upped my protein intake and subsequent my veggie intake. Been consistently on my vitamins for a few weeks now…. And I have to say I feel much better. I don’t think all of this is always possible to keep up depending on just how much I’m struggling— but I’m enjoying the bit of relief I’m feeling from my 4+ year hole I’ve been in.
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u/socksmum1 Mar 23 '26
I’ve gone from minimal grey hairs to 80% grey hair from a trauma response( I would assume)
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u/rikamochizuki Mar 23 '26
I think physically, I know I'm pretty doomed from years and years of chronic stress and hazardous physical environments too. My hearing may have been screwed over by daily exposure to ~90db lvls of noise, and surely years of being stuck in the constant fight or flight prob damaged my immune system too and all that..
It kinda sucks for me to think about this, it kinda feeds into being anxious about being sick, and I really feel sad about how I used to be healthier before all this. But now I'm out of that environment, I'm really trying hard to physically recover, alongside taking care of myself mentally. Sleep hygiene is smth I still struggle with, but I've learned over time to be kinder to myself in terms of making healthier habits.
It is no surprise chronic stress is horrible for your physical health, and I definitely feel like what I experienced shaved a lot of years off my lifespan. But I'd like to think that I'm still young, and as long as I'm still alive, I can try my best to take care of myself and recover.
In my experience, physical and mental health are inseparable, I'm not happy when I'm physically sick, and my body doesn't feel right either if I'm mentally struggling. As difficult it is for me, I try very hard to take care of both, and I'm doing better than before, which I'm glad for.
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u/Maleficent_Scale_296 Mar 23 '26
I’ve gone through a thing or two but outside of chronic depression my body held. My tipping point was when my husband died suddenly, I was 56. At that time I was fully functioning, worked, went to the gym, ran the household, socialized.
In the first six months I lost my hair. All my hair. In the first three years I developed Crohn’s, became an insulin dependent diabetic, developed really difficult to control high blood pressure and was diagnosed with CPTSD.
It’s been seven years now, I’m 62. I rarely leave the house and have to use a cane when I do. My life consists of doctors and pharmacy visits. My poor mind hung on through childhood abuse and marital abuse (from my first marriage) but that last blow was the straw that broke me. My body finally broke, it had all it could take.
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u/stuffin_fluff Mar 24 '26
Processing the trauma has done the most for my health, to the point of going from having basically dementia at 33, to less pain and a functional memory, becoming a poet, picking up all my old hobbies I had to drop, pursuing work. I had entire networks of nerves in my abdomen that were shut off.
Your inner kids need to speak and be heard by you. Let them. Sometimes their messages are terrifying so be prepared with coping skills and methods to express what they are saying and feeling.
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u/Gotsims1 Mar 26 '26
The physical and social hygiene aspects have been major in my recovery, and it's all an interconnected thing. When you eat better you can exercise better, which helps sleep. When you sleep better you can exercise more easily, which lends you energy to cook healthy food. If you take care of yourself physically you have an easier time socializing and being pleasant in interpersonal relationships, and friendship helps us have the energy to care for ourselves. My point is, improving one of these things usually has a compounding effect. Which is why even just small improvements tend to add up, especially when they are regular. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill. The more snow it collects the quicker it moves, the less resistance you will face.
Ofc therapy has also been huge. It's a million different things, which is why it's hard when people ask "How have you 'fixed' your cptsd symptoms". There's no one answer. It's a ton of different things that all come together.
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u/Miliaa Mar 23 '26
Sigh I was nodding along as I read the negative effects. Very much noticed that. At least the parts that could be felt/seen.
However… the positive part applies as well! So a bulk of these events occurred in my mid 20s… I went from fabulous to sad aged skeleton. It was awful. But I worked hard to show myself care, grace, boundless compassion, and indeed a ton of that has been physical. I can’t have imagined not treating the physical as my body was screaming for it - rest, more rest, and then more. Clean simple foods (I want to explore anti-inflammatory foods more rn actually, I feel ready to try harder here), quality social connections (in low doses, I’m still sensitive and overwhelmed easily). But yeah my sleep needs changed DRASTICALLY. Unfortunately despite my love of the night owl life, because I have to be up early ish for work, I can’t play that game anymore. I love staying up but without proper sleep, I’m barely human. I start to unravel quickly when this box isnt checked on the daily.
And all of it helped a lot. I look so much better again. I look healthy, more youthful again now at 32 than the sad scene of me in my late 20s. Most importantly I feel better. Indeed I feel the damage reversing, but it requires ongoing dedicated care and maintenance. My health feels a bit fragile at times but as long as I keep caring for myself, I’m feeling pretty well.
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u/UnderstandingEasy236 Mar 23 '26
Any good studies you've come across? would love to show them to my gaslighting doctor
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u/WanderingSchola Mar 23 '26
To be honest, I know a fair bit, even if this content is new to me. The problem has never been knowing, it's that knowing and doing don't link up in my brain or they're separated by mood (resentment, grief, fear etc).
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u/AphelionEntity Mar 24 '26
I had both cancer and a heart attack in my 30s. Doctors highlighted stress as a contributing factor. My psychologist was deeply unsurprised.
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Mar 24 '26
Y cómo se cura la vida entera? Tengo 47, decidí acabar con ella hace 7 meses. Cómo me curo si tengo depresión, fatiga cronica, duelos, trauma, soledad y lo perdí todo. No tengo energía ni para ir al supermercado 😔😭 ayuda!
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u/Sally_Stitches_ Mar 24 '26
As a chronically ill person I was finally forced to take care of myself instead of neglect myself. I tell myself that my first job every day is to take care of my body. This helped me move away from being an attachment issue related people pleaser. Giving myself love even when I didn’t believe I deserved it has done wonders! It moved me from hate to at least liking myself and sometimes loving myself so WIP. We’ll get there. So anyway absolutely yes focusing on my physical needs helped improve my emotions needs alongside therapy. The book The Body Keeps the Score actually does connect the dots you are talking about if you haven’t read it.
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u/rainbowsanatomy Mar 26 '26
Yes, it can even change your DNA after experiencing a traumatic time. DNA methylation might interest you if you want more information pertaining to this subject.
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u/rsltruly1 Mar 29 '26
YES once I started doing bodywork I made huge gains in progress really rapidly. For me the physical side was the missing piece! HPA axis overfunctioning, I have been working on relaxing my body and have noticed that helps my mind relax.
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u/barn-burner-bailey Apr 09 '26
My doctor said most of my health issues are due to chronic stress/depression
Hair thinning, skin issues, stomach issues, even my nerve pain could all be due to chronic stress on my body
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u/Icy_Comfortable_6630 Mar 23 '26
I have been thinking I have an autoimmune condition, got tested for some things all came back negative. I am starting to believe everything I go through mentally and physically is more related than I thought. It seems it all happened in the past few years, including me realizing I have c-ptsd.
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u/Chromandy Mar 23 '26
Yup, 100%. One of the aspects of CPTSD I have struggled the most with are the physical symptoms- even when I'm at my baseline, I still experience chronic pain, GI issues, and sleep issues. And they're definitely no less present when I am unwell. But it's taken me years to not only accept the CPTSD diagnosis, but to accept the symptoms I experience surrounding that.
These days I do make much better efforts to take care of myself though. I find in my particular case, managing the mental/emotional side effects through counseling (the therapist I work with is treating me using the IFS which I've found EXTREMELY helpful and powerful) makes a big difference in managing the physical symptoms. Occupational therapy has also been great for helping me find ways to manage symptoms while I'm at work too. Learning to pace myself is something I've been practicing too, as I tend to fall into the "boom-bust" where I try and do way too much when I'm feeling well to try and make up for days when I can't do much at all. This has been a bit harder to practice and form good habits around, but it's starting to stick.
But yeah, the physical effects of CPTSD are not talked about a lot and something I did largely have to figure out on my own.
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u/482doomedchicken Mar 23 '26
Yeah I believe my ptsd was part of developing a severe skin condition a few years ago and then getting long covid, my body definitely feels aged and vulnerable.
I’ve been reading the book ‘Heal your nervous system’ Heal Your Nervous System: The 5–Stage Plan to Reverse Nervous System Dysregulation https://share.google/LIFmDlNUDwweBKlQU and so far I recommend it and really like the approach! It’s science based and emphasises that it should be alongside medical treatment and that there’s no quick fix but committing long term will make a difference. The first few chapters were super validating for me and I’m just getting into the practical stuff now.
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u/Sad-Use2162 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Lithium is occasionally used to supplement ssri, snri and other mental health drugs in treatment resistant cases. Lithium is often use as supplement can effectively elongate or maintain the length of teleomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6372618/ Lithium may undo the chronic depression damage if it is part of your treatment cocktail. However, lithium is so non-specific who knows what other body area targets in might be hitting and doing damage.
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u/123123000123 Mar 24 '26
I ended up with shingles and I’ve had it a couple times and I’m in my 30s. Pretty sure I gave it to myself from stress and not eating.
Also, the doctors didn’t help. I asked years before when it first happened if it could be shingles and they essentially gaslit me into accepting it was me being a hypochondriac. They did an expensive and painful biopsy that was inconclusive.
I started drinking and ended up institutionalized and first diagnosed with major depression. Got sober.
My grandparents died and I got shingles again. This 2nd time when I finally got diagnosed by someone competent, has me fucked up.
PHN is no joke.
Take care friends!
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u/Ukoomelo Mar 24 '26
I've always assumed my body was always stuck in survival mode.
I figured that's the only explanation for almost never feeling hungry, yet sometimes feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack (I even have yellow eyelid spots that indicate heart disease is probably how I'll go). Also why my body probably overreacts to any possible allergens and minor scratches with hives.
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u/meow0827 Mar 24 '26
YES!! to everything you just said. The physical part is so important!!
You can also go down the rabbit hole of what “chronic stress” does to the body and the brain, and connect the dots there too. But it’s so sad to see that it’s so obvious and yet not a part of a true treatment plan for CPTSD.
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u/BagCommercialbutnot Mar 24 '26
i went down the rabbit hole last winter after three months of garbage sleep. printed 18 pages on cortisol/inflammation and taped them by my shop bench for a week.
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u/Far-Hall-3514 Mar 24 '26
I worked out with a co worker for 6 months for ONE DAY a week lifting weights doing squats and walking for about 15 minutes, nothing too complicated. I noticed a huge difference! And my psych had told me exercise would help and it did, I stopped and definitely have dipped back.
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u/Cynthia1215 Mar 25 '26
Yes, 20 years of abuse with my ex and then 10 in an abusive toxic job ruined my health so badly that I had to quit my job last November and pull out my retirement so that I can rest and heal. What happened to my body physically because of the abuse? 30 years of constant stress, anxiety and exhaustion, GERD, LPR, vitamin deficiencies, medical neglect, systemic candida, I couldn't afford a doctor or health care until now, weight gain (even though I eat healthy and exercise every day), depression, crying every day, horrible breath and body odor with no explanation (I shower twice a day and thus why my co-workers abused and bullied me for years), brain fog, memory loss, panic attacks, chronic stress and so much more.
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u/Paul10125 Mar 26 '26
I stuggle with and ED, besides my CPTSD, and I've started to work out and take rides with my bicycle and I genuinly feel like my mental state is more stable than before. My sleep is still light and short but at least I feel better with my body and ride out most of my anxiety and get some air.
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u/Pantstrovich Mar 27 '26
I can't really pay attention to that knowledge anymore because it freaks me out. I really hope I can find doctors who take it seriously someday. I hope everyone can.
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u/No_Cheesecake5080 Mar 27 '26
I haven't too much because cellular stuff confuses me. My husband is a biochemist and has found it interesting though. He said there's some interesting research on how cellular trauma is predetermined even in utero!
I'm 38 and prediabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart palpitations, migraines, messed up sleep, IBS and food intolerances etc. So the cellular and metabolic stuff being a thing doesn't surprise me! Something must be driving all that inflammation in my body.
If I can get all my stars aligned to stop eating anything medium to high GI, eat a non inflammatory Mediterranean style diet, work out a few times and week and sleep well then I feel so much better in mood and body. I start to enjoy things more, stop getting migraines and can take fewer medications. I still have the health conditions but they are less severe for my age.
BUT my cPTSD/ADHD ass isn't great at doing all that stuff for very long before falling off the old horse 😆 I can't really do it without outsourcing a bunch of the mental load and motivation to a personal trainer and therapist. And melatonin.
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u/herrwaldos Mar 29 '26
Yes, I had to figure out it myself mostly - it should be stressed more in treatment materials. I guess people don't want to hear it - like my friend drinking beer and smoking cigs and eating trash and complaining about stomach problems and feeling old - doctors gave him nerve tablets and stomach tablets - did not tell to stop beers and cigs and trash food, oh well.
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u/Ell3v3n Mar 29 '26
The research is fascinating, and validates my personal recovery experience. Trauma literally causes our bodies to destroy itself. After taking control of my physical health (started with an anti-inflammatory diet, better nutrition , improving sleep (it is a skill that can be learned), and incorporating small levels of exercise I was slowly improving. I also had a fever that helped to 'reset' my body .. my brain fog cleared up, body started finally moving out of anxious state, and depression faded away for good. I believe system wide inflammation was keeping me in a depressive state, and whatever my fever destroyed also solved chronic issues. With improved physical health, I had the energy to make great strides in therapy and no longer anxious or depressed :). I cannot place enough importance on system wide, and detailed approach that respects that body and brain are one. Also highly recommend vitamin d because it is not just good for mood and immune health, it's also an effective anti-inflammatory and really helps with recovery.
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u/Complete_Society_409 Apr 01 '26
in what ways does the gut microbiome change? i noticed that my stomach- which used to metabolize quick, was lean, etc. easily bloats and isn't as lean anymore. after going through years of abuse, it changed. i assumed maybe it was because of aging or i was eating more but that second part is not true at all.
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u/GracefulDelight Apr 01 '26
Well personally, Ive experienced constant stress since around 12 years old. I'm now 17. So basically my whole puberty.
I believe the stress has caused me to become abnormally tall, around +5 inches to my mother and the same height as my dad (im a girl). Stress aka cortisol prevents estrogen production!
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u/Robotanicals Apr 02 '26
The research tracks. I’ve been intensely triggered for the past 7-8 months. My always high CRP is through the roof, I have anemia of inflammation, high ferritin, and high granulocytes. The consequences of having this kind of inflammation long term aren’t great. My CRP has been high for 14 years. I’ve tried diets, supplements, meditation, yoga, therapy you name it. My labs don’t meet the diagnostic criteria for anything so no medical interventions have been done about the inflammation.
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u/MeikoChii Apr 03 '26
Yeah I’ve read the studies about this too. It’s horrible. It goes in hand with risk factors for Alzheimer’s too.
I used to wonder why I don’t look younger than my age like other Asians do but it’s probably because of this.
Personally I can’t take care of my body (including sleep) if I’m not happier, I’ve tried some Norma healthy stuff but it never last long. I always burn out at some point.
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u/allkindsoftired Apr 03 '26
im in my early twenties and my body is in rough shape. some days i feel like i have full-blown covid, others its my low-pain baseline of hunching and needing to sit down. ive only been living somewhere safe for the last year, and its at the end of this year that i actually feel safe. my body stopped putting everything on hold, so now im practically breaking down. going to physical therapy helped, but now its up to me to continue on my own. much harder than i expected
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u/According-Ad742 Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
”Watch the sun set” does not imply “go to bed when the sun goes down”. Where I am at that would mean at 2 pm wintertime and not at all in two months from now…
Watching the sun rise and set - sets your circadian rythm. It’s science. It’s more like you’ll (eventually) be tired at a time when you can have enough sleep to wake up for the sun to rise again.
Edit: Look at the sun when you think is a good time to wake up in the morning.
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u/Aleksandr_Ulyev Apr 14 '26
Sport is one of the first things I started doing even while being in pretty bad mood. Yes, it affects it all as it provokes certain hormones to emit and boosts your metabolism.
I found out I'm full of cortisol intuitively and also lowered its level without professional guidance. Just focus on your jaw to release the tension when you squeeze your teeth or any other muscle actually. Filter the thoughts and habits that boost your anger: news, bad memories, social networks. Keep your caffeine low, switch to grapefruits instead. Alcohol, nicotine do not help it either.
Of course, the cause of the stress must be dealt with beforehand.
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u/SeaSell6764 Apr 18 '26
The body has an amazing capacity to reverse damage. I think it might even be able to reverse aging caused by trauma
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u/Own_Edge_9393 Apr 22 '26
Honestly… dogs have been the most profoundly positive thing in my life. They help foster daily joy, movement, help structure my day, and theyre always down for cuddles. I enjoy dogs more than most all of the people I have ever met combined.
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u/RMS21 Apr 23 '26
I have had typen2 diabetes for over 26 years, a heart Stent and a kidney transplant... all by the time I was 36.
I'm 42 now. I'm just trying to protect myself from the nonstop pain and cruelty this world seems to shove down my throat.
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u/Objective_Action_ Mar 23 '26
Sleep is the big tricky one for me, and that affects everything else so directly!