When we think of trauma and chronic illness, we often focus only on emotional pain—flashbacks, anxiety, or grief. Yet research shows trauma doesn’t just live in our memories. It leaves lasting marks on the body, increasing the risk for chronic illness and long-term health conditions.
At Elnita Ottey & Associates Counseling and Consulting Services, we believe in treating the whole person. Understanding the trauma–health connection is the first step toward healing both mind and body.
How Trauma Contributes to Chronic Illness
When trauma activates the body’s stress response, cortisol and adrenaline flood the system. In short bursts, this survival reaction is protective. But when stress becomes chronic, it disrupts nearly every organ system.
Decades of research have shown a strong connection between trauma and chronic illness, with adverse experiences in childhood or adulthood leaving long-lasting effects on the body’s systems. These disruptions increase vulnerability to a wide range of conditions, many of which appear more frequently in trauma survivors.
Over time, unresolved trauma can contribute to:
- Autoimmune conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis)
- Cardiovascular disease (hypertension, heart attack, stroke)
- Metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity)
- Chronic pain syndromes (fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain)
- Respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD flare-ups)
The groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente revealed that individuals with higher ACE scores face a much greater risk of developing chronic illness in adulthood. Early trauma leaves fingerprints on long-term health.
The Role of Inflammation
A key pathway between trauma and chronic illness is inflammation. Constant stress overwhelms the immune system, leaving it unable to regulate itself. The result: persistent low-grade inflammation that fuels disease.
A review in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that trauma exposure is consistently associated with elevated inflammatory markers in the blood—biological evidence linking trauma to autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic conditions (read the study here).
The Brain-Body Connection
Trauma also changes how the brain communicates with the body. The amygdala (fear center) becomes hyperactive, while the hippocampus (memory center) may shrink. This imbalance disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—the system that manages stress and regulates sleep, appetite, and energy.
When the HPA axis is dysregulated, people often experience:
- Insomnia or poor-quality sleep
- Digestive issues and appetite changes
- Slower recovery from illness
- Heightened sensitivity to pain
This explains why trauma survivors frequently feel “on edge” both physically and emotionally.
Breaking the Cycle
While trauma and chronic illness often go hand-in-hand, healing is possible. Trauma-informed therapy helps regulate the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and restore a sense of safety in the body.
At Elnita Ottey & Associates, we integrate evidence-based approaches such as:
- EMDR Therapy – reduces the body’s stress reactions by reprocessing painful memories.
- Trauma-Focused CBT – helps identify thought and behavior patterns that reinforce illness and stress.
- Mind-body practices – mindfulness, grounding, and movement release stored tension and improve resilience.
Studies confirm that trauma treatment can improve not only emotional well-being but also physical health outcomes (National Library of Medicine).
Taking the First Step
If you’re living with a chronic condition, it’s important to know your symptoms may not just be “in your head”—they may be part of your body’s response to trauma. Healing requires addressing both. We understand the deep link between trauma and chronic illness and provide compassionate, trauma-informed therapy to help you heal on every level.
With compassionate, trauma-informed therapy, many clients find that as emotional balance returns, physical health begins to stabilize too.
Living with chronic illness and wondering if trauma is part of the cause? You don’t have to carry that burden alone. At Elnita Ottey & Associates Counseling and Consulting Services, we provide trauma-informed therapy to help restore both emotional and physical balance. Learn more about our approach to trauma therapy or schedule a consultation today.
💡 Elnita Ottey is an EMDRIA-certified EMDR therapist offering in-person and virtual sessions.
📍 In-person sessions available in Monroe, NC and the Charlotte, NC metro area.
🌐 Virtual sessions offered in NC, SC, TN, OK, CO, and OR.
➡️ Learn more at www.elnitaottey.com or find a certified EMDR therapist near you at www.emdria.org.
