When the Body Doesn’t Heal After Childhood Abuse

Childhood abuse can leave deep emotional scars, but its effects extend far beyond the mind. As a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, I’ve learned how trauma can disrupt not just emotional well-being but the systems regulating our bodies.

Throughout my life, I struggled with chronic fatigue, digestive problems, persistent pain, a racing heart, and dizziness. Although I saw numerous doctors, none of them linked these symptoms to my past trauma. I was told I had a weak immune system and was given various diagnoses to explain each symptom.

In 2017, my worsening symptoms led to a referral to an autonomic clinic. There, I was diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia) affecting the sympathetic cardiovascular and vasomotor pathways. My body wasn’t properly regulating blood pressure when I stood, and my heart raced to compensate for the fluctuation in blood pressure.

The conversation with the doctor remains vivid in my mind. For the first time, I realized that the trauma I’d endured had impacted not only my emotional health but my physical health as well.

Autonomic dysfunction is commonly linked to conditions like Parkinson's disease, as well as others such as autoimmune diseases and diabetes. Yet, in my case, trauma was the likely cause.

The doctor explained, “Although your autonomic dysfunction seems to be idiopathic, it's possible that the abuse you experienced played a role. I suspect that the third-degree burns you sustained may have caused lasting nerve damage, contributing to the dysfunction."

Autonomic Dysfunction

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How Childhood Abuse Impacts the Autonomic Nervous System and Disrupts Stress Regulation

"I feel like I have been living in 'fight or flight' mode my entire life," a client healing from childhood sexual abuse and lingering post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms shared with me.

One overlooked consequence of early trauma is its impact on the body’s autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls vital functions like heart rate, digestion, temperature regulation, urinary function, and blood pressure. When the ANS is disrupted and improperly regulated, it can lead to autonomic dysfunction.

Our ANS operates through two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). When faced with stress or danger, our SNS activates, triggering a rapid heart rate and heightened alertness—the fight-or-flight response. Once the stressful situation ends, the PNS restores balance by slowing the heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and promoting relaxation and digestion.

However, chronic stress, like that caused by childhood abuse, can cause our SNS to become overactive while our PNS struggles to restore balance. This imbalance can lead to autonomic dysfunction (Dale, L. P., 2022). When our autonomic nervous system is poorly regulated, it can negatively impact our mental and physical health (Van der Kolk, 2014).

Studies show a strong link between childhood abuse and long-term autonomic dysfunction. Here’s how:

1. Chronic Cortisol Production: Cortisol is a hormone essential for the body’s response to stress. However, when abuse is prolonged, it leads to constant cortisol production, disrupting the autonomic nervous system (Cross et al., 2017). This can keep the body in “fight or flight” mode, making it hard to return to a balanced state.

2. Imbalanced Autonomic Response: An overactive SNS and a struggling PNS disrupt the body’s ability to recover from stress, contributing to chronic pain, heart palpitations, digestive issues, and trouble regulating body temperature (Dale, L. P., 2022).

3. Heart Rate Variability (HRV): High HRV indicates the body can effectively transition between stress and recovery. In contrast, low HRV is a marker of impaired autonomic functioning and suggests an inability to regulate stress (Thurston et al., 2020).

Signs and Symptoms of Autonomic Dysfunction

Autonomic dysfunction can present as:

• Fluctuations in Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Abnormal heart rhythms, including fast (tachycardia) and slow (bradycardia) heart rates and blood pressure fluctuations.
• Dizziness and Fainting: Especially when standing, as the body struggles to regulate blood pressure.
• Digestive Issues: Symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or nausea can occur as the body struggles to digest food properly.
• Temperature Regulation Problems: Difficulty managing body temperature, feeling too hot or too cold, or sweating excessively.
• Urinary Issues: Frequent urge to urinate, difficulty starting to urinate, or urinary incontinence.
• Fatigue: Chronic stress and an overactive SNS can lead to exhaustion as the body remains in a constant state of alertness.
• Mood Swings and Anxiety: Disrupted autonomic functioning is closely tied to emotional regulation, leading to mood instability, anxiety, or irritability.
• Other Symptoms: Headaches, weakness, vision problems, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, back, shoulder, and chest pain.

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Coping With Autonomic Dysfunction

When I first experienced autonomic dysfunction in 2017, my symptoms were mild, occurring a few days a week. Seven years later, these symptoms have significantly worsened, impacting my quality of life and occurring daily. So, what has helped me cope over the years?

Acceptance: Acceptance doesn’t mean I like living with these symptoms. It means I acknowledge that the abuse I endured has affected my autonomic system. I focus on giving myself the self-care I need to stay as physically comfortable as possible.

Psychotherapy: Yes, psychologists also seek support through therapy. When my symptoms become overwhelming and interfere with my ability to focus on work or family, I turn to my psychologist for support.

Mindfulness: I use deep breathing exercises and distress tolerance techniques, like applying ice to my face daily, to help regulate my heart rate and alleviate anxiety caused by symptoms and a general sense of unwellness.

Exercise: Despite having exercise intolerance, I make it a point to walk or stretch regularly. Even gentle movement helps reduce stress, supports my autonomic nervous system, and promotes better overall health and resilience.

The exact ways in which different types of abuse contribute to various psychological and physical conditions are not fully understood due to the complex interplay of factors such as abuse type, individual resilience, neurobiological effects, social environment, and personal experiences. What we do know is that abuse can impact the autonomic nervous system in adults with a history of abuse. Still, the strategies mentioned above can offer valuable support in managing these effects with care and compassion.

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