Healing Trauma Through the Body: My Acupuncture Journey & the Power of Somatic Release

Nine Months of Pain and No Answers

For the last nine months, I’ve been trapped in a relentless cycle of pain—severe, inexplicable pain in my face and continuous stomach concerns. Test after test, appointment after appointment, all leading me in circles with no real answers. But deep down, I’ve always known what this is.

This is my trauma, still living inside my body.

Every time I think I’ve released it, I realize I haven’t—not fully. Because I’ve avoided the acceptance that comes with true release. Mentally, I have this down to a T. I know trauma recovery, I teach it, I live it. But my body? My body has always kept the score. And it will for all of us, until we truly face it.

After these past months of medical scares, I turned to acupuncture. (Those who know me well know I am constantly adding somatic practices to my own work, because I know trauma must be healed through the body too.)

The First Session That Changed Everything

My acupuncturist, Susan, knew nothing about my history—only the symptoms I presented to her in consultation. Yet, from the first appointment, she immediately picked up on “significant toxicity” and a block in my abdomen, womb, and “women’s spiritual area.”

As a CSA survivor, I didn’t need to be told twice. I knew where my trauma was trapped.

Then she moved to my pelvis and said, “There is trauma here too.”

I froze. That was from my birth trauma 15 years ago, when I was left paralyzed.

I didn’t react, didn’t explain, just let it sink in.

With every session, I’ve experienced immense energy shifts. My facial pain eases temporarily, but that alone has been a gift while I’m still undergoing medical tests. And every time, she tells me the same thing:

“Your body hasn’t allowed energy to flow in over 20 years. It has not been in a state of rest.”

And wow, don’t I feel it.

The Moment I Couldn’t Ignore

Yesterday’s session was different. She focused on my stomach for the first time.

The moment that needle went in, it was like a shockwave through my entire body. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe. Then, suddenly, I felt violent pulsing deep in my uterus and womb. It was overwhelming. Susan asked if I wanted her to remove the needle.

I said no.

I knew this was something I had to face.

I barely got the words out—“What is this?”—before she responded:

“This is your ancestral connection. Your link to your mother.”

And just like that, I burst into tears.

Uncontrollable, raw, uncomfortable sobs.

Susan didn’t ask questions. She didn’t need to. She just held space. I said nothing. She said nothing.

I let it come.

And then, like the child I once was, I quickly apologized.

She gave me the space. She asked again if I wanted her to remove the needle. I said no.

“Let the blockage release,” she said.

She left me to process. Alone. Just as she always does.

I focused on my breathing as the pulsing slowly faded. I let the tears fall. And for the first time in my life, I felt something I’ve never felt with body care—peace.

I drifted into a floaty, in-between state. Not asleep, but somewhere close.

By the time the session ended, we had spoken no words about my trauma.

And I didn’t need to.

Anyone who has heard my full story will understand why this hurt so much. My mother didn’t protect me. She couldn’t be the mother I needed after, and in the end, I had to cut that tie.

But here’s the thing: even as an adult, I’ve craved a mother. I’ve yearned for that safety, that unconditional love. I have mourned a mother who never existed in the way I needed.

And my body—this body that has carried so much—was still holding onto it.

I don’t need to talk about it anymore. I’m at a stage in my healing where words don’t serve me—they only keep me circling the same stories. What I need is to get it out of my body.

I’ve known since 2018, when I first went public with my story, that this journey wouldn’t be easy. But I didn’t realize it would be this hard. That it would keep coming for me until I truly faced it.

So, I surrender.

I will continue this horrific part of the journey to finally let it go. Even on the days I wake up and don’t want to face it, when I just want to bury it deeper—I can’t. My body won’t let me.

And if I have to go through this, I will make it count.

Why Acupuncture? The Science Behind It

Acupuncture is an ancient practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It works by stimulating specific points on the body to restore the flow of Qi (energy), remove blockages, and promote natural healing.

When trauma gets trapped in the body, it disrupts this flow, creating chronic pain, emotional distress, and even long-term illness. Acupuncture helps:

✔ Release stored trauma – By stimulating the nervous system, acupuncture can unlock deep-seated emotional pain held in the muscles and tissues.
✔ Reduce inflammation and pain – Needles trigger the release of endorphins and natural painkillers, bringing relief.
✔ Balance the nervous system – It activates the parasympathetic system, helping shift from fight-or-flight to a state of calm.
✔ Improve digestion and gut health – Since trauma is often stored in the gut, acupuncture can support digestive healing.
✔ Restore energetic flow – By removing blockages, it allows energy to move freely through the body, leading to emotional and physical release.

This is why I know acupuncture is the next step for my own healing—and why I will be integrating somatic approaches into my practice more than ever.

Ear Seeds: An Interim Solution Between Acupuncture Sessions

For those who can’t access regular acupuncture sessions, or want something to help in-between, ear seeds are a powerful tool.

Ear seeds are tiny acupressure tools placed on specific points of the ear to stimulate the same energy flow as acupuncture—without the needles.

They are particularly effective for:

✨ Calming the nervous system
✨ Easing anxiety and trauma responses
✨ Supporting digestion and gut health
✨ Reducing physical pain

I personally use ear seeds between my acupuncture sessions to maintain the energy flow and continue working on my blockages. If you’re curious about how they work, you can check out the ear seed products I now offer [insert link here].

What’s Next? Facial Reflexology & In-Person Healing

This journey has shown me just how essential body-based healing is, which is why I’m now training in Facial Reflexology. This powerful practice works similarly to acupuncture, stimulating points on the face to promote deep emotional and physical healing.

In the future, I will be offering facial reflexology sessions alongside ear seeds—but only in-person at select events and by invitation.

So watch this space. More is coming.

Join Me on This Journey

If you want to start reconnecting with your own body, my free BeyondTrauma Bodywork sessions are happening in my Facebook group.

Join our tribe.

Let’s heal—fully, wholly, somatically.

Click here to Join our BeyondTrauma Healing Holistically Facebook Group