Healing Trauma Through EMDR and Chiropractic Care: A Holistic Nervous System Approach
This blog is adapted from one of our recent podcast episodes. You can take a listen at the button above.
If you’ve experienced chronic stress or trauma, chances are your nervous system is working overtime. Many trauma survivors live in a constant state of “fight or flight” - a sympathetic nervous system response that impacts emotional and physical health. Fortunately, healing is possible when we take a whole-body approach.
Two powerful, research-supported tools that help restore balance are EMDR therapy and chiropractic care. When used together, these methods not only reduce trauma symptoms but also help the nervous system reset and recover.
What Happens to the Nervous System After Trauma?
Trauma - especially complex or long-term trauma - alters how the nervous system functions. Your body may become hypervigilant, your muscles may stay tense, and your brain might interpret neutral situations as threats. This is what it means to be in a sympathetic-dominant state.
Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Nervous System
Sympathetic (Fight or Flight): Activated during perceived danger. It’s your body’s emergency mode.
Parasympathetic (Rest and Digest): This system helps calm the body and regulate basic functions like digestion and sleep.
People with trauma often get stuck in survival mode. Over time, this chronic stress can lead to anxiety, insomnia, gut issues, chronic pain, and emotional dysregulation.
What Is EMDR Therapy and How Does It Help?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-focused therapy that helps reprocess distressing memories so they no longer trigger the body’s emergency response. It’s a scientifically validated method for reducing the emotional intensity of traumatic memories.
Think of EMDR like stopping a demolition crew from tearing down a house that shouldn’t be destroyed. It halts the ongoing damage, allowing healing to begin.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy:
Reduces emotional reactivity
Improves emotional regulation
Desensitizes trauma triggers
Calms the overactive nervous system
However, while EMDR therapy stops the internal alarms, it doesn’t rebuild what’s already been structurally impacted by long-term trauma, especially when the body itself is holding on to tension.
Why Chiropractic Care Supports Trauma Recovery
Chiropractic care for trauma survivors focuses on relieving physical tension and improving spinal alignment, especially around the C1 and C2 vertebrae that impact the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve plays a critical role in nervous system regulation. When this area is misaligned or under chronic stress, it can prevent the body from fully accessing the parasympathetic state (rest and digest). This keeps people stuck in stress mode, even when there’s no real danger.
Chiropractic care can:
Relieve muscle tension from trauma
Improve vagus nerve function
Support emotional regulation
Reduce physical symptoms of stress
Enhance the effectiveness of EMDR therapy
The Power of a Holistic Treatment Plan
For individuals with complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or longstanding trauma, EMDR alone may not be enough. A truly holistic trauma treatment plan may include:
EMDR therapy to reduce emotional trauma responses
Chiropractic care to relieve nervous system dysregulation
Somatic therapies or body-based approaches
CBT or talk therapy for skills and insights
Lifestyle changes including nutrition, movement, and rest
The combination of mental health therapy and physical care addresses both emotional pain and somatic symptoms, leading to deeper and more lasting healing.
Final Thoughts
Trauma changes the body and brain, but with the right tools, healing is absolutely possible. EMDR can stop the ongoing internal distress, while chiropractic care can help repair the physical effects of trauma on the nervous system.
If trauma has taken a toll on your nervous system, you don’t have to navigate healing alone. Seen Therapy Services offers EMDR therapy designed to help you feel safe, supported, and seen. Reach out today to learn more about working with a therapist who understands the full picture.
