John Glanvill • Anxiety Specialist & Researcher • Anxiety • OCD • Bipolar • ADHD • Energy • Online Treatment Course • Sensible Spirituality

Releasing trapped trauma or stuck energy from your body

This 33-minute video explores the devastating effects of trapped energy stored in our bodies from past traumatic or fearful experiences.

We couple this knowledge with ERP exposure therapy so we can find, then release this trapped trauma/energy and become more comfortable allowing it to pass through us. 

Goal of video

In this video, we begin to explore the effects of trapped energy stored in your body from past traumatic or fearful experiences. We couple this knowledge with exposure therapy (ERP) so we can release trapped energy and become more comfortable allowing anxiety to move through us rather than us pushing it down or avoiding situations that scare us.

Beginning to understand how energy works and the huge role it plays in our health is key to your recovery.

It took me many years (even as an engineer) to really see this because, in the beginning, my mind kept saying, “don’t be silly” energy work is all woo-woo and things like that.

However, I now know how key it is to our well-being and will be teaching you much more about this in further videos.

Key messages

Keep an open mind and do the work, remember, try everything before you dismiss it – and certainly dont believe your anxious or OCD mind as they (know nothing) and keep you stuck with logic and reason on a subject that is non-linear, biological and based in physics.

Exposure and response therapy ERP – means learning to sit with the discomfort of anxiety until that discomfort becomes tolerable – it is the best way to retrain the body and mind back into calmness.

We are both atomic creatures (made of atoms) as well as cellular creatures which are clumps of atoms which have intelligence and life.

Metaphorically, we have an emotional battery (cellular)  that needs recharging (video 4) – and we have an atomic battery that needs discharging.

Don’t hold emotions down, as they become trapped in the atomic energy battery (potential energy) – they need to be released as kinetic energy via the agitation of your matter (which feels like anxiety).

So, we need to see anxiety as either a trigger invoking our fight, flight or freeze response OR trapped potential energy being released as kinetic energy escaping from our atoms – which is a good thing!

Stuck energy may cause pain, inflammation and disease (dis-ease).

Holistic Concepts Behind Trapped Trauma, Stuck Energy, and the Impact of Release

Trauma, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, can leave lasting imprints not only on the mind but also on the body. The idea that trauma becomes “trapped” in the body has roots in both ancient healing practices and modern neuroscience. When unresolved trauma lingers, it can manifest as stuck energy, causing physical discomfort, emotional turmoil, and behavioural patterns that limit personal growth. Releasing this energy is a transformative process that can lead to profound healing, restoring balance and vitality to the body and mind.

Understanding Trapped Trauma

Trauma is not just a mental experience; it involves the entire nervous system. When a person experiences a traumatic event, the body responds with its survival mechanisms—fight, flight, or freeze. These responses prepare the body to deal with immediate danger by releasing stress hormones, increasing heart rate, and activating muscle tension. While these responses are adaptive in the moment, they can leave residual effects if the trauma is not processed or resolved.

When the body and mind do not return to a state of equilibrium after the event, the trauma can become “trapped.” This occurs because the nervous system remains in a heightened state of alertness or shutdown, even when the threat has passed. The unprocessed energy from the trauma lingers, stored in the body’s tissues and neural pathways. This phenomenon is often referred to as somatic memory, where the body holds onto the physical and emotional imprint of the traumatic experience.

The Impact of Stuck Energy in the Body

Stuck trauma energy can manifest in various ways, depending on the individual. Physically, it might present as chronic pain, tension, fatigue, or digestive issues. Emotionally, it can lead to anxiety, depression, or feelings of being “on edge.” Behaviorally, it might show up as avoidance, hypervigilance, or difficulty forming healthy relationships.

From a holistic perspective, this energy blockage disrupts the natural flow of life force energy, often referred to as “chi” in Eastern traditions or “prana” in yoga. These disruptions can interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself and maintain balance, leading to a cycle of emotional and physical stress.

Releasing Trapped Trauma and Energy

Releasing trapped trauma is about helping the body and mind return to a state of safety and balance. This process often involves creating opportunities for the nervous system to complete the unfinished survival responses, allowing the energy to move and release.

Somatic Practices

Somatic practices focus on connecting with the body and its sensations to release trapped energy. Techniques like somatic experiencing, body scanning, or trauma-informed yoga encourage individuals to tune into physical sensations associated with trauma and gently release them. By reconnecting with the body, these practices help discharge the stuck energy and reset the nervous system.

Breathwork and Movement

Breathwork is a powerful tool for releasing trauma. Deep, intentional breathing can help regulate the nervous system, reduce tension, and release suppressed emotions. Similarly, movement-based practices like dance, tai chi, or shaking exercises can help the body discharge pent-up energy in a natural and unforced way.

Emotional Release and Expression

Releasing trapped trauma often involves processing suppressed emotions. Expressive therapies such as art, journaling, or talking with a trusted therapist can help individuals confront and process their feelings. Crying, yelling, or laughing are also natural ways the body releases emotional energy.

Energy Healing Modalities

Energy-based therapies like Reiki, acupuncture, and sound healing aim to restore the body’s energetic balance. These modalities work on the principle that blocked energy can be shifted and harmonized, allowing the body to heal on a deeper level.

What Happens When You Release Trauma

Releasing trauma from the body and mind can bring profound relief and transformation. Physically, individuals often experience reduced tension, pain relief, and increased vitality. Emotionally, the release can lead to greater peace, a sense of freedom, and the ability to respond to life with less reactivity.

One of the most significant effects is the restoration of the nervous system’s ability to regulate itself. This allows individuals to feel a greater sense of safety and calm in their daily lives. The constant “fight or flight” or “freeze” state that, once dominated, begins to subside, making room for clarity, creativity, and joy.

Releasing trauma also helps break unhelpful patterns formed as a result of the trauma. Behavioural shifts often include improved relationships, healthier boundaries, and the courage to pursue meaningful goals. For many, the process fosters a deeper connection to themselves, others, and the world around them.

Conclusion

Trapped trauma and stuck energy in the body can weigh heavily on physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Understanding that trauma resides not just in the mind but in the body highlights the importance of holistic approaches to healing. Through practices like somatic work, breathwork, emotional expression, and energy healing, individuals can release the energy of past trauma, reclaim their sense of balance, and rediscover their natural state of vitality and resilience. The journey to healing is deeply personal but profoundly rewarding, offering a renewed sense of freedom and inner peace.

Finding and releasing these traumas is a huge part of my process, and I share what happened to me as I learned how to do this.