Our bodies hold on to experiences, particularly those that are traumatic. Whether in childhood or later in life, these events aren’t just fleeting moments of distress — they can leave a lasting imprint on our physical and mental well-being. These traumatic experiences aren’t solely psychological; they also manifest on a biochemical level, influencing our overall health.
Trauma Triggers Our Survival Mode, But It’s Hard to Turn Off
When we experience trauma, our bodies respond in a way designed for survival. This response involves a cascade of biochemical reactions that throw your body into survival mode. When this happens, a protein called Galectin-3 is triggered. Keep in mind, this is all happening on a biochemical level.
Galectin-3 is an inflammatory protein vital for survival during times of shock, trauma, illness, and life-or-death situations. Once activated, Galectin-3 goes to the problem areas in your body and stimulates repair via an inflammatory response. This is an example of a healthy inflammatory reaction.
Traumatic events are not just something happening in our heads. They affect the body on three distinct levels: behavioral, emotional/somatic, and biochemical. Galectin-3 is a key “survival protein” that is part of the biochemical system. And once the biochemical system turns on, it doesn’t turn off as easily. And so, as long as the body is in a trauma response, it will keep generating a biochemical response that includes producing Galectin-3. This leads to what I call the “Survival Paradox” — the very things that help us survive can, over time, contribute to our suffering.
There are more than 10,000 published papers on Galectin-3 and how, when elevated, it contributes to health-damaging processes. Understanding Galectin-3 is crucial because when it is overactive, it leads to chronic, out-of-control inflammation and fibrosis. Galectin 3 tends to increase as we age, which is another reason to pay attention to this problematic protein. (Interestingly, research shows that centenarians have lower levels of Galectin-3 than some people in their 70s and 80s).
Our bodies are designed to cope with stress, but when the stress is chronic or overwhelming, it can disrupt our natural equilibrium. Our sympathetic system comes into play immediately within a fraction of a second — it either goes into a fighting mode or a “fight, flight, or freeze” mode. The fight of the sympathetic system manifests as inflammation at the biochemical level. The flight and freeze modes, on a biochemical level, lead to isolation, fibrosis, biofilms, and organ dysfunction, all of which are associated with neuroinflammatory diseases, memory issues, chronic degenerative diseases, and so many other issues.
The Three Levels of Trauma Response
Biochemical Level:
Trauma induces measurable changes in our biology, including inflammation and the activation of survival proteins like Galectin 3 (as mentioned above). This third level is often overlooked but is critical in understanding how trauma shapes our health.
Behavioral Level:
These are the actions and reactions we exhibit in response to triggers.
Emotional/Somatic Level:
Our emotions manifest as sensations in our bodies, impacting our emotional and physical responses.
Trauma and Chronic Diseases
This knowledge has immense implications for understanding and addressing chronic diseases. Adverse childhood experiences and early traumas can manifest as chronic conditions like cancer, metabolic disorders, and heart disease in adulthood. Trauma creates a habit that, while helping us survive in the moment, can cause damage in our bodies down the road. The body always wants to survive, and it will always do the best it can to achieve this.
Addressing trauma is not just about talking through past events — it’s about understanding and addressing the biochemical processes that perpetuate this survival response. We have to heal our trauma for us to heal our diseases.
Practical Steps Toward Healing
So, what can we do? The good news is that healing is possible. It requires a holistic approach that includes:
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices such as meditation can help us reconnect with our bodies and emotions, allowing us to shed past traumas.
- Somatic Work: Somatic therapies, such as breathwork, grounding, meditation, and massage, focus on the body’s sensations, helping us release stored trauma.
- Nutritional Support: In my practice, I’ve seen the benefits of Modified Citrus Pectin, which acts as a natural Galectin-3 blocker. Of course, consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
The most important thing is that you allow space for another thing to surface. Then, as you work through that, it allows space for another thing to surface, and so forth. This is when we can start to heal. There is also something to be said of having trauma be part of your healing. You cannot heal without dealing with trauma.
The path to healing is not linear. It’s a process of self-discovery, acceptance, and transformation. By integrating these practices, you can reverse the harmful processes and finally heal.
The Power of Self-Compassion
Remember, be kind to yourself throughout this journey. We often blame ourselves for our health struggles, but it’s important to recognize that we did the best we could with the resources we had. The goal is to acknowledge the past and move forward with compassion and understanding.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It’s an honor to share this knowledge with you, and I hope it inspires you to take proactive steps toward healing and well-being. Please consider resourcing yourself with learning tools and practitioners to dive into deeper learning.
Get 1:1 Guidance With Me at My Open Heart Medicine Meditation and Healing Retreat in Hawaii (September 10–13, 2025)
Want to know how to dissolve blockages standing in your way of infinite health and joy? Learn how you can let go of the grip of the past and experience true freedom from traumatic events — physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally — at my upcoming Open Heart Medicine Meditation and Healing Retreat in Hawaii. Click here for all the details.
