How Past Emotional Trauma Can Affect Muscle Function

Did you know that the body, particularly our muscles, can endure past emotional trauma?

When I see clients at my Ottawa Osteopathic practice, I often find that past emotional trauma cause many physical problems.

Past emotional trauma cause muscles to malfunction, and each muscle is related to specific emotions.

Today I will discuss four muscles and how past emotional trauma affect their function.

Even better, I will give you tips on working on that past emotional trauma yourself.

Let’s dive in, starting with your Teres Minor Muscle.

The Teres Minor Muscle

Your Teres Minor muscles are part of your rotator cuff that supports your shoulder joint.

The Teres Minor muscles can become dysfunctional when we go into a flight, fright and freeze response.

The old negative emotions we associate with the Teres Minor muscles include despair, despondence, heaviness, hopelessness, solitude and exhaustion.

Physical problems we associate with dysfunctional Teres Minor muscles include neck and shoulder discomfort and pain.

To help release emotions, find time to relax. Try meditating, having a hot bath, spending time in nature, or anything that will help your mind relax.

The Quadriceps

Your Quadriceps are made up of four muscles in your thigh and help to support your knee joint.

The Quadricep muscles can become dysfunctional when we feel pulled in multiple directions.

The old negative emotions we associate with the Quadriceps include shock, sadness, unappreciated, nervousness, discouragement and indecisiveness.

Physical problems we associate with dysfunctional Quadricep muscles include knee joint, hamstring, and calf issues.

A helpful tip to help release emotions is to write a list of things you need to accomplish.

Break down the list into things you need to do and those you would like to do.

Keep reviewing the list, monitoring what you need to do and what direction you want to go in life.

The Tensor Fascia Latae

Your Tenor Fascia Latae (TFL) muscles help support the hip joint.

The TFL muscles can become dysfunctional when we are too controlling or holding on too tight.

The old negative emotions we associate with the TFL muscles are guilt, grief, regret, depression, apathy, sadness, toxic shame and powerlessness.

Physical problems we associate with dysfunctional TFL muscles are hip and lower back pain.

A help tip to help the TFL muscles is to think about things you are holding on to and imagine releasing them.

The sooner you realize you cannot control everything, the easier life will become.

The Psoas

The Psoas muscles are your “core muscles” that help support your lower back, hips and knees.

The Psoas muscles can become dysfunctional when we fear being alone or feel shame.

The old negative emotions we associate with the Psoas muscle include anxiety, phobias, superstition, paranoia, cautiousness, carelessness and recklessness.

Physical problems we associate with a dysfunctional Psoas muscle include lower back, hip and knee issues.

To help the Psoas muscle’s emotions try meditation.

Now It’s Your Turn

Do you have physical issues that might be related to past emotional trauma?

If you do, then let me know in the comments below.