Chronic pain isn’t just a matter of aching muscles or lingering injuries—it can also be a silent echo of unprocessed emotions. When the “energy in motion” becomes trapped within the body, it can accumulate without a chance to be released. This buildup may manifest as chronic pain, serving as the body’s way of signaling that something unresolved needs attention.
Over time, this trapped energy can become deeply embedded in our system, straining the body’s capacity to contain it. This is what happens with ACEs. Specifically, childhood neglect and abuse—whether physical or sexual—are associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia in adulthood, with physical abuse more strongly related.
Furthermore, a history of physical abuse during childhood has been linked to a higher risk of neck and back pain in adulthood. This seems to be because childhood adversity can significantly alter stress reactivity and lead to immunological dysregulation, which is associated with increased inflammation and may result in widespread pain. Studies have shown that severe inflammation can persist in individuals with multiple ACEs, even up to 30 years later.
These early experiences, while often preverbal, are stored in the brain as feeling memories, triggering emotions that become trapped in the body, Wilkins added. The period before age 6 is particularly critical for neuroendocrine development, making childhood a sensitive time for emotional and physiological growth. Prolonged exposure t.