Muscle Armoring | healingcomplextrauma

Muscle 'Armoring'

I read in Pete Walkers book on complex trauma and he describes constant muscle tightness, which I have suffered all my life, as ‘armoring’. I have not heard it described this way by anyone else and it makes perfect sense.

This could also be related to trauma-induced Fibromyalgia Syndrome, which approx 50% diagnosed, are child abuse survivors.

My massage therapist once described by body as being continually ‘braced for something’, which she was correct in describing, and is a symptom of my hypervigilant state, that always assumes subconsciously, that I need to be prepared for trauma. In the case of my body, I always have my ‘armor on’.

It is no doubt why I have always required alcohol to actually try to relax.

I know my muscles are continually tense and this ongoing wear and tear, causes considerable pain, that worsens in cold weather.

So, having many of the symptoms - it is what I personally consider to be a form of complex trauma induced fibromyalgia. I think many fibro sufferers who have had prolonged child abuse or prolonged domestic violence, will relate to this.

This constant muscle tightness, is not something chosen by the sufferer, it is a subconscious need due to prolonged trauma abuse, for the body to be ready for abuse, regardless of any actual, or real threat of abuse being present.

I have to make myself relax, and at any given time that I stop and think about it, I will feel all the muscles in my neck and shoulders tensed and have to tell myself to relax. And this is constant and I suffer pain continually.

Regular guided muscle relaxation exercises help, to manage this. You can find a video of this HERE

My body protects itself in this way, the same subconscious way, we all breathe.

I know from feedback on my Facebook page, Blog and Twitter, many prolonged abuse survivors relate to this.