Trauma fundamentally reorganizes the brain and body's threat detection systems, requiring treatment approaches that address both neurobiological changes and somatic experiences rather than just cognitive understanding.

The vast majority of common neck, shoulder, and back pain syndromes are caused by Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), a psychophysiological process in which repressed emotions—primarily anxiety and anger—trigger the autonomic nervous system to reduce blood flow to muscles, nerves, and tendons; the only effective treatment is education that allows patients to recognize and dismiss the pain's psychological function as a distraction from those emotions.