Trauma and the 5 Bodies

The Nature of Trauma

The word trauma comes from the Greek τραῦμα (traûma), meaning “wound.” In truth, trauma is not the event itself, but the imprint it leaves on the body, mind, and energy field after something overwhelms our capacity to process it. The nervous system records what the conscious mind cannot resolve, creating a lens through which we perceive safety, connection, and possibility.

The Five Bodies

According to Buddhist philosophy, the human experience is made up of five interwoven layers of being—known as the Pancha Kosha, or “five sheaths”:

Annamaya Kosha – The Physical Body

The tangible vessel of muscles, bones, and organs.

Trauma manifests here as chronic pain, fatigue, or illness.

Pranamaya Kosha – The Energy Body

The flow of life force (Qi, Prana) that animates the physical form.

Disruptions appear as exhaustion, shallow breathing, or nervous agitation.

Manomaya Kosha – The Mental Body

The realm of thoughts, emotions, and internal narratives.

Trauma distorts perception, creating cycles of fear, shame, or overthinking.

Vijnanamaya Kosha – The Wisdom Body

Our intuitive awareness and discernment.

When clouded by trauma, we lose touch with self-trust and clarity.

Anandamaya Kosha – The Bliss Body

The soul layer where pure consciousness and peace reside.

Healing here reconnects us to joy, oneness, and purpose.

Each sheath influences the others—healing in one layer ripples through all, like a wave returning calm to still water.

Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Five Bodies

Maslow’s hierarchy mirrors this layered structure.

Physical safety corresponds with the Annamaya Kosha; emotional belonging aligns with the Manomaya Kosha; and self-actualization reflects the awakening of the Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya layers.

When trauma interrupts foundational needs—like safety or connection—higher states such as creativity and purpose can feel out of reach.Understanding which level you are healing allows for compassion and sustainable pacing on the path to wholeness.

Wells’ Model of the Four Bodies

In holistic psychology, the Wells Model outlines four main bodies:

• Physical – anatomy and physiology

• Emotional – the inner feeling landscape

• Mental – thought patterns and beliefs

• Spiritual – soul and energetic connection

Through hypnotherapy and quantum healing, a fifth body is now recognized: the Cellular or DNA Body, where ancestral and genetic memories reside. Here, trauma passes epigenetically through generations, shaping emotional reactivity and health tendencies. Healing at this depth often unfolds through trance, energy work, or conscious reprogramming.

The Science of Ancestral Imprint

Epigenetic research shows that emotional and environmental stress can alter gene expression, transmitting trauma responses across generations. Our DNA carries chemical “tags” that determine which genes activate under conditions of stress or safety. When we heal—through mindfulness, somatic therapy, or energy work—these signals can shift, allowing the body to express new, balanced potential.

In essence, healing ourselves rewrites the message we pass forward.

Full-Spectrum Healing

All healing is ultimately self-healing.

Practitioners and modalities are mirrors and catalysts, but transformation arises within. Full-spectrum healing engages every layer—body, mind, energy, and lineage. We don’t erase the past; we compost it into wisdom.

Through awareness, breath, and compassion, the wound becomes fertile soil for growth—a return to wholeness across every body of being.