When Trauma Wrecks the Brain and Distorts Our Identity in Christ

Trauma doesn’t just happen to us - it changes us. It rewires our brain, reshapes our body, and distorts how we see ourselves and God. Long after the moment of trauma is over, its effects linger - not just in our nervous system, but in our sense of identity. Science is catching up to what the Word has long declared: we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but trauma can disrupt the blueprint.

Let us explore how trauma impacts the brain and body (our physical and somatic DNA), and how it also warps our spiritual DNA - our God-given identity. The good news is that in Christ, what’s been damaged can be restored, and the true blueprint of who we are can be reawakened.

1. Trauma Rewires the Brain and the Body

Trauma is not just a memory; it’s a whole-body experience. When we face overwhelming events, our brain’s survival mechanisms kick in. The amygdala (our fear centre) becomes hyperactive, while the prefrontal cortex (our rational, decision-making centre) goes offline. The hippocampus (which helps us distinguish between past and present) shrinks. This is why trauma survivors may overreact to minor triggers or feel stuck in the past.

Somatically, trauma can imprint on the body. Muscles hold tension, breathing patterns change, and the nervous system gets stuck in states of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Even our gut health and immune system can suffer. Trauma literally reshapes how we live in our skin.

This is not just neurological, it’s cellular. Research into epigenetics shows trauma can alter the expression of our genes. It leaves a mark on the biological blueprint of our being.

2. Trauma Distorts Our Spiritual Identity

Just as trauma distorts our neural pathways, it also distorts our spiritual perception. Many trauma survivors unconsciously internalise lies: I am unsafe, I am unworthy, I am unlovable, I am alone. These messages conflict with the truth of our identity in Christ: I am secure, I am chosen, I am beloved, I am never forsaken.

This distortion can even affect how we relate to God. If someone was abused by an authority figure, they may unconsciously associate God with danger or control. If they grew up neglected, they may struggle to believe God is attentive. Our trauma history can hijack our theology.

In essence, trauma can mask the spiritual DNA we inherited through salvation. Just as physical trauma disrupts the body’s functioning, spiritual trauma (or the lingering wounds of unhealed pain) can obscure our access to the truth of who we are in Christ.

3. Trauma and the Blueprint of God in Us

When God created humanity, He breathed His image - His likeness - into our very being. Psalm 139 says we are “knit together” by God, intricately designed. Ephesians 2:10 calls us God’s workmanship, His “poiēma” - a divine poem encoded with purpose.

Spiritually speaking, we have a blueprint, a spiritual DNA, that aligns us with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation. But trauma can scramble that signal. It’s like a virus in the operating system, corrupting the code, causing us to live as if we’re still bound to our former, broken identity.

But here’s the hope: Redemption is not just about saving our souls; it’s about restoring our wholeness.

4. Christ Rewrites the Script and Heals the Body

Jesus doesn’t just save us, He reintegrates us.

The cross didn’t just deal with sin; it dealt with shame, pain, and fragmentation. Isaiah 53:5 says, “by His wounds we are healed.” That healing reaches into every system - body, soul, and spirit.

Romans 12:2 invites us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The Greek word for “mind” (nous) speaks to our inner world, our thoughts, feelings, and moral reasoning. This renewal is a reversal of trauma’s distortion. It’s the reactivation of the divine blueprint.

God also meets us somatically. Many trauma survivors encounter healing not just through the Word and prayer, but through embodied practices: breathwork, stillness, worship, dance, and even therapeutic touch. These practices can help rewire the nervous system while inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit into the body.

5. Reclaiming Our Spiritual DNA

The Holy Spirit works as the great Counsellor and Rebuilder. He gently restores what trauma fragmented. He helps us exchange the old narratives for new truth:

• From “I am not enough” to “I am complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10).

• From “I am defective” to “I am wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

• From “I am forgotten” to “I am engraved on His hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

• From “I am beyond repair” to “I am being made new” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

  
  

Restoring our identity in Christ isn’t about pretending the trauma didn’t happen. It’s about allowing Jesus to speak truth into those wounded places and trusting that His Word has more authority than our pain.

Conclusion: From Ruin to Restoration

Trauma wrecks, but Christ rebuilds.

Yes, trauma changes the brain. It marks the body. It distorts the soul’s compass. But Jesus came to redeem the whole person. His healing is not just spiritual; it’s integrated. As we invite Him into our pain, He begins to rewire our brains, regulate our nervous systems, and restore the truth of who we really are.

You are more than your trauma. You are more than your past. You are made in the image of God, and your spiritual DNA carries His signature. That identity is not lost; it is just waiting to be remembered.

Bless you in the mighty name of Yeshua!

To facilitate your healing journey, visit our store to purchase my trauma manual, "Take Up Your Space," and its accompanying workbook. The manual is available as a complete volume containing Parts 1-3 or separately as individual Parts 1 to 3. It is offered in both ebook and print formats. It is advisable to work through each part, as it builds upon the previous layers to guide you towards healing.