The Healing Winds of Vata by Vicki Peterson Vata is the Sanskrit term for the fundamental biological principle of movement. Extreme past experiences can twist these energies out of balance. The resultant imbalances are felt as spikes in the radial pulse under the Vata or index finger. The location of the spikes indicates which subdoshas of Vata need attention. Prana is the vital breath energy that governs the mind and breath.
Abuse can literally scare the breath out of survivors.
This was the first symptom I identified from my own childhood sexual abuse. When my son turned 16 I began feeling anxious in the shower. I learned that I had been raped by my dad in the shower when I was 16 and had repressed it completely. When my son reached that age, fear was triggered. Pranayama breathing techniques can also be very helpful for Prana imbalances, including chronic fatigue.