Understanding Trauma

What It Is and How It Affects Us

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is often thought of as a single, overwhelming event, but in reality, it is much more complex. It is not what happens to us, but how our nervous system responds to the experience. Trauma occurs when the body’s natural coping mechanisms are overwhelmed, leaving an imprint on the nervous system that affects an individual’s ability to feel safe and function. When the nervous system cannot fully process an event, the energy from that experience can become trapped, keeping the body stuck in a state of fight, flight or freeze. This unresolved activation can disrupt a person’s sense of safety, well-being, and connection, often leading to symptoms like anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or chronic tension just to mention a few.

How Trauma Symptoms Show Up in Everyday Life

Imagine someone who feels an unexplained sense of unease in crowded places. Their body tightens, their breath shortens, and they have an overwhelming urge to escape. They may not consider themselves traumatized, yet their nervous system still reacts as though they are in danger. Upon reflection, they remember getting lost as a child in a busy shopping mall, terrified and unable to find their parents. Though seemingly minor, the nervous system held onto that panic, causing them to feel unsafe in public spaces even decades later.

Similarly, someone who experienced a near-drowning incident as a child may avoid swimming without fully understanding why. Even though they consciously know they are safe in the water, their body still holds the memory of helplessness, triggering an instinctual fear response.

In the workplace, someone may feel a rush of panic when asked to speak in front of the team. Their hands sweat, their heart races, and their voice feels caught in their throat. Despite having a lot of experience, they can’t explain why they react this way. In therapy, they might recall a memory from childhood when a parent would often berate them for small mistakes in front of others. The sense of shame and fear of being judged might get stored in the body, and now, as an adult, they react in similar ways when placed in the spotlight.

The Hidden Links Between Past and Present

Very often, people don’t make the connection between past events and present reactions because not everything is readily available to our conscious mind. We can’t remember every moment of our lives in detail, so when we react or behave in a certain way years or even decades later, it may seem random.

However, beneath the surface, everything is linked. The body and mind remember—especially moments of high activation or perceived danger. Evolution has wired us this way to keep us safe. When something was dangerous in the past, our system learns: Don’t do that again. These imprints remain more accessible to us because survival depends on recognizing and avoiding potential threats.

Even if we’re not consciously aware of the original experience, our reactions today are often shaped by it. This is why our responses sometimes feel automatic or out of place—they are deeply rooted in our nervous system’s effort to protect us.

The Role the Body Plays in Healing Trauma

Since trauma is deeply physical as well as psychological, healing involves working with the body to release trapped energy and restore balance. Somatic approaches, such as Somatic Experiencing®, developed by Peter Levine, help the nervous system return to regulation, supporting individuals in reclaiming a sense of safety, connection, and resilience—no matter how long ago the event occurred.

Peter Levine emphasizes that trauma is a physiological response, not just a psychological one, and that humans often suppress survival energy rather than releasing it naturally as animals do. His approach focuses on helping individuals safely release this stored survival energy, allowing their nervous systems to return to balance.

Explore Healing Through Somatic Experiencing®

If you’ve ever wondered about the connection between your body and past experiences or are simply curious about a different approach, I offer Somatic Experiencing® as a gentle way to explore that. You don’t need to have all the answers—just a willingness to notice what arises. If this resonates with you, I invite you to experience it for yourself. Feel free to reach out and book a session to try it out.