“You are not broken. You are becoming—slowly, bravely, and in your own time.” - Unknown
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
Trauma is a deeply personal experience, and it can affect each person differently. It happens when we face an overwhelming event or series of events like loss, abuse, accidents, or even ongoing stress that shake our sense of safety and well-being. Trauma isn’t always obvious, and its effects can show up in many unexpected ways. I often help people recognize trauma by looking at moments in their life where things felt different; before and after—a clear shift caused by those tough experiences.
These changes usually impact the way we view ourselves, other people, or the world... and sometimes all of these change because of the experience. Trauma often leads to times of intense emotions like fear, sadness, or anger that feel hard to control. For others, it may show up as numbness, feeling disconnected from yourself or others, or having difficulty trusting people.
Trauma can impact your thoughts, feelings, and even your body causing things like trouble sleeping, feeling on edge, or unexplained physical aches. Sometimes these symptoms can feel overwhelming and other times, they might be barely noticeable. This shifting intensity can make it hard to understand what you are experiencing and can make it difficult to understand why you are having these experiences.
Healing From Trauma: Finding What Works for You
What’s important to remember is that trauma doesn’t define who you are. It’s something that happened to you, not a reflection of your worth or strength. While trauma can leaving deep marks, healing is possible!
Because every person’s experience with trauma is different, healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some, it means shifting how difficult memories feel inside during therapy. For others, it might include learning new coping skills, practicing mindfulness, or trying body-based activities that help reconnect your mind and body.
The important thing is finding what feels right for you, moving at your own pace and in your own way. Healing isn’t about rushing or fitting into a certain mold it’s about discovering the path that helps you feel safer, stronger, and more yourself again.