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What is Trauma?

Trauma is not an event, but an extreme experience within the central nervous system in response to the past coming into the present. Sometimes these experiences are categorized into such as fight, flight, freeze, or faun… depersonalization or derealization… relational insecurities… Whether this feels like a numbing disconnection or a sharp flame dancing through your body, trauma can seize control, steering our thoughts and actions. In an effort to protect us, our nervous system may go into overdrive, prioritizing self-preservation over clear judgment.

What does trauma look like?

At its essence, trauma is anxiety born from past experiences that refuse to stay in the past. These are the memories of times when you felt powerless, caught in survival mode, or entangled in difficult relationships that now feel stained with shame. For many, revisiting these moments with empathy and self-compassion can be challenging, especially when self-blame has become a familiar refrain.

Trauma affects both the body and the mind. Common symptoms of trauma include:

  • Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares
  • Hypervigilance or being easily startled
  • Emotional numbness or detachment
  • Anxiety, panic attacks, or intense fear
  • Irritability, anger, or mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
  • Avoidance of places, people, or activities related to the trauma
  • Physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or digestive issues
  • Changes in sleep patterns, including insomnia
  • Feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
  • Feeling hopeless or having a negative outlook on life
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Sounding familiar? Book a free consultation with a trauma-informed therapist and start feeling better today.

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Trauma triggers and neurodiversity

For those who are neurodivergent, the experience of trauma can be even more complex. Triggers—those catalysts that pull the past into the present—are often tied to our senses. A certain smell, a specific sound, or even a fleeting thought can set off a chain reaction, bringing buried pain rushing back. In the neurodivergent brain, these triggers can sometimes ignite a cascade of memories, with one thought leaping to the next at lightning speed.

Picture this: someone asks you for the time, so you glance at the clock. The clock’s square shape reminds you of the one at your grandmother’s house. Ah, remember her cookies? The cinnamon ones were your favorite. Just the other day, you learned that cinnamon is an ingredient in horchata, which you drank on your first date with your ex—and suddenly, the pain is back, as fresh as ever.

But there is hope. Understanding your triggers is the first step towards managing them and preventing them from overwhelming you. Having a trauma-informed therapist guide you to a conversational space fully of validation and trust before asking questions that ignite self-awareness of your triggers will minimize shame, rumination, and avoidance that often accompany trauma.

It is possible to reclaim control, allowing your past to inform, rather than dominate, your present. Talk to us below to get started.

What’s the next step?

We’re excited and honoured to talk with you and hear your story. Please see more information on the rates and policies page.

Book now if you’re ready.

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Contact us below for any questions, or to book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss what therapy might look like between us. We’re available to meet in person in downtown Vancouver, or through online tele-therapy:

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