The impact of trauma can show up in our struggles to regulate thoughts, emotions, and automatic responses from the nervous system.

In the aftermath of overwhelming events, we can become hypersensitive emotionally. We may become so focused on the needs of others that we neglect our own needs. We may have little tolerance for things that upset us, and we often try to control our environment for a semblance of security, safety, or normalcy. We can also avoid certain activities and interactions with others to avoid unmanageable thoughts and feelings.

Hypervigilance to danger is another (of many) neurological responses that have roots in trauma. When we are hypervigilant we remain on high alert for someone or something to hurt us. Hypervigilance may show up as intense worry and anxiety about what others may be thinking, fear of bad outcomes, or constant wariness to dangers from people, accidents or the environment.

Trauma survivors often don’t know how to find a sense of belonging with people who might seem safe. We struggle to live with emotions that are either too intense (hyperarousal) or they feel dead and numb inside (hypoarousal).

These are just some of the many ways trauma may impact us throughout our lifetime.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) makes the process of therapy as safe, productive and beneficial to you as possible.