Your trauma response is valid

There is a lot of stigma that exists around the concept of trauma. A trauma response is your body’s way of trying to keep you safe when there is perceived danger. This can show up in a number of ways, including outbursts of emotion, withdrawing or shutting down, or engaging in unsafe or maladaptive behaviors. These responses can occur without feeling connected to your body, leading to frustration with ourselves for having a reaction we don’t fully understand.

Trauma responses are especially complicated because we can become activated by situations that appear to be completely unrelated to our original painful experience due to the resurgence of similar sensations within our bodies. For instance, if you experienced tightness in your chest during a traumatizing event, tightness in your chest will signal your brain to be ready to protect yourself from danger.