Trauma and PTSD

“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”

— Peter Levine

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Trauma can affect us long after an overwhelming experience has ended. You may be struggling with anxiety, feeling constantly on edge, difficulty trusting others, emotional overwhelm, or feeling disconnected from yourself. You may also notice that certain experiences, relationships, or situations trigger reactions that feel difficult to understand or control.

Trauma does not always come from one single event. It can develop through experiences such as accidents, violence, abuse, neglect, medical experiences, loss, or other overwhelming events. Trauma can also develop through repeated experiences over time, including chronic stress, relational wounds, emotional neglect, or growing up in environments where safety, connection, or emotional support were inconsistent.

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How trauma can affect you

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Trauma can influence the way we think, feel, relate to others, and experience ourselves. You may notice:

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• Anxiety, hypervigilance, or feeling constantly on edge

• Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe

• Emotional overwhelm or emotional numbness

• Intrusive memories, distressing thoughts, or unwanted reminders

• Avoiding people, places, conversations, or situations that feel triggering

• Shame, self-criticism, or feelings of inadequacy

• Difficulty trusting others or maintaining relationships

• People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, digestive difficulties, or fatigue

• Feeling disconnected from yourself, your emotions, or your body

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You may find yourself wondering, “What is wrong with me?” A trauma-informed approach invites a different question: “What happened to me, and how did I learn to adapt?”

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Understanding trauma and the nervous system

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When we experience something overwhelming, our bodies can mobilize for survival through responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown. These responses are natural protective mechanisms designed to help us respond to threat.

Sometimes, however, the effects of an experience continue long after the danger has passed. You may find that your nervous system remains on high alert, becomes easily overwhelmed, or shifts toward numbness or disconnection.

Understanding these responses can help you develop greater compassion for yourself and make sense of patterns that may once have felt confusing.

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How trauma therapy can help

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Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore how past experiences may continue to affect your present-day life.

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Together, we may work to:

• Develop greater awareness of your emotional and nervous-system responses

• Build skills for emotional regulation and managing overwhelm

• Strengthen your sense of safety, stability, and connection

• Explore patterns in relationships, boundaries, and self-esteem

• Process difficult experiences at a pace that feels manageable

• Develop greater self-compassion and understanding

• Reconnect with parts of yourself that may have become disconnected or hidden in response to difficult experiences

 

My approach to trauma therapy is trauma-informed, relational, and attentive to both the mind and body. We can work collaboratively to understand what you have experienced while ensuring that therapy moves at a pace that feels appropriate for you.

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Healing doesn't mean forgetting

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Healing from trauma is not about erasing what happened or pretending that it did not affect you. It can involve developing a different relationship with your experiences so that the past has less power over how you experience yourself, your relationships, and your present life.

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If you're looking for trauma or PTSD therapy in Mississauga or online across Ontario, I would be happy to connect.