Hypervigilance is often associated with trauma responses. It shows up in those moments when the nervous system kicks into high alert, scanning your surroundings for danger, even when none is immediately present. While we typically think of this in the context of personal safety, hypervigilance can also quietly infiltrate the workplace, affecting performance, relationships, and …
In the journey of parenting, we bring our whole selves—our hopes, values, and sometimes, our wounds. One of the less visible but deeply influential patterns that can shape our parenting is hypervigilance. It often appears quietly, but it can significantly impact both how we respond to our children and how they learn to feel safe …
Friendship is often felt as a safe harbor, a place where we can rest, be seen, and feel understood. But for many of us who carry histories of trauma, abuse, or betrayal, even the safest shores can feel unpredictable. Hypervigilance, a typical trauma response, can shape how we approach relationships, leaving us caught between craving …
In a world that often demands more than we can comfortably give, the body can shift into a state of hypervigilance—a constant sense of alertness and readiness to react. This is a survival response, rooted in our nervous system, but when it becomes chronic, it can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and difficult to shift out of. …
Have you ever felt stuck in high alert mode, like your mind won’t stop scanning for what might go wrong? Maybe you feel the tension in your shoulders, your jaw, your gut — and even in moments that should feel safe, your body is ready for something bad to happen. That’s hypervigilance. And it can …
Understanding PTSD and Trauma in Relationships Loving someone who has experienced a traumatic event—whether it was military combat, sexual assault, domestic violence, or a natural disaster—requires patience, empathy, and a deep understanding of how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect their daily life. PTSD is more than just painful memories; it can reshape how a …
Parenting is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles in life. It can bring deep connection, joy, and love—but for many, it also comes with fear, self-doubt, and old wounds from childhood. If you grew up in a home with intergenerational trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), or emotionally unavailable caregivers, you might struggle with …
Trauma leaves deep imprints on how we see ourselves, relate to others, and navigate the world. If your early childhood experiences lacked emotional support, guidance, or stability, you might still feel the effects today in the form of self-doubt, emotional dysregulation, or difficulty building healthy relationships. But healing is possible. Re-parenting your inner child allows …
Breathing is something we do without thinking, every moment of our lives. It’s the first thing we do when we enter the world and the last thing we do before we leave. But beyond keeping us alive, our breath is also one of the most powerful tools for healing—especially for those recovering from trauma. If …
Trauma doesn’t just stay in the past—it can shape how you feel in the present and how you see your future. If you’ve been through something painful or overwhelming, you may still feel the weight of it, even if the event happened years ago. Maybe it lingers as exhaustion, waves of sadness, or a sense …
In our fast-paced, mind-centered world, it’s easy to think of our bodies as simply the vessels that carry us through life. But they do much more than that—they hold onto our experiences, both joyful and painful. When we go through trauma, it doesn’t just affect our thoughts and emotions. It can leave lasting imprints on …
Trauma leaves a lasting imprint on both the mind and body, often in ways we don’t fully understand. One of the most common responses to trauma is dissociation—a sense of disconnect from reality, emotions, or even from your own body. For many trauma survivors, dissociation can feel like zoning out, watching life from a distance …
Trauma, whether from a single life-altering event or prolonged distress, leaves an imprint on both the body and mind. Often, people downplay their experiences, unaware of how unresolved trauma silently shapes their emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. This can look like brushing traumatic events under the rug or convincing yourself that “it wasn’t that bad.” …
How Trauma Affects Sleep Trauma can impact every part of your life—your emotions, relationships, and even your ability to get a good night’s sleep. If you’ve been through a traumatic experience, you may find yourself struggling with nightmares, sleep disturbances, or even full-blown sleep disorders, making it hard to wake up feeling rested. Nightmares, in …
Why Trauma Makes It Hard to Trust Yourself Self-trust allows us to feel confident in our decisions, set boundaries, and navigate life autonomously. But when trauma occurs—whether from childhood experiences, abusive relationships, or a sudden, life-altering event—it can shatter that trust. Many trauma survivors struggle to believe in themselves, questioning their instincts, choices, and even …
Have you ever wondered about the physical components of trauma and how it affects the body? Underneath the surface, many different things could occur when dealing with trauma. The neurobiology of trauma involves understanding how traumatic experiences can profoundly impact the brain and body. Trauma is a distressing, frightening, or overwhelming situation that can lead …
Trauma doesn’t just affect the person who experiences it—it can leave deep imprints that ripple across generations. If your family has a history of loss, displacement, violence, or hardship, you may feel like you’re carrying wounds that aren’t entirely your own. Intergenerational trauma, also called generational trauma or transgenerational trauma, refers to the ways trauma …
Trauma can leave deep emotional wounds that are hard to explain and even harder to heal. Whether it stems from childhood abuse, sexual assault, a car accident, natural disaster, or the loss of a loved one, trauma often lingers—showing up as anxiety, emotional numbness, flashbacks, or chronic stress. For some, it leads to PTSD. For …
Understanding Childhood Emotional Neglect Childhood emotional neglect refers to the failure of caregivers adequately meet a child’s emotional needs, such as providing love, support, and validation. This can lead to experiencing trauma at a very young age, which has long-lasting effects on one’s life. Most importantly, childhood emotional neglect can disrupt the relationship with oneself …
What is Shame, and Why Does It Happen? Shame is a powerful and deeply ingrained emotion that can impact how you see yourself and interact with others. While guilt makes you feel bad about something you’ve done, shame tells you that you, as a person, are flawed. It says, “There’s something wrong with me,” “I don’t deserve love or …