Sometimes life leaves marks that don’t fade easily. You might notice yourself reacting in ways you don’t understand—feeling anxious, disconnected, or on edge for no clear reason. You may tell yourself to “get over it,” but something inside still feels unsettled.

These experiences are often the result of trauma—moments when something painful or overwhelming exceeded your ability to cope or feel safe. Trauma isn’t just about what happened; it’s about what stayed with you afterward.

Trauma is a word that can feel overwhelming. In his landmark book, the Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van der Kolk writes about Trauma in this way:

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.” note 1

Perhaps you are reading this and you are feeling overwhelmed. 

Being Curious about Overwhelm

Bessel Van der Kolk goes on to write about trauma in this way:

“The essence of trauma is that it is overwhelming, unbelievable, and unbearable. Each patient demands that we suspend our sense of what is normal and accept that we are dealing with a dual reality: the reality of a relatively secure and predictable present that lives side by side with a ruinous, ever-present past.” note 2

Perhaps you are reading this and are beginning to wonder about engaging in therapy around something that feels overwhelming. 

Trauma therapy is a gentle process of helping your mind and body learn that it’s safe again. It’s not about re-living painful memories. It’s about slowing down, making sense of what’s happening inside, and building the capacity to feel grounded and whole again.

Bessel Van der Kolk again offers wisdom around the experience people who feel overwhelmed with past experiences and events:

“Being traumatized means continuing to organize your life as if the trauma were still going on—unchanged and immutable—as every new encounter or event is contaminated by the past.” note 3

What Happens in Trauma Therapy

The first step in healing is safety. Trauma therapy is about creating a space where you can explore at your own pace. You won’t be pushed to go anywhere you’re not ready to go.

For many people in trauma therapy, people begin to notice patterns—moments your body tenses, emotions that rise suddenly, or times you shut down. These aren’t “bad” responses; they’re survival strategies that a person's system learned as a way of protection. In therapy, those parts can begin to be unburdened.

Moving Toward Wholeness

Healing from trauma takes time and tenderness. There’s no quick fix, but there is real hope. Over time, people often notice a shift—less reactivity, more calm, and a deeper sense of self-trust.

The parts of you that once felt broken can begin to soften, to breathe, and to reconnect. You can learn to live with more ease and confidence, rather than feeling trapped by what happened in the past.

If you’ve been carrying pain for a long time, therapy can be a place to set it down—slowly, safely, and with support. You don’t have to do this alone. Healing is possible, and it can begin with a single conversation.

Notes 

1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk

2. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk

3. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk

Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash