Recognizing the Signs of Unresolved Trauma

Trauma happens when we experience something so overwhelming it impacts both the mind and body, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. It shows up differently for everyone, making it hard to connect certain emotions, behaviors, or physical symptoms to past events. Noticing the subtle and obvious signs of trauma can be the first step toward healing.

What is Trauma

Often, a person’s first thought when they hear the word trauma is something like a car accident, going to war, or being assaulted. While these are well-known examples of traumatic experiences, trauma isn’t limited to the ones we hear about most often.

An experience becomes traumatic when a person feels physically, emotionally, or mentally threatened, unsafe, and overwhelmed, and the body responds accordingly.¹ These overwhelming experiences can leave lasting effects on the nervous system, which may be triggered later by sensory reminders.

For example, a person who grew up in a chaotic household may feel anxious or shut down when they hear yelling, even if it’s not directed at them. Or someone who experienced medical trauma might feel panicked simply by walking into a doctor’s office.

Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by how the mind and body respond to it and that response is deeply personal.

7 Common Emotional Signs of Trauma

Here are 7 common emotional experiences that linger after a person experiences trauma, whether it be a single traumatic incident or chronic reoccurring traumas. ^{2, 3} Think of these as continuous aftershocks your body experiences because the brain isn’t able to effectively process the maladaptive information taken in during the traumatic event. It’s as if the memory keeps playing on a loop, making you feel like you’re still in an unsafe situation long after it’s over.

1. Persistent anxiety or fear that doesn’t match the current situation:

   Because the nervous system is overwhelmed by the distressing experience(s), the body becomes more reactive to situations or frustrations that might otherwise feel minor.

2. Irritability or sudden mood swings:

   After a traumatic experience, it is common for a persons body to continuously be flooded with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This happens because our body is still experiencing lingering effects from the trauma and hasn’t fully processed it through.

3. Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself or others:

   Because trauma overwhelms the nervous system, the brain tries to protect us by going into shutdown mode. This is its way of minimizing further harm.

4. Overwhelming guilt or shame:

   It’s not uncommon to internalize distressing experiences, especially if we don’t fully understand why they happened. This can show up as survivor’s guilt or believing we were somehow to blame. For example, you might think, “I should have done something to stop it,” or feel guilty for being okay when others weren’t.

5. Feeling easily startled or hypervigilant:

   This often looks like a constant sense that something bad is about to happen or an expectation that the worst-case scenario will unfold. You might feel a nagging suspicion that things are too good to be true, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your nervous system stays on high alert, bracing itself for a threat.

6. Difficulty trusting others:

   When we go through difficult experiences with others or when people fail to show up for us, we learn that we can’t rely on them. Over time, we create emotional barriers to protect ourselves from the pain, disappointment, or rejection we expect from getting close. For example, you might avoid sharing your feelings with friends or pull away when someone tries to support you.

7. Hopelessness or chronic sadness

   Once you’ve gone through trauma and the effects continue to linger, it can cause you to question your purpose and your worth and wonder, “What’s the point?” You may feel stuck in sadness or hopelessness, especially if it seems like nothing will ever change or you don’t believe you deserve to heal.

5 Physical Signs of Trauma

Unresolved trauma affects more than just your emotions—it also takes a toll on your body. Chronic stress from trauma keeps your nervous system activated, leading to a range of physical symptoms. Here are five of the most common ways trauma can impact the body.^{2, 4}

1. Chronic Muscle Tension or Pain

After trauma, the body can remain in a constant state of “fight or flight,” leading to tight shoulders, jaw clenching, or back pain. Even without current stressors, your body may stay braced for impact.

2. Digestive Issues

The gut and nervous system are closely connected. People with trauma histories often experience nausea, IBS, or appetite changes due to the ongoing activation of stress responses in the body.

3. Fatigue That Doesn’t Go Away

Living in a hyper-alert or shut-down state is exhausting. You may feel tired all the time—even after rest—because your nervous system is working overtime to keep you safe.

4. Headaches and Migraines

Headaches are common when the body is holding unprocessed stress. They may worsen around trauma triggers or emotionally charged situations.

5. Feeling Disconnected From Your Body

Many trauma survivors report feeling numb or “not fully there.” This is a common dissociative response, where the brain disconnects from the body to cope with overwhelming experiences.

How Trauma Can Hide in the Body (And How EMDR Can Help)

When a person goes through a distressing experience, the nervous system can become flooded by intense emotion. This overwhelm affects how the brain functions in the moment, making it harder to process what’s happening clearly. As a result, the memory doesn’t get stored properly and can remain “stuck,” along with the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations connected to it.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess these stuck memories so they no longer feel as vivid or distressing.⁵ Think of it like untangling a knot: instead of the memory looping over and over and triggering the same reactions, EMDR helps it find its place in the past, where it belongs.

If you’d like to learn more about how EMDR works step by step, you can read my blog that goes into more detail HERE.

When to Seek Support

If any of the above resonated with you and you still have questions or wonder how to move forward, please know you don’t have to go through it alone. If you’re starting to recognize that the impact of your adverse experiences is holding you back—whether it’s making it hard to connect with others, enjoy activities you once loved, or feel at ease in your own body—seeking professional support can make a meaningful difference.

A trauma specialist can help you understand what you’re experiencing, guide you through the healing process, and support you in living a more fulfilling and authentic life.

It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset of “it could have been worse” or to feel like your experiences aren’t “bad enough” to deserve help. But trauma isn’t measured by comparison—if something overwhelmed your ability to cope and is still affecting you today, it matters. You are worthy of support and healing, no matter how your experiences stack up against anyone else’s.

Healing Is Possible: Taking the Next Step

If you’ve made it this far, take a moment to breathe—you’re already doing something brave by learning about your experiences. Healing from trauma doesn’t have to happen alone. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help you feel understood, supported, and empowered to move forward.

Whether you’re looking for a trauma therapist or an EMDR therapist, who really gets it, finding the right fit can make all the difference. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you—it’s about helping you reconnect with your strengths, process what you’ve been through, and create more ease in your daily life.

If you’re curious about how EMDR works or wondering if it’s a good match for you, feel free to explore my other blog posts or reach out with any questions to learn more about this trauma therapist in Winter Park. Healing takes time, but you deserve support every step of the way—and maybe even a little humor and lightness in the process. You are worth the effort it takes to feel whole again.

References:

1. National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (n.d.). What is child traumatic stress? Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/about-child-traumatic-stress

2. Van Der Kolk, B. A. (2006). Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1071(1), 277–293. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1364.022

3. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing

4. Scaer, R. C. (2001). The neurophysiology of dissociation and chronic disease. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 26(1), 73–91. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009587816880

5. Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.