Understanding Trauma and PTSD: Causes, Symptoms, and Paths to Healing

The term "trauma" has become a catchphrase in everyday language, often used to describe any intense experience as “traumatic”. Aaccording to clinical definitions however, trauma occurs when a person experiences a real threat to their life or severe physical or emotional harm. In such an experience, a person typically feels intense fear, anxiety, and above all, an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Trauma can result from events such as armed robbery, violence, combat, car accidents, terrorist attacks, or any incident perceived as a real danger.

If trauma is not properly treated, it can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder- like a wound that keeps bleeding and hurting. A person with PTSD repeatedly relives the traumatic event. The experience feels alive within them, triggered by painful memories that intrude on daily life, such as flashbacks and nightmares.

Consider Daniel, for example. He physically recovered from a serious car accident, but emotionally, he was still wounded. Nightmares haunted him and kept him from sleeping, and during the day, he couldn’t concentrate. Getting behind the wheel again was unthinkable and he avoided anything that reminded him of the accident. His conscience tormented him: “If only you had slowed down, braked earlier, paid more attention…” The guilt consumed him, slowly but steadily eroding his joy and trust in the world and in himself. Sadness became a constant companion, occasionally giving way to a cold, creeping despair.

Daniel's story is similar to that of many PTSD sufferers who live with emotional “interest rates” of residual pain that drains their quality of life. The build-up of negative emotions can drag them into depression, as the trauma shatters their sense of safety and trust, leaving them feeling that there’s no stable ground. Their worldview becomes distorted: “The world is dangerous,” “You can’t trust anyone- not even yourself,” “You’re powerless to protect yourself.” This internal narrative can damage relationships and trust with others. It affects social and family life, making it harder to form secure, meaningful connections.

Those around them often don’t understand the internal experience. “It’s over,” they might say. “Why are you still stuck on it?” They may express resentment, offering subtle or even blunt blame that only deepens the trauma sufferer’s emotional wounds. The lack of empathy and support makes it even harder to build safe, healthy relationships.

Preserving the Trauma: Survival Mode Instead of Growth

Imagine a hiker who finds himself suddenly face-to-face with a lion deep in the jungle. Instinctively, he sprints away, his entire system gearing up for survival. Even after returning safely to his normal life, he continues to feel like he’s running from that lion. The memory lingers, and he’s stuck in survival mode.

Even though the trauma is in the past, it has been etched into the psyche. The person continues to think, feel, and act as if the threat is still present. Why does the mind hold onto trauma and keep functioning in a state of constant alert?

The person experienced a profound loss of control and safety, and in response, the psyche tries to protect itself by staying vigilant. It keeps reminding itself of the threat, by staying “on guard” to avoid being blindsided again. It refuses to let its guard down, unwilling to feel that helpless shock ever again.

(Photo: shutterstock)

How Trauma Shows Up in Everyday Life

Trauma disrupts the basic sense of order and safety in life. Its effects are usually deep and far-reaching. Let’s look at two common areas where trauma manifests and bypasses the usual emotional defenses:

1. Somatic Psychotherapy (Body-Oriented Therapy)
This approach in psychology connects verbal expression with physical awareness. Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses only on words, somatic therapy addresses the whole person through movement, touch, and breathwork, helping access deep layers of emotional experience.

Trauma leaves imprints on the body including shallow breathing, rigid posture, constant muscle tension, and restless movement. Some people are always rushing, their breath short and clipped, as if their bodies are still fleeing. These physical patterns become a kind of “body armor” that protects against re-experiencing the trauma. For this reason talk therapy alone often isn’t enough, and somatic therapy can help reach the physical roots of trauma where it still lives.

2. Dreams
Dreams are one of the clearest windows into repressed pain. During sleep, when defenses are down, traumatic memories often resurface. People who’ve experienced trauma tend to dream about it repeatedly. At first, the dreams may replay the event exactly as it happened, bringing up the same terror and helplessness, but over time, the mind may start to process the trauma, softening the emotional intensity.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, survivors frequently reported recurring nightmares. One air traffic controller, for instance, described dreams in which he watched helplessly as a plane crashed. Later, he began dreaming that he reached out and stopped the explosion. Though he knew he couldn’t change reality, the dream gave him a sense of control and emotional healing.

From Trauma to Healing

Trauma shatters the safe structures of life and therefore healing is a long, painful process. While recovery may not mean full resolution, it can allow for a significantly improved quality of life and a return to functional living.

There are many emerging therapeutic tools to support trauma recovery. While this overview doesn’t cover every option, it outlines several effective approaches:

Psychoeducation

Trauma, at its core, is a sudden experience of powerlessness, and reliving it brings back those same feelings. Teaching the client that their responses- flashbacks, anxiety, avoidance- are normal reactions to abnormal events can help restore a sense of order. Understanding that these emotional surges are part of a predictable process gives people a feeling of security and control.

Trauma often disrupts daily functioning, creating emotional chaos, angry outbursts, and difficulty with structure. It is therefore helpful to rebuild a stable daily routine including defined times for work, family, exercise, etc. Assigning clear start and end times to each activity reinforces the idea that experiences have boundaries, just like feelings. Over time, this structure helps regulate overwhelming emotions.

(Photo: shutterstock)

Somatic Psychotherapy

This field of therapy continues to grow. Below are several body-based techniques that have proven helpful in trauma recovery:

The goal is to soften the “body armor” that holds onto trauma. One technique is helping clients recall their body image before the trauma- how they stood, moved, spoke, and breathed. Comparing this with their current post-trauma physical state (e.g., shallow breathing, tense muscles) can reveal where emotions are stored physically. Returning to pre-trauma body patterns can help release those stuck emotions and initiate healing both in body and mind.

Another surprisingly effective tool is laughter. Not in a superficial or mocking sense, but as a genuine expression of lightness and release. Laughing freely and joyfully can ease emotional pressure and help people function without being crushed by the weight of life’s difficulties.

Interestingly, laughter is also a diagnostic tool. The ability to laugh and feel joy in daily life is a sign of recovery. Even if some pain remains, the trauma no longer dominates. The person begins to see the world again as a place that is not only safe, but sometimes even joyful and amusing.

Working with Dreams

Dreams often serve as emotional alarm bells, alerting us to hidden distress. One helpful technique is known as “Dream Rewriting.” If a person wakes from a nightmare, they’re encouraged to imagine a more positive ending. By consciously continuing the dream in a better direction, even in their mind, they begin to feel more in control. Therapists may also ask clients to recall and retell their dreams in session, crafting a gentler resolution together.