Why Trauma Sticks—and How to Shake It Loose

Trauma has a way of hanging around, whether it’s from a single stressful event like a car accident, or the cumulative impact of police work or military deployment. It’s not your fault it sticks, and you’re not alone in wondering why it’s so hard to move on. The good news? Science has some answers, and I’ve got ways to help you shake it loose. Let’s talk about what’s happening and how we can shift it together.

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Trauma occurs because your brain is wired to keep you safe. When something overwhelming happens, your amygdala, that alarm centre in your brain, lights up to protect you. Once the danger is gone, the amygdala ought to quiet again but sometimes it doesn't. Instead, it keeps ringing, alerting to danger. A study in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews explains this well: trauma can over-activate your amygdala while short-circuiting your hippocampus, the part that files memories away neatly.
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So that moment stays raw, popping up when you don't expect it, like a smoke alarm that won’t quit. For a lot of my clients, first responders especially, this might mean a call gone wrong replaying through flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive memories. For others, it’s a quieter alarm that still won’t fade and disrupts function.

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Your body holds onto it too. Ever notice how your shoulders tense or your stomach knots when you think about that tough time? That’s your nervous system keeping score. Research in Psychological Bulletin shows trauma doesn’t just live in your mind; it embeds in your body’s stress response, keeping you on edge even when you’re safe.

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Here’s a wild fact to chew on: about 70% of adults worldwide have faced at least one traumatic event, according to the Journal of Traumatic Stress. That’s from a big 2017 study across 24 countries. Most of us naturally recover from trauma and shake it off, but for some of us, it lingers, and that’s where I come in.

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So how do we shake trauma loose? I’ve seen a varierty of approaches make a real difference, and the science backs them up. First, there’s Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. It sounds odd, I know—moving your eyes side to side while we bring up that stuck memory—but it works. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found it can resolve PTSD symptoms in just six sessions for many folks. It’s like giving your brain permission to refile that memory without the panic attached. I’ve watched clients, from paramedics to parents, breathe easier after we do this together.

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Then there’s Somatic Experiencing. This one’s about tuning into your body to let that trapped tension go. Instead of reliving every detail, we focus on what you feel physically—maybe a tight chest or shaky hands—and gently release it. Research in Frontiers in Psychology shows it can dial down stress hormones and calm your nervous system over time. It’s not about forcing anything; it’s about giving your body a chance to reset. For me, seeing a client’s shoulders drop during a session tells me it’s working.

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If any of this rings true for you, that’s a sign you might be ready to let some of that weight go. Trauma sticking around doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’re human, and your brain’s just doing its job a little too well. I work with folks across Alberta, in my Sherwood Park office or over telehealth, to figure out what fits. EMDR might be your thing if you’ve have a specific memory haunting you. Somatic Experiencing could click if you feel attuned more to your body than your cognition or emotion. Either way, I’m not here to push—just to help you find what works.

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Curious if this could apply to you? I’d love to chat. Sign up for my mailing list below to get more stuff like this straight to your inbox. Or if you’re nearby, book a consultation with me. It’s your call, and I’m here when you’re ready to shake the past loose.

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