Trauma and Complex PTSD
Experiencing trauma can leave lasting emotional and psychological imprints that affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
Overview
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after a person experiences or witnesses a distressing, life-threatening, or overwhelming event. People with PTSD often feel stuck in the memory — as if the past is still happening in the present. This can look like: Intrusive memories or flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, irritability and avoiding reminders of what happened.
PTSD usually stems from a single trauma or a small number of distinct events (such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster), and the symptoms are linked back to that episode.
In my practice, I often work with women who have suffered this type of trauma after a birth that did not go as expected.
Safety’s shadow
What is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma happens when difficult or painful experiences are repeated over time — especially in childhood, relationships, or environments that should have felt safe. This might include: Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, growing up with unpredictable caregivers, long-term exposure to chaos, criticism, or instability.
Instead of one event, complex trauma shapes the nervous system and sense of self over years. People with complex PTSD often feel chronic anxiety and overwhelm, difficulty trusting or connecting with others, people pleasing or perfectionism and shame and guilt. People may also become numb and “shut down”, at times dissociating.
These patterns aren’t character flaws — they are the survival strategies your nervous system learned to keep you safe.
Safety’s shadow
What is Complex Trauma?
Complex trauma happens when difficult or painful experiences are repeated over time — especially in childhood, relationships, or environments that should have felt safe. This might include: Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, growing up with unpredictable caregivers, long-term exposure to chaos, criticism, or instability.
Instead of one event, complex trauma shapes the nervous system and sense of self over years. People with complex PTSD often feel chronic anxiety and overwhelm, difficulty trusting or connecting with others, people pleasing or perfectionism and shame and guilt. People may also become numb and “shut down”, at times dissociating.
These patterns aren’t character flaws — they are the survival strategies your nervous system learned to keep you safe.
Integrating the past through the body
How EMDR Helps
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy approach designed to help your brain reprocess painful memories so they no longer feel as overwhelming or activating.
During EMDR, you don’t have to retell every detail of what happened. Instead, we focus on:
- The memory or belief that still feels charged or stuck
- The emotions and body sensations connected to it
- Gentle bilateral stimulation (like following a light with your eyes or tapping) that helps the brain integrate the memory in a healthier way
Grounding through connection
Why EMDR works
Trauma disrupts how the brain stores and makes sense of experiences. EMDR helps the brain:
- Reduce the emotional intensity of painful memories
- Let go of outdated beliefs (“It was my fault,” “I’m not safe,” “I’m unlovable”)
- Build new, more compassionate truths about yourself
- Respond in the present instead of reacting from old wounds
Finding stillness
How EMDR supports healing from
complex trauma
For people with complex trauma, EMDR can help untangle deep patterns that were formed over years. We work slowly and safely, strengthening your inner resources first so you feel grounded and in control. Over time, EMDR helps you feel less triggered, start trusting yourself, relax your nervous system and soften self-criticism. A sense of safety with yourself is developed.
You can begin to move through the world with more freedom, less fear, and a clearer sense of who you are — outside of what happened to you.
Ready to take the next step?
Take the first step towards understanding, support, and personal growth