As a result of trauma, you may nervous system You become more sensitive and your internal alarm bell goes off more quickly, even when there is actually no real danger. You react more quickly, find it difficult to tolerate loud noises, or notice that a certain look, smell, or even an innocent remark suddenly evokes a wave of tension or emotion. To yourself and the people around you, the reason may seem small, but to your body and brain it feels as if danger is once again looming.
That’s because past experiences are stored deep in your system. They can be activated by seemingly ‘small’ things that subconsciously remind you of previous fear or pain. This is what we call triggers. When something in the here-and-now triggers you, the burden of the past comes up. This often makes your reaction much more intense than is appropriate for the current situation.
This is a normal reaction of your brain and body to protect you. It can be confusing, because intellectually you might know that nothing is wrong, while your system is reacting differently.
You can read more about this in the background article Triggers and trauma.
