Do I Have Trauma? Exploring Symptoms & Signs

Sometimes trauma doesn’t look or feel the way we expect. Many people wonder if what they’ve been through “counts” or if their reactions are valid. Spoiler: they are. Here are some common questions that come up when trying to make sense of your own experiences.

Can trauma show up years later?

Absolutely. It’s common for trauma responses to emerge long after the event—especially if the environment suddenly feels safer, or if a new life phase (like parenthood or partnership) triggers old wounds.

What are signs I might have unresolved trauma?

Signs can include emotional numbness, panic or anxiety, trouble trusting others, hypervigilance, chronic shame, and feeling stuck in patterns that don’t make logical sense. Trauma doesn’t always show up as flashbacks—it can live in daily reactions.

Is it trauma if it wasn’t just one event that stands out?

Yes- it can be confusing sometimes when there isn’t one life event that has a clear “before” and “after” for us, but we still experience trauma symptoms. With EMDR Therapy you can process a theme of life events, your freeze or fawn response, how it felt growing up, or limiting beliefs that keep showing up (“I’m not enough”, “It’s not safe to trust people”, “I won’t be loved”), even without feeling like you know exactly what’s behind these experiences. Trauma therapy doesn’t hang on remembering one or two explicit memories of something awful happening. Emotional reactions, body memories, or relational patterns can all reflect trauma, even if there’s not one clear memory attached. Trauma can be stored in the body and nervous system even when the brain doesn’t consciously recall the event.

Why do I feel numb / detached / always on edge?

These are protective responses. Numbness (dissociation) and hypervigilance (being on edge) are common ways the nervous system copes with past overwhelm. They’re not signs of weakness—they’re signs your body learned to survive.

Can childhood trauma affect me as an adult?

Yes, deeply. Early trauma shapes how we see ourselves, others, and the world. It can influence emotional regulation, attachment, boundaries, and self-worth. The good news is: what was shaped in relationship can be healed in relationship.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin healing. Your experiences are valid, and you’re not alone in them. I offer free 15 minute phone consultations to help answer questions and screen if trauma therapy is a fit for you. Book your consultation and let’s chat!