What Is Psychological Trauma?
Psychological trauma happens when an experience feels too overwhelming for us to cope with. It isn’t only about big events like war, natural disasters, or accidents. Trauma can also come from painful childhood experiences, difficult relationships, bullying, neglect, or even repeated stress in adult life.
What makes something traumatic is not just what happened, but how it impacted us. If an experience changes the way we see ourselves, our safety, our relationships, or our place in the world, it can leave a lasting mark on the mind and body.
Trauma often lingers in the nervous system. We might feel on edge, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode long after the event is over. Healing is possible, and it begins with understanding that trauma is not a weakness—it’s the imprint of overwhelming experiences that the body and mind are still carrying.
Sources:
🔹 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)—Trauma
🔹 American Psychological Association (APA) Dictionary of Psychology — Psychological Trauma
What Are the Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma?
People living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (C-PTSD) may experience a wide range of symptoms that reflect the mind and body’s struggle to cope with past events:
- Recurrent intrusive memories of past experiences (replaying and recounting)
- Vivid snippets and images called flashbacks
- Ongoing anxiety, irritability, or rage
- Sleep disturbances, muscle tension, and unexplained bodily pain
- Avoidance of reminders and social isolation
- Hypervigilance — scanning for danger and struggling with trust and safety
- Emotional distancing or avoiding closeness with others
- Feelings of shame, diminished self-worth, or inadequacy
- Depression, panic attacks, and anxiety tied to unresolved trauma, grief, and loss
If you recognize some of these patterns in your life, you are not alone. Reaching out for support can help you begin the healing process at your own pace.
Sources:
🔹 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — PTSD
🔹 _
What Are the Types of Trauma?
Trauma is not limited to dramatic events like accidents or disasters. It can arise from many different life experiences, shaping how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Common types include:
- Childhood neglect / attachment trauma — lack of emotional attunement or safety in early years
- Complex PTSD — effects of ongoing abuse, violence, or chronic stress
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse — experiences that overwhelm safety and trust
- Medical trauma — ICU stays, misdiagnoses, painful or invasive procedures
- Narcissistic or relational trauma — emotional harm in toxic or manipulative relationships
- Grief-related trauma — sudden or devastating loss of a loved one
- Migration or cultural displacement trauma — loss of home, community, or identity
- Intergenerational trauma — patterns of trauma passed across family lines and generations
Sources:
🔹 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Trauma
🔹 American Psychological Association (APA) — Trauma
What Are Triggers from Unresolved Trauma?
When trauma is unresolved, the body and mind can react strongly to certain reminders—called triggers. These triggers can make a person feel as if the past experience is happening all over again, leading to sudden emotional or physical distress.
- Emotional triggers — rejection, criticism, disrespect, or feeling ignored
- Somatic triggers — body language, tone of voice, or sudden physiological responses
- Sensory triggers — smells, sounds, touch, or internal sensations that recall the trauma
- Circumstantial triggers — certain places, times of year, or specific situations
For example, unfair treatment at work may stir feelings linked to past experiences of being silenced, while hearing news about abuse can provoke strong emotional or bodily reactions rooted in earlier trauma.
Sources:
🔹 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Trauma
🔹 American Psychological Association (APA) — Trigger
What Is Attachment Trauma?
Attachment is the deep sense of safety, belonging, and care that children experience when their caregivers are consistently present, attuned, and responsive. This secure bond allows a child to grow into their authentic Self with confidence.
Attachment trauma happens when a child grows up in a dual reality — deeply needing their parents’ love and protection, yet at the same time feeling unsafe, unseen, or unable to be their true self. To survive, the child develops protective roles or “emotional armor.” As adults, these survival strategies often continue, shaping how they relate to themselves and others.
These patterns may look like people-pleasing, shutting down emotions, avoiding closeness, or carrying an inner sense of shame. Healing attachment trauma involves learning that safety and authentic connection are possible, often through trauma-informed therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) or EMDR.
Sources:
🔹 American Psychological Association (APA) — Attachment
🔹 National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) — Early Childhood Trauma
What is Dissociation?
Dissociation is the mind’s way of protecting us when life feels overwhelming. It can feel like being disconnected from your body, emotions, or surroundings. Short episodes (like daydreaming) are common, but frequent dissociation may signal unresolved trauma. Source: APA
Signs of Dissociation
• Feeling “zoned out” or dreamlike
• Gaps in memory / time skipping
• Watching yourself from outside
• Going emotionally numb under stress
• Struggling to feel connected to body or world Source: NIMH
Dissociation and Complex Trauma
Dissociation is a common response in complex trauma, where repeated or ongoing stress overwhelms the nervous system. To survive, the mind learns to disconnect from unbearable feelings, memories, or even parts of the Self. This response may have protected you in the past, but over time it can leave you feeling numb, fragmented, or disconnected in daily life. Source: NIMH · APA
Many therapies can help heal trauma. Each works in a different way, and the best fit depends on your unique story and needs. Here’s a comparison of key approaches:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — Uses eye movements or bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming.
- IFS (Internal Family Systems) — Helps you connect with and heal protective and wounded “parts” of yourself, guided by the calm, compassionate Self.
- DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting) — Works with deep brain and body responses linked to attachment shocks and trauma stored below conscious awareness.
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy — Integrates body awareness with talk therapy, helping release trauma stored in posture, movement, and sensations.
- Somatic Experiencing — Focuses on regulating the nervous system and gradually releasing stuck survival responses (fight, flight, freeze) from past trauma.
Conclusion
Trauma can take many shapes—from childhood neglect to medical trauma, grief, or ongoing stress. Its effects often remain hidden, showing up as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, dissociation, or difficulties in relationships. The good news is that trauma is treatable, and healing is possible.
By choosing the right therapy, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), you can work through the root causes of trauma without re-traumatization. Healing does not mean forgetting the past — it means reclaiming your safety, confidence, and connection to yourself and others.
If you recognize yourself in these descriptions, know that you are not alone. With compassionate support and trauma-informed care, it is possible to move from survival patterns toward resilience, wholeness, and a renewed sense of self.
📞 Contact Dr. Millia
If you would like to book a consultation or learn more about services, please get in touch:
- Clinic: First Psychiatry Clinic
- Address: 975 Al Wasl Road, Dubai, UAE
- Phone: +971 55 355 7855
- Email: info@milliabegum.ae
- Website: milliabegum.ae
About Dr. Millia
Dr. Millia Begum is a trained trauma specialist with over 25 years of clinical experience in psychiatry and therapy. She trained in the UK’s NHS system and served the NHS in various senior roles. She is a former EMDR Europe Approved Consultant, EMDR researcher, and board member of the EMDR Association UK. She is now a member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Dr. Millia is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, bringing a compassionate, parts-informed approach to her work with clients in Dubai.
📍 Location & Opening Hours
Opening hours
- Monday: 09:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday: 09:00–18:00
- Wednesday: 09:00–18:00
- Thursday: 09:00–18:00
- Friday: 09:00–18:00
- Saturday: 09:00–18:00
- Sunday: 09:00–18:00