Trauma is a word we hear often—but many people still misunderstand what it really means.
Trauma isn’t just about major tragedies—it can come from any experience that overwhelms your ability to cope. Even everyday stressors, childhood challenges, or a sudden loss can leave lasting emotional scars. If you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or disconnected, it doesn’t mean you’re broken—you may just be experiencing unresolved trauma.
Research shows that approximately 70% of adults worldwide have experienced some form of trauma in their lives(source: National Institute of Health). Understanding trauma is the first step toward healing.
At Psych Associates of Springfield, we specialize in helping individuals recognize and recover from trauma, whether it’s from childhood experiences, ongoing stress, or one specific event. If you’re wondering whether trauma may be silently shaping your life, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.
What Is Trauma?
It is your brain and body’s response to overwhelming stress. It can result from:
- Abuse or neglect (past or recent)
- A serious accident or injury
- Chronic stress or emotional invalidation
- Medical emergencies
- Sudden loss or grief
- Natural disasters or violence
But trauma isn’t always about the event itself—it’s about how your nervous system processed it. That’s why two people can go through the same experience and have very different emotional reactions.
Signs You Might Be Living with Unresolved Trauma
Trauma often hides in plain sight. It can affect your thoughts, relationships, physical health, and how you see yourself. Some common signs include:
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
- Sudden emotional outbursts or shutdowns
- Feeling numb or disconnected from others
- Chronic anxiety or feeling “on edge”
- Avoidance of people, places, or memories
- Trouble trusting others or forming relationships
You may find yourself avoiding local places that used to bring joy—like a walk through the Nature Center or an outing to Hammons Field to watch a baseball game—because they now trigger feelings of overwhelm.
How Trauma Impacts Daily Life
Unresolved trauma can shape how you think, feel, and respond—often without you realizing it. You might:
- Struggle with self-worth or guilt
- Experience persistent fatigue
- Repeat unhealthy relationship patterns
- Overreact to stress or withdraw completely
If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I like this?”, trauma-informed therapy can help you understand—and heal—the root of those patterns.
Healing Is Possible with Trauma-Informed Therapy
At Psych Associates, we use evidence-based trauma treatment approaches like:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – to help reprocess painful memories without reliving them
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to shift harmful thought patterns
Somatic approaches – to reconnect your mind and body safely
Sand Tray Therapy – a creative, non-verbal method that helps clients safely express and process deep emotions using miniature figures and symbols in a sand tray
Therapy doesn’t erase what happened—but it helps you carry it differently.
You Deserve to Feel Safe Again
Healing from trauma isn’t about being “tough” or “moving on.” It’s about reconnecting with your life—whether that means showing up more fully at work, parenting with more ease, or simply enjoying a calm moment alone or over dinner with people you trust.
If You’re Living with Trauma, You’re Not Alone
Dr. Gabriel Cline and the team at Psych Associates are here to walk with you through the healing process—with compassion, expertise, and respect for your story.