Trauma can change how you feel. It can make you act, think, and sleep differently. This can be scary. It can also make you ask, “Why don’t I feel like me?” We often hear this at Denn’s Room Psychiatry. You are not alone. These changes are a normal human response to something challenging or frightening.
What Trauma Does To Your Body and Mind
When something scary or very sad happens, your body and brain try to keep you safe. Your heart may beat fast. Your breath may become shallow. Your brain may stay on alert. This is your body trying to help. But when this alarm stays on, it can make you feel strange.
Trauma can also change how you remember things. Some memories may feel far away. Other memories may come back too strongly. Your moods may swing. You may feel tired or empty. All of this can make you feel not like yourself.
Common Ways You Might Not Feel Like Yourself
You might see some of these signs:
- You feel numb. Things that used to make you happy feel dull.
- You feel angry or on edge a lot. Small things set you off.
- You feel scared without a clear reason.
- You forget things or feel confused.
- You sleep a lot or cannot sleep at all.
- You avoid places, people, or memories that remind you of the trauma.
- You feel guilty or blame yourself even when it was not your fault.
These are real responses. They do not mean you are weak. They mean your mind and body are working hard to cope.
Why These Changes Happen
Your brain has a safety system. It helps you notice danger fast. After trauma, this system can stay switched on. Your brain makes quick choices so you can survive. That is helpful in the short term. But when the danger is over, the brain can still act like danger is near. That makes daily life hard.
Trauma can also change how you feel about yourself. You may doubt your worth. You may fear being hurt again. You may not trust others. These thoughts can hide who you used to be. They can make you feel lost.
Small Steps That Help You Find Yourself Again
You do not need to fix everything at once. Small, safe steps can help you slowly feel more like you.
- Focus on safety first. Sleep in a comfortable place. Eat simple, healthy food. Keep a routine.
- Use your senses to ground yourself. Hold a cool cup. Name five things you see. This helps your brain calm down.
- Try slow breathing. Breathe in for four counts. Hold two counts. Breathe out for six counts. Do this a few times.
- Move your body a little each day. A short walk helps. Stretching helps.
- Talk to someone you trust. Say one short sentence about how you feel. You do not need to tell everything.
- Keep small goals. Make one easy thing to do each day and finish it. This builds hope.
- Practice kindness to yourself. Use kind words. Treat yourself like a friend.
These steps help the brain learn that it is safe again. Over time, they can bring back pieces of who you are.
Professional Help That Makes Recovery Easier
Some feelings and memories are heavy. That is okay. We can get help together. Talk therapy can help you tell your story in your own time. Therapy can teach tools to change hard thoughts and to feel safer in your body.
Sometimes medicine can help. Medicine can make sleep and mood steadier. This makes it easier to learn new ways to cope. At Denn’s Room Psychiatry, we use an integrative approach. We combine therapy, skill building, and medicine when it helps. Our goal is to help you feel like yourself again in a gentle way.
How Denn’s Room Psychiatry Helps
We know trauma can touch many parts of life. We offer care for each part:
- Trauma-Informed Care: We treat you with safety and respect. We know how trauma can change feelings and behavior.
- Mental Wellness Education: We teach simple skills you can use every day. This helps you feel stronger and more in control.
- Basic Coping Skills & Emotional Regulation: We show easy ways to calm your body and manage big feelings.
- Staff Training & Professional Development: For workplaces, we teach teams how to support people who have trauma. This includes crisis de-escalation and how to reduce stigma.
- Burnout Prevention & Self-Care for Staff: We help staff learn to care for themselves so they can keep helping others.
- Customized Training & Consultation: We make training that fits your group or workplace needs. We can meet leaders one-on-one, run workshops, and follow up to make sure the change lasts.
Our founder, Gaelle Dennery, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She brings deep care and real-life understanding to our work. We work with clients and with teams. We help people who need personal care. We also help workplaces build safe, helpful spaces.
When to Get Help Right Away
Some signs mean you should get help now. Call your doctor, a crisis line, or your nearest emergency room if you:
- Think about hurting yourself.
- Cannot sleep for many nights.
- Stop eating or stop taking care of your body.
- Hear voices that frighten you.
- Feel like you might harm someone else.
If you are not sure, it is okay to ask. A small call can make a big difference.
Healing Is a Slow, Gentle Path
You might not recognize yourself for some time. Recovery isn’t a one-way street. Some days will be better. Some days will be hard. That is normal. Be gentle with yourself. Small steps matter. Each step helps your brain and body learn safety again.
At Denn’s Room Psychiatry, we stand with you. We listen. We help you learn tools that fit your day. We teach teams how to support people who have been hurt.
FAQs
Q. Can medicine help me feel like myself?
Yes. Medicine can help with sleep and mood, so you can use other tools better. We talk with you to see if it helps.
Q. How can Denn’s Room Psychiatry help?
We listen and give simple tools to calm your body and mind. We teach skills and give care that fits your life.