Do I Have Unresolved Trauma? 10 Signs You Might Be Carrying Hidden Pain
- Mary Mikhail
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
Trauma doesn’t always look like what we expect. It isn’t always a dramatic, one-time event or something you clearly remember. In fact, many people live with the effects of unresolved trauma for years—sometimes their entire lives—without realizing it.
Unresolved trauma can quietly shape our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and relationships. If you're struggling with anxiety, emotional numbness, or overwhelming reactions to small stressors, it's worth asking: Could this be trauma?
Below are 10 common signs you may be carrying hidden, unresolved trauma—and how trauma therapy can support your healing journey in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Toronto.
1. You Have Intense Reactions That Seem Disproportionate If you find yourself overreacting to situations others seem to handle with ease, this could be a trauma response. Trauma sensitizes your nervous system, making even minor triggers feel overwhelming.
2. You Struggle With Emotional Regulation Do your moods shift quickly? Do you feel easily flooded by sadness, anger, or anxiety? Difficulty managing emotions is a hallmark sign of unresolved trauma.
3. You Feel Numb or Disconnected Trauma survivors often shut down emotionally as a protective mechanism. You might find it hard to feel joy, love, or connection—even in happy moments.
4. You Have Difficulty Trusting Others If you have a hard time opening up or constantly fear abandonment or betrayal, this could be linked to early attachment trauma or relationship-based wounding.
5. Your Body Feels Tense or On Edge Trauma lives in the body. Chronic muscle tension, a tight chest, digestive issues, or a constant sense of hypervigilance can all be physical symptoms of trauma.
6. You Avoid Certain Places, People, or Emotions Avoidance is a major coping strategy for unresolved trauma. You might steer clear of crowds, conflict, or even parts of your own story that feel too painful to face.
7. You Experience Flashbacks or Nightmares Not all trauma survivors have flashbacks, but recurring nightmares, intrusive memories, or sensory experiences that bring you back to a painful moment may signal PTSD or complex trauma.
8. You Feel Shame, Guilt, or a Sense of Worthlessness Trauma distorts our sense of self. If you carry heavy emotional burdens like toxic shame or low self-worth, especially without knowing why, unresolved trauma could be at the root.
9. You Engage in Self-Destructive Behaviours Substance use, disordered eating, self-harm, or compulsive behaviours can be ways of coping with emotional pain that hasn’t been processed.
10. You Feel Stuck and Don’t Know Why You might be doing everything "right" but still feel unfulfilled, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode. Trauma therapy can help uncover what’s beneath that stuckness.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
Whether you're in Toronto, Nova Scotia, or anywhere in Ontario, trauma therapy offers a safe, supportive space to understand and heal from your past. At Harmony Healing Psychotherapy, we specialize in evidence-based trauma treatment for:
PTSD and complex trauma (CPTSD)
Emotional and physical abuse
Childhood trauma and neglect
Sexual assault and interpersonal violence
Intergenerational and cultural trauma
Grief trauma
First responders and trauma
We use approaches like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), DBT-PTSD, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic practices to help you reconnect with yourself and build a future not defined by your pain.
You Deserve to Heal
If any of the signs above resonate with you, know this: You are not broken, and you are not alone. Trauma is not your fault—but healing is within your reach.
Therapy is not just for crises. It’s also for self-discovery, clarity, and long-term emotional wellness.
Book your free 15-minute consultation today to see how trauma therapy in Ontario, Nova Scotia, or Toronto can support your journey.
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