UNDERSTANDING HOW OUR MEMORIES & EXPERIENCES IMPACT US

When past trauma gets triggered, it can feel like our brain is hijacked — the survival part takes over, and our thinking brain goes offline, leading us to react in ways we don’t intend.

Our memories hold all of our life experiences. Some bring joy and warmth, while others may be harder — the not-so-great moments (little traumas) and the deeply painful or overwhelming ones (big traumas). Carrying both is part of being human

Both big and little traumas can contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). These experiences become “locked” in the brain, storing negative thoughts, beliefs, physical sensations, and painful feelings. Often, they sit there outside of our awareness, only to be triggered by current day-to-day experiences.

Think about an embarrassing or painful memory: do you notice it in your body, maybe subtle, or maybe sharp, like a punch in the stomach? Do strong emotions come up — shame, sadness, disgust? And if you ask yourself, “What do I believe about myself when I think of this memory?” — is the answer something negative, like I’m bad or I can’t trust anyone? For some people with PTSD, the intensity can be so strong that it feels as if the past experience is happening all over again.

When this happens, our brain can feel hijacked — deeper survival parts of the brain take over, and we may react or behave in ways we don’t intend. In those moments, our prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that helps us think clearly, plan, and make good choices — goes offline.

EMDR and Brainspotting gets you back online. Both EMDR and Brainspotting unlock these stuck memories at a deeper brain level, allowing real and lasting change. By gently working with the brain’s natural ability to heal and to process what could not be processed during times of fear, duress, or trauma, we can release what no longer serves you and create space realistic understanding, perception and beliefs.