Do I have PTSD? Common Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
As a trauma therapist, I’m often asked this question. PTSD doesn’t always show up the way people expect. Here are some of the most common signs:
Intrusive memories — Flashbacks, nightmares, or unwanted thoughts about something traumatic from your past.
Emotional disconnection — Feeling numb, spaced out, or like you’re not fully in your body.
Strong reactions to small triggers — Feeling anxious, irritable, jumpy, or constantly “on edge.”
Avoidance — Staying away from people, places, or emotions that remind you of what happened.
People-pleasing — Putting others’ needs ahead of your own to feel safe or avoid conflict.
Procrastination — Struggling to start tasks or follow through, especially when overwhelmed.
Body and sleep changes — Trouble sleeping, fatigue, or feeling stuck in fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or shut-down mode.
These are signs that your nervous system may still be reacting to a past threat—even if your mind knows you’re safe now.
How EMDR Can Help
Trauma that isn’t fully processed—maybe because there wasn’t enough time, space, or safety—can get stored in the body. Instead of healing, we may disconnect, bury, or avoid anything that reminds us of what happened.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain and body safely access these stuck memories, emotions, and sensations so they can finally be processed. In EMDR, we don’t just talk about the trauma—we help the nervous system complete what it couldn’t at the time.
As healing unfolds, painful beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault” can shift into something more compassionate and true, like “I did the best I could” or “It’s over, and I’m okay now.”
You don’t have to live with PTSD forever. Healing is possible. You can feel more grounded, more connected to yourself, and more at peace in your life.
