Many clients ask, “Why does this still affect me? It happened years ago.” The answer lies in how trauma imprints itself.
Memory Beyond the Mind
Trauma isn’t stored like ordinary memory. It’s stored somatically — in sensations, muscle memory, and emotional patterns. That’s why a smell or tone of voice can transport you back instantly.
Why Time Alone Doesn’t Heal
Chronological distance doesn’t matter if the nervous system is still on guard. The past “lives” in the present because the body keeps anticipating danger.
How to Loosen Its Grip
- Body work: Grounding, movement, breath help discharge stored tension.
- Reframing: Gently update your system: That was then, this is now.
- Safe connection: Healing relationships rewrite old relational scripts.
Key Takeaway
The past lingers until we give the body and psyche new experiences of safety. Time doesn’t heal all wounds — but presence, practice, and connection can.
