Understanding Trauma: PTSD, Complex PTSD, and FAQs

If your experiences still affect you today, then they matter. Trauma isn’t about comparing experiences, it’s about how your nervous system responded. EMDR can help even if you feel like you “shouldn’t be struggling.”

Yes. EMDR doesn’t require you to have a clear memory. Sometimes the brain protects us by blocking details, but EMDR can still process the emotional and physical “imprint” of what happened.

Yes. EMDR is especially helpful for people who feel like they’ve done therapy before but something is still stuck underneath. It helps release the deeper wounds of complex trauma, allowing more space for confidence, connection, and self-acceptance.

Yes. Trauma in childhood happens while the brain and nervous system are still developing, which means it can have lasting effects on how someone sees themselves and the world. Childhood trauma often shows up in adulthood as:

• Struggles with self-worth

• Difficulty trusting others

• Feeling “stuck” in patterns of shame or fear

Adult trauma can also be life-changing, but childhood trauma tends to shape core beliefs about safety, identity, and relationships. The good news is that therapies like EMDR can help heal both, no matter when the trauma occurred.

Feeling “stuck” after trauma is common. Even when you’ve built coping skills and self-care strategies, trauma memories can remain unprocessed in the brain. Instead of fading into the past, they can continue to trigger emotional or physical reactions.

This might look like:

• Repeating the same relationship patterns

• Feeling numb or disconnected

• Being confident in some areas of life, but held back in others

• Knowing you’ve “moved on” logically, but still feeling the pain emotionally

EMDR therapy works by helping the brain reprocess stuck memories, so they no longer control your present. Many people who feel stuck find that EMDR helps them finally move forward.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) usually develops after a single traumatic event, such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster. Common symptoms include:

• Flashbacks or nightmares

• Feeling constantly on edge (hypervigilance)

• Avoiding reminders of the trauma

• Anxiety, panic, or distress when triggered

CPTSD (Complex PTSD) develops after ongoing or repeated trauma, often in childhood or within unsafe relationships. It includes the symptoms of PTSD, but also adds extra layers, such as:

• Deep feelings of shame or guilt

• Difficulty trusting or connecting with others

• Emotional flashbacks (sudden waves of fear, shame, or despair)

• Struggles with self-worth or identity

• Hopelessness

A trauma diagnosis means a mental health professional has recognised that the difficulties you are experiencing are linked to the impact of traumatic events. There are 2 mental health diagnoses that are associated with exposure to traumatic events called Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).

There can be other co-existing mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression and prolonged grief. There can be an increased risk of self harm and suicide.

No. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to begin therapy or to benefit from trauma treatment. Many people seek help because of how they feel day to day, not because they’ve been given a label.

You might notice things like:

• Feeling “stuck” in the past

• Difficulty trusting or connecting with others

• Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories

• Struggles with confidence or self-worth

• Feeling numb, disconnected, or always on edge

These experiences matter, whether or not they fit into a diagnostic category like PTSD or CPTSD.

Therapies such as EMDR are designed to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their impact, regardless of whether you have a diagnosis. What matters is that you’re struggling, and support is available.