Whether we label it 'trauma',  'difficult memory' or something else, it's not something anyone wishes to experience in any form.   Yet its arrival is often unexpected following one or more particularly traumatic or difficult experience, the important thing to ask is, does this memory still affect me now?

• DO I EXPERIENCE A STRONG EMOTIONAL RESPONSE WHENEVER I RECALL THAT MEMORY?

• DO MY FEELINGS AROUND THE MEMORY NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE BEHAVIOURS & DECISIONS I AM MAKING IN THE NOW?

• WOULD THINGS BE DIFFERENT IF I NO LONGER EXPERIENCED THOSE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT?

 Your answers to these questions may give you a good insight into whether resolving difficult feelings around a past memory could be a useful step.

The term ‘fight or flight’ is a very familiar one - evolution has blessed us with this response for the purposes of our own self-preservation.  It’s worked remarkably well, our species is still thriving.

However, when a traumatic experience occurs, sometimes its memory remains vivid and new, resulting in a heightened ‘fight or flight’ state.  The amygdala, the part of the brain continuously on the lookout for danger becomes permanently hyper vigilant and over protective leading to that old memory still affecting our perceptions and behaviors in the now. This can manifest through anxiety, hyper-vigilance, trouble sleeping, flashbacks, emotional distress, avoiding places, things and situations associated with the event, irritability, and problems bonding with your baby.

Sometimes, being able to diffuse this trauma response, is a useful first step, so we can work on the memories from a place os safety, and then work on repairing any damage that this event has caused, restoring your confidence.