You're not Crazy—It Might Be Trauma

Have you ever sat in your car after snapping at your kids and thought, “Why am I like this?”

Or felt like you’re constantly walking on eggshells in your own mind — overwhelmed, disconnected, unable to rest — but no one else sees it?

You’re doing everything right on the outside, but inside you feel like you’re barely holding it together.

If that sounds familiar, let me say this clearly:

You’re not crazy. You’re not failing. And you’re definitely not alone.

What you're experiencing might actually be trauma — especially the kind that hides in plain sight.

Today, I want to help you recognize some of the less obvious signs that trauma might be living in your body and showing up in your everyday life — especially if you’re a mother who feels constantly overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or unsure why your days feel so hard.

But I Haven't Experienced 'Big Trauma'.. Does This Still Apply?

Yes. Trauma isn’t only about extreme events like abuse or war. It’s also about how your body and nervous system responded to feeling unsafe, unseen, or overwhelmed — especially repeatedly.

Maybe you grew up in a home with yelling, unpredictability, or emotional neglect.
Maybe you had to be the “strong one” early in life.
Or maybe your trauma is more recent — a toxic relationship, medical crisis, or just years of chronic stress without support.

The truth is, trauma is often invisible. And because it's stored in the body and nervous system, it tends to show up through patterns, not memories.

Why We Miss The Signs

Many women — especially mothers — have learned to dismiss their pain, downplay their instincts, and override their needs.

You were taught to:

• Be “easygoing” (even when you’re overwhelmed)
• Stay small to keep others comfortable
• Take care of everyone else first

So when trauma symptoms start to show up, they often look like character flaws instead of what they actually are: coping mechanisms. You might just think you're sensitive, moody, lazy, or emotionally broken. But trauma isn’t your identity. It’s just your adaptation. And you can change that — once you see it for what it really is.

12 Subtle Signs You Might Be Carrying Trauma

Let’s break these down together. As you read, see what resonates in your body — not just your mind.

1. You overreact to small things — and then shame yourself for it

That “overreaction” is usually a nervous system flashback.
Your body feels unsafe before your brain even understands why. Then comes the guilt spiral.

🌀 “Why did I yell about the spilled milk?”
Because it wasn’t just the milk — it was the last straw for a nervous system that’s been holding too much for too long.

2. You say yes when you mean no

You learned (maybe early on) that saying no = rejection, punishment, or abandonment.
So now you fawn — you people-please — because it feels safer to disappoint yourself than someone else.

3. You don’t feel safe setting boundaries

And when you do set them, you either:

• Over-explain and soften them into nothing, or
• Feel a deep sense of guilt, like you’re “bad” or “selfish”

That’s not weakness — it’s a survival response.

4. You often feel numb, detached, or like you're on autopilot

You're not cold. You’re not heartless.
You’re likely dissociating — a protective mechanism your nervous system uses to avoid overwhelm.

Numbness isn’t failure. It’s a signal your system has been in overload for too long.

5. You're constantly scanning for danger

Even on good days, you can’t relax.
You're waiting for the next shoe to drop. You prep mentally for worst-case scenarios, play conversations over in your head, and feel exhausted all the time.

This is hypervigilance, and it often stems from childhood unpredictability.

6. You crave deep connection, but push people away

You might sabotage closeness, doubt kindness, or feel uncomfortable when someone truly sees you.

Love feels dangerous when your past taught you that it comes with strings, pain, or betrayal.

7. You're terrified of abandonment

Even small changes — a delayed text, a quiet partner, a missed call — feel massive.

You spiral into fear, even if your mind says it's irrational. That’s trauma.

8. You strive to be perfect

If everything’s perfect, maybe no one will criticize or leave you.
Maybe you'll finally feel enough.

But deep down, you're exhausted — and still afraid it's not enough.

9. You second-guess everything

You don’t trust yourself to make decisions or validate your own feelings.

That’s not a flaw — it’s often the result of being gaslit, ignored, or dismissed.

10. You carry shame that you can’t explain

You just feel wrong. Flawed. Like you take up too much space.

That’s trauma’s root — unspoken shame that was never yours to carry.

11. You stay in relationships that hurt you

Because chaos feels familiar.
Because part of you believes love = pain
Because your nervous system doesn’t know what peace feels like yet.

12. You feel “too much” and “not enough” at the same time
          Welcome to the paradox of trauma.

You over-function and under-receive.
You do everything and still feel like a failure.
You long to rest, but don’t feel like you’ve earned it.

Trauma creates that contradiction. Healing unwinds it.

You're Not Alone — and You're Not Broken

If you saw yourself in these signs, please hear this:

✨ You are not dramatic.
✨ You are not lazy.
✨ You are not failing.

So many mothers carry trauma silently while raising children, holding families together, and showing up for everyone else. You are likely carrying trauma that was never your fault — but is yours to heal.

The beautiful thing is:

Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s messy. Even if you don’t know where to start.

You have the ability and are gaining the awareness heal. You get to break the cycle.
Not only for yourself, but for generations to come.

What You Can Do Next

If this blog sparked something in you — even a small inner “yes” — I invite you to take the next gentle step:

🌀 Download my free resource:
“3 Tools to Start Healing Trauma”

👉 GET YOUR FREE GUIDE

Inside, I’ll walk you through powerful yet simple tools to help you begin regulating your nervous system, reconnecting with yourself, and shifting out of survival mode — even if you’re short on time or energy.

You deserve to feel whole.
You deserve to feel safe in your own body.
You and your family deserve emotional freedom — and it’s possible!

With Love and Encouragement on your journey,

xx Melanie
Founder of Energy Alchemy ✨