Why does trauma resurface years later?

The science behind why trauma “hides” and later “reappears” The human brain and body learn to put these into a “deep freeze” so it can get back to functioning in day-to-day life; showing up to school, work , perform duties and tend to relationships.

Why does past trauma come back?

Repressed memories can come back to you in various ways, including having a trigger, nightmares, flashbacks, body memories and somatic/conversion symptoms. Your memories may come through in re-enactment behaviors. You may find yourself repeating behaviors that relate to your traumas.

Can a traumatic event affect you years later?

PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. PTSD is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it’s not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not.

Can PTSD resurface years later?

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD.

Why can’t I stop thinking about past trauma?

Many people re-experience the trauma through intrusive thoughts, some have flashbacks and many have nightmares. Trauma memories that do not subside and keep taking over your mind can make you feel as though you are trapped in the past and reliving all the distress you felt at the time.

Do PTSD triggers ever go away?

So, does PTSD ever go away? No, but with effective evidence-based treatment, symptoms can be managed well and can remain dormant for years, even decades. But because the trauma that evokes the symptoms will never go away, there is a possibility for those symptoms to be “triggered” again in the future.