Feb 03 2025 10 mins
Episode 23 - Introduction to not being able to stay present as a trauma response
Are you finding it difficult to stay in the moment, constantly feeling like your mind is re-living the past or in a constant state of worry about the future? Do you often catch yourself losing focus during conversations because you are preoccupied with other thoughts or, perhaps you disconnect and dissociate during stressful situations? If so, this might be tied to your trauma history. If you experience any of these things, please know, you are not alone, and what you’re experiencing is a very real and common response to trauma.
So what exactly does it mean to not be able to stay present?
Being unable to stay present, or feeling disconnected from the here and now, often stems from unresolved trauma. This can present itself as a mental fog, dissociation, or hyper-awareness of your surroundings. Your brain may go into overdrive, pulling you out of the current moment as a way to protect you from perceived danger, even if no immediate threat is present. This survival mechanism, while helpful in dangerous situations, can interfere with your daily life, relationships, and overall sense of well-being.
Why does not being able to stay present happen, and how does it impact the negative cycle?
Trauma can alter the way your brain processes information. When you’ve experienced trauma, your mind learns to be hyper-vigilant, always scanning for threats. This can make it difficult to focus on the present because you’re preoccupied with anticipating danger or reliving past experiences. Over time, this cycle can become self-reinforcing—the more you disconnect from the present, the harder it becomes to ground yourself in reality. This can negatively affect your relationships, work, and self-esteem as you feel increasingly detached from the world around you.
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Until the next time - warmly yours,
Renata