What Happens to the Brain and Body After a Traumatic Event?

Jun 3, 2026

WRITTEN BY: SARAH RIVERA, LPC-S Chances are you’ve been exposed to the word “trauma” more than a time or two. Trauma is a word that is gaining more awareness and space within conversations and information shared by people everywhere. This blog will talk a little more about what trauma is and how it affects the brain and body.

It’s important to understand that this is not a diagnostic blog, but one that can help increase awareness so you know when it may be time to seek support for trauma you have experienced.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is an experience, or set of experiences, that calls into question whether someone can survive what they are going through. It involves an actual event—or the perception of an event—that physically or emotionally compromises a person’s sense of safety and well-being. These experiences often leave an individual feeling helpless, hopeless, or in extreme distress.

Interestingly, not every traumatic event will lead to a traumatic response. Just because someone is exposed to a life-threatening or highly stressful event does not necessarily mean they will feel traumatized by it.

A traumatic response develops after the event and involves emotionally disturbing symptoms that leave a person struggling to regulate emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. These symptoms can interfere with day-to-day responsibilities, relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

How Trauma Affects the Brain

One of the primary ways trauma affects the brain is by activating the body’s fight, flight, or freeze response. Clinically, this response is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which helps us react quickly when danger is present.

When the brain perceives a threat, it sends signals throughout the body that immediate action is needed to stay safe. Depending on the situation, a person may:

Fight

Attempt to confront or resist the threat.

Flight

Try to escape the threat by running away or avoiding danger.

Freeze

Become immobilized, feeling stuck, unable to move, think clearly, or respond.

All of these responses are survival mechanisms designed to protect us. There is no “right” or “wrong” reaction during a traumatic event. These responses are the brain’s way of trying to keep us alive.

Why Trauma Memories Feel So Strong

After a traumatic event has passed, the memory of that experience can sometimes remain highly active in the brain. For some individuals, trauma memories can feel so vivid that it seems as though the event is happening all over again.

This occurs because the brain’s alarm system becomes highly sensitive. It may struggle to distinguish between a real present-day threat and a memory from the past.

This is often what people experience when they encounter a trigger.

A trigger is a sight, sound, smell, feeling, place, person, or situation that reminds the brain of the traumatic event. When triggered, the body can react as though the danger is happening right now—even when it is not.

As a result, trauma survivors may experience intense emotions, anxiety, panic, fear, or physical symptoms that seem disproportionate to the current situation. In reality, the brain is responding to a memory rather than a present threat.

Physical Symptoms of Trauma: How Trauma Is Stored in the Body

Many people are surprised to learn that trauma affects more than emotions and thoughts. Trauma can also create very real physical symptoms in the body.

These are sometimes referred to as psychosomatic responses, meaning emotional distress is expressed physically.

Common physical symptoms of trauma include:

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Sleeping too much or not enough
Chronic muscle tension, especially in the face, neck, jaw, and shoulders
Frequent headaches
Digestive issues such as nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Fatigue or exhaustion
Feeling constantly on edge
Hypervigilance or feeling the need to always watch your surroundings

Many individuals describe feeling as though they can never fully relax. Their body remains prepared for danger, even when danger is no longer present.

Can Trauma From Childhood Affect Adults?

Yes.

Even when a traumatic event occurred years or decades ago, the effects of trauma can still be present in adulthood. The brain and body may continue responding to reminders of that experience long after the original event has ended.

Many adults seek counseling only to discover that some of the symptoms they have struggled with for years are connected to unresolved trauma from childhood or earlier stages of life.

Trauma does not always stay in the past simply because time has passed.

How Counseling Helps Heal Trauma

One of the most important things trauma counseling can help a person understand is that many triggers are reminders of something that has already happened—not evidence that it is happening again.

Because trauma is stored in both the mind and the body, it can create the feeling that danger could return at any moment. This leaves many people feeling unsettled, nervous, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

Counseling can help individuals:

Understand their trauma responses
Recognize triggers
Develop healthy coping skills
Learn how to regulate their nervous system
Reduce anxiety and hypervigilance
Process traumatic memories safely
Rebuild a sense of safety and control

Therapies such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other trauma-informed approaches can help people process traumatic experiences and reduce the intensity of their symptoms.

A person can learn what to do when a trauma response is triggered and how to calm the body and mind so they feel more regulated and in control. While healing is possible, it is often difficult to navigate trauma recovery alone.

You Don’t Have to Carry Trauma Alone

If you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event and appears to be having a traumatic response, reach out for support. Trauma is a very real clinical experience that often requires the help of a trained mental health professional. It is not something most people can simply “figure out” on their own.

Whether the trauma happened recently or many years ago, healing is possible. You do not have to spend the rest of your life feeling trapped by the effects of something that happened in the past. With the right support, like trauma counseling with a therapist in San Antonio, it is possible to regain a sense of safety, healing, and hope.

The Hidden Mental Health Challenges of Living With Celiac Disease

May 19, 2026

WRITTEN BY: GRACE NOWLIN, LPC-ASSOCIATE, LMFT-ASSOCIATE SUPERVISED BY ANNIE VIERS, LPC-S AND LMFT-S You may have seen that May is Mental Health Awareness Month on various social media posts and blogs, but did you know that it is also Celiac Awareness Month? As a counselor living with celiac disease, this month provides a great opportunity to help educate my community about the hidden mental health challenges of living with celiac disease.

Understanding Celiac Disease

To provide a short overview, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself because it identifies any gluten ingested (wheat, barley, rye, and malt) as foreign. This can lead to damage in the small intestine, as well as digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and nutrient deficiencies, among many other recognized symptoms. There is not a cure, and the only way to address the symptoms is to maintain a strict gluten free diet. Making the transition to a gluten free diet can be overwhelming and isolating. Adhering to a gluten free diet can be helpful in managing many other conditions, but I will be focusing on the impact for those with celiac, specifically.

When Food Becomes a Source of Stress

So many holidays, social events, or cultural traditions center around food or meals shared together. During the transition of starting a gluten free diet or when the first event comes up after going gluten free, the isolation and grief can set in and bring with it feelings of being left out or alone. One of the hidden parts of navigating celiac disease is understanding the risk of cross-contamination. Foods that do not have any gluten-containing ingredients, but that were prepared with the same utensils that were used with gluten-containing ingredients, are not considered celiac-safe. Therefore, eating at restaurants that prepare gluten-containing foods in common areas, attending a potluck style family dinner, or even taking communion at church can be limited for those with celiac, or will require careful planning in advance. These events that are meant to bring people together can isolate those who are not able to participate as much as they could previously. This was one of the biggest areas of adjustment for me. Thankfully, I was able to make accommodations and work with those around me to make sure I could still enjoy our various traditions.

How Chronic Illness Can Affect Mental Health

During my own diagnostic process, I was surprised to see how few resources there were for coping with a life-changing diagnosis. Everything I read discussed the positive impacts the diagnosis and treatment could have on mental health due to the elimination of brain fog, anxiety, and depression as symptoms once treatment started. Instead of relief, I experienced grief and a sense of loss when thinking about how my life would change, and didn’t see anything that validated how I was feeling. If you are going through something similar, you are not alone!

Healthy Ways to Cope and Build Support

Just as connecting with our community is helpful in maintaining and boosting our mental health, the same is true for finding support in dealing with celiac disease or other chronic conditions. Processing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a loved one can help you feel less alone during the adjustment period after your diagnosis. A very simple yet effective coping skill that can be helpful is reframing your thoughts. This involves paying attention to any negative thoughts or thoughts you would like to change, asking yourself if there is a different way you can view those thoughts or situations, and then replacing the original thought with a new, more hopeful thought. An example from my own experience was thinking, “I can’t enjoy my favorite foods ever again” and replacing it with, “I can use my interest in baking to try new foods.”

How Counseling Can Help

Counseling can help by providing a safe space in which to process significant life changes and transitions, including extreme dietary changes like going gluten free. Counseling can also help when navigating difficult conversations with others about your dietary restrictions and staying safe while enjoying food with others.

Looking back, it would have been helpful for me to attend my own counseling sessions to help work through the complicated feelings around going gluten free. Because I experienced that need, I am now working to fulfill that need for others. One of my counseling specialties that I have developed is working with those who are experiencing similar dietary changes, and walking with them through the grief, relief, and everything in between. At La Luz Counseling in San Antonio and Helotes, Texas, I would be happy to work with you as you navigate these changes, as well as continuing to find hope in tough times through Christian counseling.

How to Know if You’re Burned Out- A Therapist Explains

May 11, 2026

WRITTEN BY: SARAH RIVERA, LPC-S The signs of burnout can appear to “hit you out of nowhere,” but the reality is that you have probably been exposed to high levels of stress over a long time. Burnout is something that happens as a result of non-stop exposure to stress. Eventually, your heart, mind, and body begin screaming at you in a way that forces you to completely slow down or sometimes even come to a complete stop. It is your body’s way of trying to protect you and ward off further damage from prolonged stress.

Many people ignore the early signs of burnout because they are used to functioning in survival mode. High-achievers, caregivers, parents, business owners, and helping professionals often push through exhaustion for so long that stress begins to feel normal. However, chronic stress always catches up… eventually. This blog will speak more to how to know if you’re burned out.

Physical Burnout Symptoms

Different burnout symptoms can emerge at different times. Some people first notice physical symptoms, while others recognize the emotional burnout symptoms before anything else.

There are physical burnout symptoms that help you to know if you’re burned out and can look like:

Weight gain or weight loss
Changes in appetite
Eating more salty or sugary foods
Missing meals completely
Increased stress eating
Frequent headaches or muscle tension
Fatigue and low energy
Sleep disruption or insomnia
Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep

These symptoms disrupt your physical body because it is no longer getting the proper rest, nutrition, and recovery it needs to function well.

Emotional Burnout Symptoms

Emotional burnout symptoms can also help you to know if you’re burned out too- these happen more internally. For example, you may find yourself feeling:

More frustrated or irritable
Cynical or pessimistic
Emotionally numb
Unmotivated or detached
More sensitive than usual
Out of character
Withdrawn from people you love
Disconnected from activities you once enjoyed

You may even begin questioning your role at work or at home and wonder, “Does what I’m doing even matter?” Many people experiencing emotional burnout symptoms describe feeling like they have “lost themselves” somewhere along the way.

Why High-Achievers Burn Out Faster

High-achievers often burn out faster because they are used to pushing through discomfort and prioritizing productivity over rest. They are frequently the people others rely on — the dependable employee, the caregiver, the parent, the leader, or the helper.

The problem is that chronic stress does not always feel dangerous in the moment. In fact, high-achievers are often rewarded for overextending themselves. They may receive praise for being productive, reliable, or self-sacrificing while silently running on empty internally.

Over time, constantly functioning in “go mode” can leave very little room for emotional recovery, boundaries, or self-care. The body eventually responds with physical and emotional exhaustion because human beings were never designed to withstand chronic stress indefinitely.

Burnout vs Depression: What’s the Difference?

If you’re not careful, burnout can look a whole lot like depression. Think about it — shifts in weight, withdrawal, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, sleep disturbances, sadness, and hopelessness about the future can all overlap.

However, burnout is generally connected to an external stressor. There is usually a specific situation, role, or prolonged life demand contributing to the exhaustion. Burnout is often situational.

Depression, on the other hand, is a clinical mental health condition. A person can experience depression regardless of what is happening externally. Clinical depression is also often more persistent and long-term, rather than tied primarily to one stressful circumstance. That said, prolonged burnout can absolutely impact mental health and may eventually contribute to anxiety or depression if left unaddressed.

How Counseling Can Help Decrease Burnout

Counseling can help you better understand the difference between a mental health condition and long-term exposure to stress. Either way, coping skills and learning mental strategies to regulate stress can be incredibly helpful.

There are times when our situation cannot change, but our mindset can. For example, if you are caring for an elderly or aging parent, this can come with significant long-term stress. The reality is that the situation itself may not change quickly, and there may be very little control over your loved one’s condition. However, there are internal emotional and mindset shifts that can help you care for yourself while continuing to show up for your family in healthy ways. That’s where counseling comes in.

The truth is that we were never expected or created to withstand chronic stress forever. It is unhealthy for our minds and bodies. But when you are in the middle of burnout, it can be hard to know how to get out of it. Reaching out for support, like working with someone at La Luz Counseling in San Antonio, can help you better understand what you are experiencing and begin moving toward healing and restoration.

How to Calm Anxiety Naturally: Therapist-Recommended Techniques That Work

May 5, 2026

WRITTEN BY: KENYA GUERRA, LPC-Associate supervised by David Thompson, LPC-S Anxiety is a natural emotional response that can make you feel worried, tense, or restless about a possible future threat. Some people may not struggle with anxiety because they already have skills to manage it. If anxiety has been hard to manage lately, you are not alone. Many people look for ways to reduce anxiety quickly. Thankfully, there are strategies that can ease anxiety without clinical intervention.

Why the Body Holds Anxiety

Our nervous system has two parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, that work together to help keep us safe. Anxiety is connected to the sympathetic system, which activates our natural fight, flight, or freeze response when the brain identifies danger. Our internal alarm system activates quickly to keep us safe. For instance, imagine you saw a bear. It would be dangerous to take a long time to decide whether to run away, protect yourself, or hide. This is why the sympathetic system acts quickly and automatically to prepare you to fight, run, or hide. The parasympathetic system activates after the threat has passed. This system is often called “rest and digest” because it helps the body relax after stress. Both systems are important because we need to respond quickly to danger and then return to a calm state. Sometimes the brain identifies danger when there is no real threat. For example, this can happen when giving a presentation or meeting new people. This is when anxiety shows up, and you may notice a tight chest, racing heart, or shortness of breath.

CBT Strategies That Change Anxious Thinking

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps explain how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected and how they affect how we feel. Below are a few CBT strategies for managing anxiety.

Thought identification:

This means noticing the thoughts you are having. This can be difficult, especially when emotions are strong. Your thoughts can give you clues about what you are telling yourself and how that may be affecting how you feel. For example, thinking “I can’t do this” before a presentation may increase anxiety.

Cognitive restructuring:

This means changing unhelpful thoughts into more balanced ones. For example, the thought “I can’t do this” may not be fully accurate or helpful and can make the situation feel harder than it is. A more balanced thought might be, “I have prepared for this.”

Grounding Exercises You Can Use Anywhere

When we feel anxious, we are often focused on future events that have not happened yet, especially things that feel uncertain or out of our control, which is why anxiety can feel uncomfortable. One way to reduce anxiety quickly is to bring your mind and body back to the present moment using grounding exercises. Grounding means focusing your attention on what is around you, which is why these exercises can be done anywhere.

5-4-3-2-1 sensory exercise:

In this exercise, you use your five senses to bring your attention back to the present moment. First, name five things you can see around you. Then find four things you can feel, like a soft blanket or a cool table. Next, name three things you can hear. Then two things you can smell, and finally one thing you can taste. Take your time and try to notice small details. You’ll notice that your mind becomes less focused on worries.

Deep breathing:

In this exercise, you use your breath to help your body relax. There are many types of breathing exercises, such as box breathing and belly (diaphragmatic) breathing. In box breathing, imagine tracing a square with your finger. As you trace one side, inhale. As you trace the next side, exhale, and continue this pattern. In belly (diaphragmatic) breathing, you breathe in slowly through your nose and let your stomach rise, then exhale slowly through your mouth and let your stomach fall. With any breathing exercise, the goal is to go slowly, as each slow exhale helps your body relax. These exercises do not need to take long, and with practice, they can become easier to use anywhere.

Why Nature Helps Reset Your Nervous System

Anxiety does not only respond to what you are thinking; it also responds to where you are. Spending time in nature has been shown to lower stress levels and reduce nervous system activation.

Take a moment to notice how your body feels after sitting outside for a few minutes compared to being indoors all day. This is not a coincidence. Nature offers a slower pace, where your attention can relax instead of staying on high alert. This is one of the more accessible ways to calm anxiety naturally. You can incorporate nature into your daily routine through short walks or by sitting outside for a few minutes.

When Anxiety May Need Therapy Support

If anxiety is getting in the way of your daily life, therapy may be helpful. You may notice you are not spending your days the way you would like because of worries about things like cooking or driving, making it harder to complete tasks. You might also notice other signs such as difficulty relaxing, feeling restless, or avoiding situations that cause worry. If these symptoms happen often, feel intense, or have been going on for several weeks or months, it may be time to seek support. While strategies like grounding, time in nature, and social support can help, they may not always be enough on their own. In these cases, therapy can provide additional support. In therapy, you and your therapist work together to identify anxiety triggers and learn new skills to manage anxiety. At La Luz Counseling in San Antonio, licensed counselors use evidence-based treatments such as CBT to support you. Over time, many people notice they feel more in control of their thoughts, their body feels calmer, and daily tasks become easier to manage. If anxiety has been difficult to manage on your own, reach out to schedule a session with our team.

What Trauma-Informed Therapy Looks Like in San Antonio

Apr 27, 2026

Trauma doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It can take the form of trouble sleeping, being quick to anger, or feeling jumpy during a quiet moment. Some people carry it for years before ever realizing how much it’s shaped the way they think, feel, or connect with others. That’s why trauma therapy is built on the idea that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

When we talk about trauma therapy in San Antonio, we’re talking about more than just appointments. We’re talking about creating a place where people feel safe being themselves, however they show up. Spring can be an especially tricky time for many. Life speeds up, routines change, and old stress can creep in when we least expect it. Knowing what support can look like makes a big difference.

What Trauma-Informed Means in a Therapy Setting

Being trauma-informed doesn’t mean focusing on what happened. It means understanding how past experiences can affect someone right now, even years later. A trauma-informed approach starts by respecting each person’s pace. We build trust first and never push someone to share before they’re ready.

Every session looks a little different, but the goals usually stay the same. Safety comes first. That might mean letting someone choose their seat, take breaks during talks, or skip topics that feel too heavy at the moment. It’s not about doing things the “right” way. It’s about finding what makes a person feel calm enough to breathe and begin healing.

Therapists who take this approach often:

Focus on building trust from the very first meeting
Offer choices during sessions, like what to talk about or how to work through hard moments
Check in often to make sure the pace feels right, not rushed
Stay patient and flexible, knowing that some days are harder than others

That sense of safety and gentleness is what helps someone move forward without having to relive their hardest moments all at once.

Common Signs Someone Might Benefit from Trauma Support

Trauma affects everyone a little differently, which can make it easy to miss. Some people know where their pain comes from. Others don’t connect the dots until things begin to feel too hard to handle.

Here are a few things we sometimes see:

Sleep problems that stick around
Feeling extra irritable or on edge
Being easily startled, even by small things
Having trouble focusing or staying present
Avoiding places, people, or situations without knowing exactly why

These signs might seem small or random at first. But when they last for weeks or get in the way of daily life, they can be clues that something deeper is going on.

For many people in San Antonio, spring can stir up more than just allergies. Schedules change, kids switch classrooms, work picks up, and social events start landing one after another. Even happy events can feel overwhelming when someone is already carrying stress they haven’t had a chance to process. That’s why it helps to notice patterns early and talk to someone who understands how trauma can hide behind everyday moments.

What Therapy Can Look Like at Different Ages

Trauma therapy isn’t just for one type of person. People of any age can benefit, and what happens in a session should reflect where someone is in life.

With young children, play is often the main tool. A toy, a drawing, or a simple story might say more than words can at that age
Teens may need room to ask questions without pressure, or space to vent without being judged
Adults often need time to build trust and go at their own pace, especially if past attempts at support left them feeling ignored or rushed

What matters most is feeling heard and safe enough to share, or not share, depending on the day. Therapy isn’t always about “fixing” right away. Sometimes the biggest step is just showing up and giving yourself permission to feel.

Trauma-Informed Therapy with Bilingual and Faith-Based Options

In a city as diverse as San Antonio, it makes a real difference to find a therapist who understands your culture, language, or beliefs. We offer trauma therapy for children as young as four, teens, and adults, using evidence-based approaches designed to foster safety and healing. Our practice stands out by providing bilingual services in English and Spanish as well as the option for a faith-based Christian perspective when requested.

Sessions are available both virtually and in person, and with a no-waitlist policy and same-week appointment availability, families can get support when they need it most. Whether you are seeking help for yourself, your child, or a loved one, we work with you to find the approach that matches your family’s unique needs and values.

Moving Forward with Compassionate Care

Healing doesn’t always look the way we expect. It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending everything is okay. Most of the time, it means learning how to carry the hard parts without them taking over our whole day.

You might notice small shifts, such as:

Sleeping through the night more often
Feeling steady even during busy or stressful moments
Reacting with calm where anger used to show up
Enjoying quiet time rather than needing distractions all the time

These changes are signs of progress, even if they don’t happen all at once. When someone takes the time to pause, talk, and feel what’s been buried, it gives their nervous system a chance to reset bit by bit.

We believe that steady, kind, and grounded support can help people start to feel like themselves again. If you’ve noticed changes in yourself, your child, or someone close to you, specialized care in San Antonio is available right when you need it.

At La Luz Counseling, we understand how much it matters to feel grounded and supported while working through difficult experiences. Whether you’ve noticed changes in yourself, your child, or someone close to you, having the right support can truly make a difference. The compassion found with trauma therapy in San Antonio offers more than conversation, it’s about creating a space where healing is possible. Whenever you feel ready to move forward, we’re here to help you take that next step.

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