Trauma and PTSD

People can be left with trauma in the wake of an experience that was too much to take in at the time – whether it felt frightening, humiliating, unsafe or simply overwhelming. While for some this is the aftermath of one particular event, for others it has its roots in a pattern of things like abuse, neglect, violence, serious illness or loss, and even relationship dynamics where trust has been eroded.

Trauma has a way of impinging on your sense of self, your sleep and concentration, your relationships and even how safe you feel in your own body. This page brings together a few ways to start:

Find help or join the discussion

Your next step might be to Find Help, make an appointment, read the Community Guidelines, or post on our moderated Discussion Board. Do bear in mind the board is meant for shared experience and general support, not for diagnosis or in an emergency. If there is any immediate risk, use local emergency services or a crisis line.

If you are looking for more than just information and want personal assistance, we have a page on trauma therapy and counselling in Dublin and online that will tell you what support can look like (and what this page cannot do), and when you should put safety first.

There is also a guide to trauma bonding for those who find it hard to break away from a bond despite the fear, control or hurt involved. It covers the signs, boundaries, how psychotherapy can aid recovery and where to turn for support in Ireland.

Start here for trauma

Use the route below that suits you best at the moment. Any work you do on trauma needs to be done at a careful pace; there should be no pressure to disclose until you have the right support and feel safe.

Some key points to remember: trauma responses are common after repeated or deeply unsettling experiences and can show up as shame, hypervigilance, numbness, sleep issues or intrusive memories.

Depending on where you are, here is how to proceed:

• Current danger or risk? Use Find Help for safer next steps and urgent routes. If the danger is right now, contact local emergency services.
• Need trauma-specific help? The trauma support pathway is a good place for grounding and making your first practical decisions.
• Dealing with PTSD or flashbacks? Read about how these symptoms can get in the way of trust and communication and what focused therapy entails.
• Feeling overwhelmed by triggers or memories? We cover EMDR and trauma therapy in a non-pressured way.
• Childhood trauma still making itself felt in adult life? Read up on the patterns it can create in your emotional regulation and relationships.
• Is grief, anxiety or depression part of the picture? If you are struggling with sadness or unfinished mourning, start with our section on grief.
• Trust or relationships are at issue? Go to relationship problems for advice on conflict, avoidance and related patterns.
• Thinking of seeing a therapist? You can read what to expect from a first session in terms of fit and confidentiality. Or if you are in Dublin, see how an in-person or online session might work for you.

Choose a trauma route

Trauma reading should be paced. These routes help readers choose a next page without forcing them through every trauma topic at once.

Trauma information

• Complex PTSD and developmental trauma
• Vicarious trauma
• Body-based trauma release claims and safety
• Trauma questions and self-reflection

Support routes

• Trauma therapy in Dublin and online
• Online Therapy Ireland
• Find help for mental health

People can be left with trauma after an experience that was too much to take in at the time, whether it felt frightening, humiliating, unsafe, or simply overwhelming. For some people, trauma follows one particular event. For others, it has roots in a pattern of abuse, neglect, violence, serious illness, loss, or relationship dynamics where trust and safety were worn down over time.

Trauma can affect the sense of self, sleep, concentration, body alarm, relationships, memory, and the feeling of being safe in one’s own skin. Some people feel constantly on guard. Others feel numb, distant, ashamed, restless, or easily overwhelmed. Support should be paced carefully, with enough safety and choice for the person seeking help.

It is also important to keep the practical boundary clear. A page can help with orientation, language, and next steps, but it cannot provide trauma therapy, safeguarding advice, diagnosis, medication review, or emergency care. If there is current danger or immediate risk, local emergency services or crisis support need to come first.

If a bond feels hard to leave even after fear, control, humiliation, or repeated hurt, the trauma bonding guide explains trauma bonding signs, safety boundaries, Ireland support routes, and how psychotherapy or counselling can support recovery.

For readers looking for personal help rather than only information, trauma therapy and counselling in Dublin and online explains what support can look like, what the page cannot do, and when safety or urgent support should come first.

This page offers general information about trauma and PTSD. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for personal medical or psychological advice. If symptoms are persistent, severe, or affecting daily life, it can be helpful to speak with a GP, psychotherapist, counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or another qualified mental health professional.

What trauma can feel like

People respond to trauma in different ways. Some reactions settle over time, especially when there is safety, support, and time to recover. Other reactions can continue and may begin to affect sleep, relationships, work, mood, concentration, and a sense of safety in the world.

Common trauma-related difficulties can include:

• Intrusive memories, images, nightmares, or flashbacks.
• Avoiding reminders of what happened, or avoiding feelings connected with it.
• Feeling tense, watchful, easily startled, irritable, or unable to relax.
• Sleep problems, concentration problems, or feeling emotionally numb.
• Shame, guilt, self-blame, anger, sadness, or fear.
• Difficulty trusting others, feeling close to people, or feeling safe in relationships.

Trauma can also overlap with anxiety, depression, panic, grief, relationship difficulties, and physical stress responses. This does not mean that every distressing reaction is PTSD, but it can be a sign that support would be useful.

PTSD and complex trauma

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can develop after traumatic events when the mind and body continue to react as if danger is still present. Complex PTSD is often linked with repeated or prolonged trauma, especially when it happened in situations where escape, protection, or reliable support were limited.

PTSD and complex trauma are not signs of weakness. They are understandable responses to overwhelming experience. A careful assessment can help distinguish trauma-related symptoms from anxiety, depression, grief, substance use, medical difficulties, or other mental health concerns that may need attention.

When to seek help

It may be time to seek professional support if trauma-related symptoms are lasting more than a few weeks, worsening, or interfering with sleep, relationships, work, study, daily functioning, or a sense of safety. Support is also important if you feel detached from yourself or the world, are using alcohol or drugs to cope, feel unable to manage intense emotions, or are having thoughts of self-harm.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. In Ireland, call 112 or 999 in an emergency.

How psychotherapy and counselling can help

Psychotherapy and counselling can provide a safe and structured space to understand what has happened, how it is affecting life now, and what may help recovery. The work is usually collaborative and paced carefully. It may include stabilisation, understanding triggers, working with emotions, rebuilding trust, strengthening communication, and gradually making sense of traumatic memories without forcing disclosure before a person is ready.

Different therapeutic approaches can be helpful for different people. Guidelines commonly discuss trauma-focused psychological therapies for PTSD, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and EMDR. Other approaches may focus more on relationships, communication, meaning, self-understanding, and the wider patterns that have developed around trauma. The most suitable approach depends on the person, their history, current safety, symptoms, preferences, and goals.

Trauma therapy in Dublin and online

Dr Jonathan Haverkampf offers psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online. Therapy may be helpful if trauma is connected with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, panic, self-doubt, or a persistent feeling of being stuck. The aim is not to pressure anyone into revisiting painful memories, but to work together in a way that supports safety, understanding, communication, and meaningful change.

If you would like to discuss support, you can make an appointment or contact Jonathan Haverkampf.

Related information on this site

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Reflective resources with gentle pacing

Reflective books or films need careful pacing when trauma is part of the picture. The mental health movies guide suggests ways to choose and pause material, while the books for anxiety and overthinking guide offers a structured approach to reading without forcing intense material.