Is it Trauma?
Many people remain skeptical about the lasting effects of traumatic experiences and the impact of early childhood adversity, often believing that trauma is just an excuse. They say things like, “life is tough, get over it” and “move on,” implying that pain from the past is to a sign of weakness. There is a common assumption that ignoring painful memories will make them disappear, reflected in sayings like “time heals all wounds” or “the past is in the past.” Yet, research tells a profoundly different story—one backed by clear scientific data, tangible evidence, and lives changed. Studies show that our memories stay in our brains and influence our stress response in very measurable ways. This post explores the science behind trauma, shares stories of healing, and offers hope grounded in faith.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (But Don’t Ignore the Heart)
One source of confusion about trauma is how different experiences lead to different outcomes. Sometimes we go through very difficult events and find little lasting impact. In those cases, we can simply move on. But other times, events that might seem small to an outsider tear at the fabric of the heart and shift the bedrock of life beneath us.
The word “feelings” can be misleading because it covers two very different experiences:
Surface feelings: These may feel overwhelming in the moment but fade quickly over time. The anger or worry that consumed us last week may be completely forgotten now. Surface feelings should be acknowledged but are best kept out of the driver’s seat. We can build resilience when we push through hard surface feelings. Surface feelings will follow faith. In other words as we take the next right step forward our surface feelings will often come in line. Think about how exercise may invoke negative feelings at first but often leaves us with reward feelings in dopamine or oxytocin.
Heart feelings and trauma: These are our deep waters. They claw at our core and challenge our sense of identity.
You can often tell heart feelings by how persistent they are. Surface feelings shrink and almost disappear after a short time, while heart feelings keep resurfacing no matter how hard we try to ignore or cope with them. Time alone will not heal trauma.
So don’t sweat the small stuff—those surface feelings—but never ignore the heart. The things of the heart needs attention, processing, and healing. What many don’t realize is that the "heart stuff"—those deep, persistent feelings—are often rooted in our past experiences such as trauma, which impacts not only our emotions but even our physical health.
Is it All in Our Heads?
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study found that trauma and neglect in childhood lead to dramatically higher risks for serious health problems. Those with an ACE score of 4 or more (who experienced multiple traumas growing up) were:
12x more likely to attempt suicide
10x more likely to struggle with alcoholism
9x more likely to suffer depression
Nearly 4x more likely to have heart disease, cancer, or respiratory illnesses
These findings show that trauma is more than an idea or perspective that needs to be changed. It shows up in very real physical ways.
Trauma causes physical changes in the brain, such as shrinking the hippocampus by up to 6% and affecting the prefrontal cortex, which controls reasoning and self-regulation, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) [NIMH Trauma Effects]. When triggered, the brain signals that the present moment is the same as the past trauma. Stress hormones flood the body, lowering our functional IQ, disrupting learning, and impairing our ability to connect with others.
Imagine a kitten whose eye is covered during a key early stage; the brain wiring gets altered due to lack of use, and the cat loses the ability to see from that eye, causing permanent blindness. Trauma works similarly by reshaping the brain when events or environments are too much for us to handle. It is an adaptive response where we get hypervigilant or freeze up in order to protect ourselves from perceived danger.
The problem is that once the danger has passed, the brain still holds onto the previous neural pathways, and the trauma response activates whenever something remotely close to the original event occurs. This becomes problematic when the things that remind our brain of the event are very broad, such as loud noises, strangers, certain facial expressions, or other triggers. In short, this (what is occurring now) becomes that (the previous trauma), and our bodies respond in kind.
What is it That Shapes our Hearts?
Young brains are especially sensitive during development. As our brains form, they create the framework through which we interpret later experiences. For instance, growing up with safe, loving parents leads us to believe others are generally safe and trustworthy. In contrast, a chaotic environment may teach us that life is unpredictable and that we are helpless. These core beliefs often follow us into adulthood unless challenged.
Trauma is like a stamp that has been etched onto our hearts. Imagine a flat piece of playdough that you just rolled out. Then someone comes over and presses a stamp onto the playdough. Even after the stamp is gone, the impression remains. This is how our hearts are formed through trauma. Messages such as “no one cares” or “it’s all my fault” get etched into our memories. These stamps stay unless removed.
One rule of thumb in neurology is that you can’t change a part of the brain that you do not activate. So if we avoid the trauma altogether, it will never change.
Trauma Stays With Us—A Time Machine Stored in Our Memories
Consider Stan, a man who survived a severe car accident. Decades later, reminders of his accident caused his heart rate to spike visibly and his brain to react as if the trauma was current. Trauma lives not just in memories but as a physical imprint on the brain and body.
Trauma acts like a "time machine," pulling us back to painful moments and triggering core beliefs such as “I am not good enough,” “I am not safe,” or “It’s all my fault.” Unlike fleeting emotions, these wounds are deeply wired into our neural pathways and resurface over time, influencing daily life.
Healing requires courage: you must engage with these painful memories to rewire your brain. Facing our wounds activates neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new, healthier connections [Journal of Neuroplasticity in Trauma]. This process rewrites old narratives and opens the door to safety, worth, and peace.
Does Trauma Have to Last Forever?
Christ-centered and clinically informed healing offers profound hope. A 2015 study by Pargament et al. analyzing over 10,000 adult trauma survivors found that a deep faith commitment and positive use of spiritual practices—including forgiveness—were significantly linked to fewer symptoms of depression and PTSD [Pargament et al. 2015].
Counseling methods like EMDR and the Flash Technique help us cope with trauma and reprocess original memories, breaking the "time machine" and helping the body recognize past memories as belonging to the past. When combined with prayer and inner healing focused on God’s truth about our core identity, healing becomes even more powerful.
Trauma’s core lies—fear, shame, false identity—can be transformed through therapy and prayer. As treatment rewires neural pathways, a miraculous gift from God, we increasingly experience freedom to trust God’s truths about ourselves and others. Faith anchors healing in God’s unchanging love, safety, and forgiveness, freeing us from old lies and grounding our identity in His present reality.
A Call to Hope
These stories and data reveal trauma as real, lasting biological injuries—not just sad memories. Recognizing this calls us to compassionate, trauma-informed care, early intervention, and safe spaces for healing. It invites us beyond skepticism toward empathy and action grounded in science and faith, fostering true inner healing.
If you or someone you love carry unseen wounds, know healing is possible. As you reflect on this post:
Have trauma’s hidden marks shaped you or a loved one? You are not alone. Trauma reaches far beyond memories, touching every part of life.
What small step toward healing might you take today?
If you’re ready to learn more about how you can embrace your identity Christ to help you overcome anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, you’ve come to the right place.
Book an appointment or free 15 minute consult today at Growth Counseling
References
The Body Keeps the Score:
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.What Happened to You:
Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2021). What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing. Flatiron Books.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) StudyFelitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., ... & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Effects of Trauma on Brain Development
Journal of Neuroplasticity and Trauma Recovery
Pargament, K., et al. (2015), Study on Faith Commitment and Trauma Recovery
