Do I Have Trauma?

Trauma is often misunderstood as something that must be remembered clearly or tied to a specific event. In reality, many people experience trauma not as a memory, but as a set of persistent emotional, relational, and physiological patterns that shape how they move through the world. Sometimes it's like you've been walking your whole life with invisible ankle weights. You don't realize you carry them until they are gone!

Dr. Matthew Paldy, PhD, LP — NYC Trauma Recovery

You may not think of yourself as someone who has experienced trauma. But if certain reactions feel automatic, confusing, or difficult to change, it may reflect adaptations your mind and body developed in response to earlier environments. I can help you understand how your mind works in these situations and together we can move you to a new place.

Trauma as a Pattern, Not Just an Event

One of the most important shifts in understanding trauma is recognizing that it is not defined solely by what happened, but by how the experience was processed and integrated, usually in relation to others (or not). This is particularly true in developmental trauma, as described more fully in complex PTSD.

Common Signs of Unresolved Trauma

• Emotional reactivity or numbing.
• Relationship Insecurity - often feeling abandoned or jealous.
• Chronic self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness.
• Feelings of disconnection to yourself connected to boundary disruption.

The Role of the Body in Trauma

Trauma is also physiological, as explored in somatic trauma. The mind remembers, and automatically puts your body into adrenaline mode.

When to Consider Therapy

If patterns feel repetitive, automatic, or limiting, I can help you understand and shift them over time.

Frequently Asked Questions