Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can stem from a variety of things. However, one of the reasons many people struggle so much with anxiety is due to the impact of 
underlying trauma — especially when that trauma goes unaddressed.
Traumatic events — no matter how long ago they occurred — can leave a mark on your mental well-being. Understanding the relationship between anxiety and underlying trauma can be the first step forward as you address the experiences you’ve been through.
It’s important to note that while it’s possible to cope with anxiety as you work through traumatic experiences, without actually addressing the trauma, the overall anxiety only tends to grow.
The Lasting Impact of Trauma
A traumatic experience might be a one-time thing, or it might be something more consistent and ongoing, like abuse or neglect, or relational experiences such as bullying or otherwise. Whatever the case may be, any kind of traumatic event can leave a lasting impact on your life, if not addressed.
Even if the trauma occurred when you were a child, you could still struggle with some of these effects as an adult without really realizing it — at least at first. Some of these common lasting impacts include:
- Feeling guilt or shame
- Mood swings
- Aches and pains in the body (headaches, back pain, digestive issues)
- Chronic fatigue
- Trust issues
- Flashbacks
- Social withdrawal
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty with intimacy
- And others
It’s also not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to deal with mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Anxiety, in particular, can make you feel like you’re in a constant state of fear or activation. Your mind and body may feel like they’re in “fight, flight, or freeze” mode, even when there is no present threat.
Coping With Triggers
One of the reasons anxiety can be so problematic when you’re dealing with underlying trauma is that you may likely experience underlying triggers. A trigger could be a person, place, thing, situation, tone, scent, or even a random memory or flashback that pops up.
These trauma triggers can make you feel like you’re right back in a dangerous situation. You may consciously be aware you’re not in a dangerous situation, but your body is responding as if you are. They send signals to your brain that make you think you’re in danger, even when you’re not. Because anxiety often thrives on a fear of the unknown, it makes sense that these triggers would cause your thoughts or body experiences to become overstimulating and overwhelming.
Acknowledging Your Trauma
Recognizing your triggers can be a positive step forward. Even simply starting to pay attention to why certain things make you so anxious. For example, are you dealing with flashbacks or memories you don’t fully understand?
Some people try to avoid thinking about the trauma they’ve experienced. Others repress it so much that they consciously forget all about it. However, no matter how deeply it’s pushed down (and often even more so because it’s pushed so deep), one can still have symptoms years later.
Working with a therapist is often the best way to address underlying trauma. The process can help clear away the weeds while allowing you to process the experiences you’ve been through in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.
Managing Anxiety
While addressing underlying trauma is a good way to better understand and reduce your anxiety, being able to cope with your symptoms can also make you feel more in control and make life more enjoyable while in the process.
Emotional regulation and mindfulness can be helpful as you address the deeper issues. As mentioned earlier, however, it’s important to keep in mind that unaddressed and unprocessed trauma and anxiety has a way of building and growing. This can lead to the symptoms eventually pushing through the coping skills. Think of it as the coping skills are the bandaids and the deeper work cleans the wound. If you’re not doing the work of cleaning the wound, eventually the bandaid won’t do much.
If you’re concerned that you might be carrying underlying trauma, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The anxiety that often stems from trauma doesn’t have to dictate your life.
