Trauma doesn’t always look like what people expect. Sometimes, it hides in everyday habits—overexplaining, withdrawing, or always being “the strong one.” These behavioral signs of trauma are more common than we realize, especially in those living with unhealed trauma. Whether it stems from childhood or recent events, the brain finds ways to adapt through subtle coping mechanisms. This video explores how trauma response patterns and emotional triggers can shape the way we think, react, and connect with others.

What’s one small habit you’ve noticed in yourself or others that might be rooted in something deeper?

Credits:
Script Writer: Kelly Soong
Voice Over: Amanda Silvera @amandasilvera
Animator: Bea Panaligan
Youtube Manager: Cindy Cheong
Director: Tai Khuong
Assisted: Brisky Quach & Ngan Luong

Further readings on trauma:

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2006). Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1071(1), 277–293. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1364.022

Cloitre, M., Cohen, L. R., & Koenen, K. C. (2006). Treating survivors of childhood abuse: Psychotherapy for the interrupted life. Guilford Press.

Ford, J. D., & Courtois, C. A. (2014). Complex PTSD, affect dysregulation, and borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 1(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/2051-6673-1-9