170 The Many Faces of Trauma | Single-Incident Trauma: When “Before” and “After” Split

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Single-incident trauma can create a sharp “before and after” in the nervous system—where an overwhelming event leaves the body stuck in protection long after it’s over. In this episode, we explore how trauma memories can be stored as sensory fragments and threat predictions, why triggers can feel like the event is happening again, and how avoidance develops as a protective strategy that can shrink life over time. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at mobilised protection (fight/flight) and shutdown, and offer practical first steps for helping the nervous system update from “then” to “now.” We close with a grounding practice that uses the senses plus a temperature cue to anchor the present moment.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• A clear definition of single-incident trauma (overwhelm + stuck protection afterwards)
• Why the brain prioritises survival over storytelling during overwhelm
• The difference between reminders and triggers
• Polyvagal-informed patterns: hypervigilance vs shutdown, and cycling between them
• Common post-incident signs (non-diagnostic): intrusive replay, startle, avoidance, checking, sleep disruption
• What helps: normalisation, gentle exposure, completing the stress cycle, trauma-informed support
• A short grounding practice to signal “this is now”

Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “5–4–3–2–1 + Temperature”

• 5 things you see
• 4 things you feel
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you smell (or imagine)
• 1 thing you taste
• Notice one temperature cue
• Phrase: “This is now. I’m here.”

Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them.

What’s next: Medical & Birth Trauma: When Help Hurts

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