When Old Wounds Still Speak
There are moments when something small happens and suddenly I feel like I’m back in an old story I didn’t ask to revisit. A phrase. A tone. A silence. And even though I know I’m safe now, my body reacts like I’m not.
I’ve learned this is what a trigger can feel like. Not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s just a tightening in the chest or a shift in my mood that I can’t explain. A withdrawal. A flood of emotion that doesn’t match the moment.
I’m not a therapist. But through personal study, lived experiences, vulnerable conversations, and prayer, I’ve come to understand something important: our bodies remember what we try to forget. And even when we’ve healed in so many ways, sometimes the old wounds still speak.
A Verse That Calms My Spirit:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
There is something deeply comforting about knowing God doesn’t step away from us in our pain. He draws closer. He doesn’t require us to be fully healed to be held. Even in the moments where we don’t understand our own reactions, He is gentle with us.
What I’m Learning:
Triggers don’t mean I haven’t healed. They mean I still need grace. They’re not evidence of weakness. They’re invitations to pay attention, not only to what hurt me in the past, but to what I need in the present.
I’ve also learned that trauma is not always about the big events. Sometimes it’s about what didn’t happen, the comfort we didn’t receive, the voice we weren’t allowed to use, the care we longed for that never came. That, too, leaves an imprint.
A Gentle Reminder I’m Holding:
God is not shocked by my emotional responses. He doesn’t shame me for the moments I withdraw, flinch, or feel too much. He sees the stories behind the reactions. And He continues to meet me there, not to scold me, but to heal me.
A Practice to Try:
When something triggers you, instead of judging the reaction, pause and ask:
“What just happened in me?”
Not “What’s wrong with me?” but “What was stirred up, and what do I need?”
Then take one small step toward compassion. That might look like stepping away, breathing deeply, journaling, praying, or letting someone you trust know how you’re feeling.
Reflection for You:
Have you been hard on yourself for a reaction that surprised you?
Is there an area where God might be inviting you to show yourself more gentleness?
What would change if you saw your triggers not as failures, but as signals that something inside still needs care?