You finally have a quiet moment, but you still cannot relax.
Nothing is happening. You are home. Your loved ones are okay. Yet your body feels tense, your mind keeps scanning for problems, and you are waiting for something to go wrong.
You may even tell yourself, “I know I’m safe. So why don’t I feel safe?”
When Relaxing Feels Almost Impossible
Living on high alert can become exhausting. You may constantly check your surroundings, worry about other people’s reactions, or feel uncomfortable when you are not actively solving a problem.
- You struggle to sit still without thinking about what could go wrong.
- You feel tense even during calm situations.
- Unexpected sounds or changes make you immediately alert.
- You have difficulty sleeping because your mind stays active.
- You feel responsible for preventing every possible problem.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that PTSD can include being easily startled, feeling tense or on guard, and remaining sensitive to reminders of trauma.
Call us (858) 289-0671 or Book your free 15-minute consultation.
Your Anxiety May Be Trying to Protect You
After a frightening or traumatic experience, staying alert can feel safer than letting your guard down.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD explains that reminders of trauma can trigger physical and emotional responses even when the original danger is no longer present.
That can create a frustrating cycle: you feel anxious, you look for danger, you find nothing, but your body still does not switch off.
Why Can’t I Relax Even When I’m Safe
How EMDR Can Help When the Past Is Affecting Your Present
EMDR therapy may help when unresolved trauma continues influencing your sense of safety.
EMDR involves focusing on aspects of a distressing memory while using bilateral stimulation. The VA National Center for PTSD describes EMDR as a trauma-focused psychotherapy that can help process distressing trauma memories.
The goal is not to erase what happened. It is to help your brain and body respond to the present rather than continually reacting as though the past is happening again.
Call us (858) 289-0671 or Book your free 15-minute consultation.
How Karem Smith Helps You Work Toward Feeling Safer
Karem Smith, LMFT 105577 and EMDRIA-Certified clinician, provides individualized therapy for adults experiencing trauma, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and emotional distress.
At EMDR Healing Therapy, Karem can help you identify the experiences and patterns contributing to your constant state of alertness. Depending on your needs, treatment may incorporate EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-based therapy, mindfulness, and psychodynamic approaches.
Her approach is paced around the individual rather than forcing everyone through the same treatment process.
Call us (858) 289-0671 or Book your free 15-minute consultation.
You Deserve to Have Quiet Moments That Actually Feel Quiet
If you cannot relax, even when you know you are safe, you do not have to simply accept that feeling as your new normal.
Anxiety counseling can help address persistent worry and hypervigilance, while trauma and PTSD recovery therapy can address experiences that may be keeping your nervous system on alert.
The VA National Center for PTSD identifies trauma-focused psychotherapies, including EMDR, among evidence-supported treatments for PTSD.
EMDR Healing Therapy offers secure online therapy throughout California, including San Diego, for adults ready to understand why they cannot switch off and begin working toward greater emotional safety.
Call us (858) 289-0671 or Book your free 15-minute consultation.
