Title: Trauma and Hypervigilance: Always on Alert | Renée Shearing Source: https://reneeshearing.com/trauma-and-hypervigilance Last updated: 2026-10-10 Summary: Our bodies often respond before our conscious minds have made sense of what is happening. You may know rationally that you are safe and still feel activated. # Trauma and Hypervigilance “I know I am safe, so why does my body keep reacting as if I am not?” Our bodies often respond before our conscious minds have made sense of what is happening. You may know rationally that you are safe and still feel activated. You may understand that a current situation is not the same as something from your past and still experience a powerful physical or emotional response. You may recognise yourself in some of this: - You feel constantly “on”, as though part of you is always scanning for what might go wrong. - You notice fight, flight or freeze responses in situations that do not seem to call for them. - You feel shut down, numb or far away when things become too much. - You want to run away or hide, even from people and situations you care about. - You feel easily overwhelmed by situations that previously felt manageable. - You feel intensely reactive to certain situations, relationships or memories. You don’t need to think of yourself as traumatised, broken or mentally unwell. ## Why does my body still react as though the danger is here? That response is not stupidity, weakness or failure. Usually, it makes sense when we understand what shaped it. Hypervigilance, shutting down or the urge to get away can all be ways the nervous system once kept us safe. Perhaps vigilance helped you anticipate danger. Perhaps saying no once carried a genuine relational cost. These responses are often intelligent adaptations to earlier circumstances. The difficulty comes when something that once protected us continues running long after the circumstances have changed. ## What do you mean by working with the nervous system or the body? I pay attention to those responses as part of the work. That may mean noticing changes in tension, breathing, activation, shutdown, emotion or bodily sensation. The body can give us information that cognition alone sometimes cannot. We talk in therapy. Of course we do. But while we are talking, I am also paying attention to the rest of the system. I draw on trauma-informed, somatic and non-cognitive approaches, such as EMDR and TRE®, according to what is appropriate for you. So part of the work is not simply understanding emotion, but developing the capacity to experience it without being overwhelmed by it. ## Do I need to have experienced trauma to work with you? No. Trauma is an important part of my clinical experience, but you do not need to identify as traumatised to work with me. ## What are we actually working towards? Not perfection. Not a permanently regulated nervous system. Not a life without difficulty. The aim is not only to understand why you respond as you do, but to create the possibility that the response itself begins to shift. ## Approaches that may help - [EMDR](https://reneeshearing.com/emdr) - [TRE®](https://reneeshearing.com/tre) - [EFT](https://reneeshearing.com/eft) - [One to One Therapeutic Work](https://reneeshearing.com/one-to-one-therapeutic-work) ## Read more - [When Understanding Isn’t Enough](https://reneeshearing.com/when-understanding-isnt-enough) - [Stress and the Body](https://reneeshearing.com/stress-and-the-body) - [After Years of Therapy](https://reneeshearing.com/after-years-of-therapy) - [Who I Work With](https://reneeshearing.com/who-i-work-with) - [Working With Me Online](https://reneeshearing.com/working-with-me-online) ## Testimonials > I don’t have words that express what I have gained and continue to gain from my time with Renee. My experience can only be described as life changing and expansive. I never understood the value of achieving a good-feeling body and mind until I began my therapy with Renee. When I reflect back on my very first session; I was ruled by fear; a theme that was poignant and prevalent in all spheres of my life. Through conversations and alternate therapeutic tools such as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), I continue to learn how to release all that is blocking me and give up fear. I leave each session with a sense of relief that facilitates positive thoughts, attitude and overall well-being. Renee has taught me invaluable skills that I am able to use in all life areas; my body and wellness, career and home, relationships and society, and essence and spirituality. I now recognize my inner guidance system; and have learnt to listen and respect my inner being, love myself and focus on that of which I desire. Renee remains a friend, therapist and teacher. Through her open heart, tremendous skill, experience and wisdom; I am learning to deal with whatever shows up; shift my thinking and experience ultimate happiness Client Name kept private