Why do I get triggered so easily?
Maybe someone’s tone caught you off guard. Or a smell, a glance, a moment in time—suddenly you felt anxious, shut down, or emotionally raw. You might have told yourself, “I’m overreacting.” But what if you weren’t? What if your body was protecting you from a real threat?
What are Engrams?
Engrams are the lasting imprints of experience—especially emotionally charged or overwhelming ones. They aren’t just memories in your head. They’re full-body imprints—sensations, emotions, and meaning—woven into your nervous system. An engram is like a patterned response waiting to be reawakened. When it is, it can feel sudden, intense, and confusing—especially if we don’t see the link to the past.
Most of us have learned to judge ourselves when we “lose it” or feel too much. But these moments are usually not flaws. They’re clues. Your nervous system is trying to protect you, based on what it once lived through. What looks like an overreaction is often a well-rehearsed pattern that made perfect sense in another time or context.
When I Lose my Mind
Engrams can be reactivated by subtle echoes from the past: a smell, a tone of voice, a confined space, or unconscious memories felt in the body. These cues can awaken an old pattern, alerting you to danger, and initiating a protective stance. It’s doing what it has learned to do. The more we understand this, the more space we create for compassion—and for change.
How We Heal
In somatic therapy, we gently bring attention to these patterned responses. With support, you can stay present as an engram is activated—without being overwhelmed. This opens a door: new sensory information, new meaning, and a sense of safety can be layered into the experience. Your brain begins to form alternate pathways—neural off-ramps that offer you more choice and ease for the future.
The process isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about updating the present. When a previously triggering moment no longer hijacks your system, something profound has shifted. You’ve stayed with yourself. You’ve added safety where there was once fear. And you’ve shown your nervous system that it has options now.
You’re not broken—you’re patterned. And patterns can evolve.