Whether the trauma was natural or an act of man, the person subjected to it rarely forgets about it completely, and often his body will not allow the individual to ignore an event that may have happened many years ago. Sometimes the experience is recalled repeatedly, and the survivor "replays" the scenario in his mind. Quite often the survivor may receive cues from the environment that may cause a flashback to a time when he perceived danger or harm. Sometimes the person who has survived such an experience will have such a vivid recall of the event that he believes it is happening at the very moment. Occasionally, the trauma survivor will be so distressed that he will become numb or "not with it."

Some of us may recall the day President Kennedy was assassinated, what we were doing when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, or when we first heard the reports about the shooting deaths at Columbine High School. Our minds may have registered that this was an event of major significance and this particular memory needed to be stored in as much detail as possible. Our pulses may have quickened, our flight-or-fight mechanisms may have been aroused, and our bodies may have gotten ready to respond to something that was unusual, something not experienced before.

Such is often the case with a survivor of trauma. The mind and body connect in such a way as to ensure that this memory is retained. Something has happened that is so devastating that the mind and body will work in harmony to protect the survivor by establishing a connection that will allow very rapid response to similar, future danger.

The mind will often "replay" the experience. Quite possibly, mentally replaying the event is useful to help the survivor prepare for similar events, or possibly it is a way to allow the person to reduce the tension through a chance to restructure the event into a less threatening memory. Regardless, most people feel uncomfortable with reliving the experience, and it may sometimes cause a reduction in the person’s functioning level. These intrusive thoughts may be so disturbing that the person may seek relief through unsafe behaviors, addictions, self-mutilation or suicide.

Sights, sounds, tastes, smells and sensations associated with touch may trigger a flashback to the original traumatic event. Trauma survivors may have a vivid image of the room they were in, or the road they were driving on, or the storm they were in. They may hear the report of a rifle, the roar of the tornado, or the screech of the tires. They may feel, taste or smell something that brings forth a memory of the experience and the pain associated with it. These cues will often trigger a flashback. Times and places that may have only a slight resemblance to the original setting can invoke memories of the traumatic episode. Nevertheless, the mind and body prepare to act to ensure safety, even if the situation has a low threat potential.

If the cues are strong enough and the setting is similar enough, the survivor may actually believe the event is happening all over again. The survivor’s belief is that it is happening once again, and sometimes the survivor cannot be convinced otherwise. He may actively replay the event, saying and doing things that he may have done during the first episode. The survivor may attempt to replay the action differently by either fighting or fleeing in a more vigorous fashion.

In some cases, the event may trigger numbing or freezing responses. The person may disassociate from the setting by thinking he is elsewhere, "shutting down," thinking he is another person, or having all or part of the body, such as an arm or leg, not work. This type of response is a possible reaction between not wanting to flee and not wanting to fight, but a desire to just be left alone through withdrawing.

Survivors of trauma are strong, capable, resourceful, and resilient people. The hardiness of persons that have come through danger and have been able to sustain themselves is a credit, indeed. Yet for some, the danger is still with them. Anxiety, depression, physical illness, body image concerns, addiction, and a wide variety of other illnesses and mental health problems may impact day-to-day living. Trauma has with it some profound correlation to health risks, retraumatization, and low functioning ability. Support of trauma survivors to help them overcome the past and live in the present without dreading the future is a noble effort that should be given a significant role.