Understanding Trauma, Triggers, and Transformation
- Jul 1, 2025
- 5 min read
Nina, founder of Inner Balance Company, shares the transformative power of breathwork and Kundalini to support balance, awareness, and energy. Her sessions offer a calm, grounded space to reconnect and move toward inner balance.
Trauma is more than a past event. It’s an experience deeply stored in the body and brain, often influencing our daily lives in unseen ways. This article explores trauma, triggers, and how we can transform them.
Understanding trauma: The hidden wound
The word trauma comes from the Greek word tráuma (τραύμα), meaning “wound” or “injury.” Originally describing physical wounds, it now extends to emotional and psychological injuries caused by distressing experiences.
Trauma isn’t only caused by extreme events. It can also stem from a lack of support, especially during childhood. These experiences shape how we relate to ourselves and others, leading to coping mechanisms that once helped us find stability but may now hold us back.
Importantly, trauma’s impact depends less on the event itself than on the personal meaning we attach to it. Triggers give us access to emotions we once pushed away, showing us where healing is still needed.
Though the mind may turn away from pain, the body carries its memory. Unresolved trauma often builds as tension and can dysregulate the nervous system, causing hyper-alertness or shutdown.
Neuroscience research highlights that trauma impacts brain regions responsible for regulating emotions, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (e.g., Van der Kolk, 2014, The Body Keeps the Score). This may lead to heightened emotional responses and challenges in managing stress and impulses.
Recognizing triggers: What sets us off?
A trigger is an intense emotional reaction to something in the present. A comment, a facial expression, a tone of voice, or even a scent can suddenly evoke tension, irritation, or discomfort. The intensity of this reaction often reflects emotional memories from the past, not just the present moment.
For instance, a colleague’s neutral tone of voice might unconsciously remind you of a critical parent, instantly triggering feelings of defensiveness or shame.
Noticing this creates space to pause and respond with greater perspective, rather than automatically falling into old patterns. When you notice a trigger, try pausing for a moment and breathing slowly: inhale gently through your nose for a count of four, then exhale through your mouth as if blowing through a straw for a count of six. Repeat this for five minutes.
This simple practice can help create the space needed to respond with awareness instead of reacting automatically.
Healing trauma is not a quick fix; it unfolds gently, in layers. As we begin to meet parts of ourselves we once had to push away, it’s natural for old memories or emotions to surface. This is why healing requires a safe and supportive space, one where the nervous system can slowly re-learn: “I am safe now. I can feel this. I can handle this.”
Without that sense of safety, we risk becoming overwhelmed rather than transformed. With the right support, the nervous system begins to trust again. And that’s where deep healing begins.
Identifying patterns: Breaking the cycle
Patterns, recurring thoughts, feelings, and behaviors often arise as survival strategies shaped by trauma or environment. Closely linked are our deeply ingrained beliefs about ourselves and the world, shaped by these same experiences. While these once helped us survive, they may now limit our growth.
Reflecting on our beliefs allows us to release what no longer serves and open space for growth.
When was the last time you questioned a belief you held? And shouldn’t we always be questioning our beliefs?
A simple exercise is to write down one belief you hold strongly and ask yourself where it came from and whether it truly serves your growth.
This isn’t just theory. I’ve lived it myself.
My healing journey: A personal story
My fascination with trauma comes from experiencing my own healing journey. Through breathwork and later Kundalini, I healed in ways I never thought possible. This journey brought me back to my true self, helping me feel lighter, more free, and deeply connected.
I grew up in a vibrant Amsterdam neighborhood, surrounded by friends and joy, yet home never felt truly safe. I didn’t experience much emotional closeness at home, and a steady paternal presence was missing. My mother carried her own pain, not something I was aware of at the time, but its presence shaped the atmosphere, leaving me often feeling unseen and unheard.
I sidelined my own needs, silenced my voice, and created barriers that kept me disconnected from myself and those around me. Without realizing it, I began to adapt. I became highly attuned to others’ needs, constantly trying to keep the peace. Perfectionism quietly became a way to feel safe, a silent strategy to bring structure to what felt unpredictable. I found myself in unhealthy, toxic relationships, seeking something outside of myself to feel whole.
Most of these patterns took root early in life, coping mechanisms that helped me find my footing.
After my mother’s passing, I faced hyperventilation, panic attacks, dependency, and burnout. But it was only years later, through breathwork and Kundalini, that I began to truly feel again. I started to heal on a deeper, somatic, and energetic level.
I came to understand that every experience was placed on my path as a catalyst for true healing and growth. This awareness transformed my story into a journey of conscious awakening and empowerment. Rather than being defined by my past, I embrace it as the foundation for the person I continue to become. This realization has guided me to where I stand today, fueling my passion to support others in discovering their own light and strength. It’s a gift I now share with others. Forever grateful.
The power of breathwork and kundalini
Breathwork and Kundalini unlock deep layers of the body and mind, gently releasing old patterns and beliefs to create space for lasting transformation. By working on a physical, emotional, and energetic level, they help release what has been unconsciously held in the body and nervous system. This creates space for new ways of thinking, perceiving, and experiencing life. Addressing beliefs beyond the mind allows for deep transformation and lasting growth.
Holistic healing: Supporting the whole self
Healing is a holistic journey. Movement, sleep, and nutrition also play essential roles in creating inner balance and supporting sustained healing.
Closing: A path toward transformation
Healing from trauma is a journey that calls for patience, curiosity, and compassion toward ourselves. When we learn to recognize our triggers, understand our patterns, and challenge limiting beliefs, we create space for true transformation.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to explore supportive practices that nurture your healing journey and foster lasting transformation.
While breathwork can be deeply healing, it is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological care. If you’re experiencing intense trauma, emotional instability, or have specific health conditions, please consult a qualified healthcare provider before engaging in intensive breathwork practices.
You don’t have to walk this path alone. Consider reaching out to me or another trusted professional to take the next step together.
Read more from Nina Schlaghecke
Nina Schlaghecke, Breathwork & Kundalini | Holistic Facilitator
Hi, I’m Nina, the founder of Inner Balance Company. Through breathwork and Kundalini, I guide people toward more balance, awareness, and energy in everyday life. These practices have brought me emotional resilience and a deeper connection with myself. A foundation that now shapes how I guide others. My guidance is personal and grounded, helping you reconnect with yourself and move forward with clarity and confidence. Each session is shaped around your needs and offers a calm, supportive space for real growth.
