If you have experienced a traumatic event or live with the effects of complex trauma, you may feel that you are incapable of having a healthy and connected relationship. When you have gone through a life-changing experience, how you perceive the world and those in your life may dramatically change. Any traumatic life event can influence your ability to feel safe in a relationship. You may become hypervigilant looking for red flags even if they do not exist.

Approximately 70% of people globally have experienced a traumatic event within their lifetime. A small number—5.6%—will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)1. While the development of PTSD is based on many factors, including prior experiences with distressing events, a common concern is how trauma can affect someone inter-personally, including their romantic relationships.

Trauma is not “just” what happened to you. It is the somatic experiences, feelings, beliefs, and thoughts associated with the traumatic event that limited your ability to cope and are still........

© Psychology Today