mental-health/trauma-ptsd

Something happened last year and my body still won't stand down

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A few nights ago, after a bad one, I opened an AI chatbot at 3am and typed 'why am I still on edge all the time after something happened,' because it felt safer than telling a person who'd ask what it was. Then I searched whether this is a normal reaction, since I keep thinking I should be over it

Last updated: July 2026

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What this can feel like

Something happened last year that I don't really talk about, and I keep thinking I should be over it by now. But my body clearly didn't get the memo. I'm braced all the time, like I'm waiting for something bad, and a slammed door or someone coming up behind me sends my whole system into overdrive. At the same time I feel weirdly far away from everything, kind of flat and foggy, like I'm watching my life on a screen. I have nights where I wake up with my heart pounding from dreams I don't fully remember, and then I'm scared to go back to sleep. I've started avoiding stuff that reminds me of it, which is shrinking where I even go. It's messing with school and I barely feel like myself. A few nights ago, after a bad one, I opened an AI chatbot at 3am and typed 'why am I still on edge all the time after something happened,' because it felt safer than telling a person who'd ask what it was. Then I searched whether this is a normal reaction, since I keep thinking I should be over it. I don't know how to explain it, but I want to stop living like this.

What's a first step I can take?

Affirm that reaching out at 3am, even to a bot, was a real step toward not carrying it alone Offer one small optional grounding idea for after a bad dream, like naming a few things you can see

Common questions

A trauma response can keep running long after the event, because your nervous system is still stuck in alarm - that's how trauma works, not a sign you're weak or broken. 'I should be over it' is one of the most common and unfair things people tell themselves. Still reacting is a reason for support, not shame.

You don't have to relive the details to start. You can tell a doctor or a trauma-informed counselor 'something happened and now I'm on edge, numb, and having nightmares' - that's enough to begin. Good trauma care goes at your pace and never forces you to recount more than you're ready to.

Yes - feeling both revved up (jumpy, braced, bad dreams) and shut down (numb, foggy, far away) at once is a classic part of trauma responses, not a contradiction. Naming both to a professional actually helps them recognize the pattern and find the right kind of support.

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Say it back

How would you explain this to someone you love?

Two or three sentences, just as you’d say it. Gale reflects back what you focused on — a mirror, not a quiz.

If things feel heavy, a person is available anytime — call or text 988.

Talk to a clinician

Gale can help you find a clinician in your state and request a visit.

Find care →

When it's worth reaching out

  • —You're constantly on edge, easily startled, or having nightmares that wreck your sleep
  • —You feel numb, foggy, or detached from yourself or the people around you
  • —You're avoiding more and more places or reminders, and it's shrinking your life
  • —You notice thoughts of hurting yourself, or that you'd be better off gone

Call or text 988 - the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and 24/7. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.

This is general information to help you make sense of what you're feeling, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Only a qualified professional can tell you what's going on for you.

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