Trauma can belong to the past while continuing to affect a person’s inner life. An event may be over in reality without its effects necessarily coming to an end. Certain present-day situations can then trigger an emotion, sensation, or reaction associated with a past experience, sometimes unexpectedly.
In my psychoanalytic consultations in Lyon, either in person or online, the work involves exploring what the traumatic experience continues to bring into play for the individual, how it may manifest in the present, and what patterns recur in their relationship with themselves and others, with the aim of gradually putting the experience into words and working through its effects.
How Can a Past Event Still Affect My Life Today?
Certain situations, sensations, words, or relationships can trigger an emotion linked to a past experience.
A person may then feel unable to understand why they are still reacting in this way.
Psychoanalytic work provides an opportunity to explore the possible links between present-day experiences and personal history.
Childhood experiences, family relationships, traumatic events, and certain recurring experiences can contribute to the development of personal perceptions and relational patterns.
The aim is to understand, for each individual, what connections may exist between past experiences and what they are experiencing today.
Why Do Certain Emotions or Reactions Seem Beyond My Control?
Following a traumatic experience, certain reactions may arise quickly, including hypervigilance, fear, avoidance, guilt, anger, or a sense of insecurity.
A person may understand that the danger has passed while continuing to feel threatened.
Psychoanalysis provides a space to explore what a past experience brings into play in the present, while respecting the individual’s own pace.
Why Do I Keep Thinking About What Happened or Reacting as Though I Were Still in Danger?
Following a traumatic experience, certain memories may return repeatedly and be difficult to control.
These symptoms may require specialist support, particularly when the trauma is severe or accompanied by intense symptoms.
Talking about the experience can nevertheless provide a space to gradually describe what happened and understand its current effects.
A traumatic experience can leave a lasting sense of threat.
Certain present-day situations may then trigger a fear or alarm response that seems disproportionate to what is happening.
Understanding what triggers these reactions may gradually help distinguish between what belongs to the past and what is actually happening in the present.
Can I Recover from Trauma, and How Can I Work Through the Experience Without Reliving Everything?
Everyone experiences life after trauma differently.
Recovery does not necessarily mean forgetting the event, but rather gradually reaching a point where it no longer constantly shapes the present.
Depending on the nature of the trauma and the symptoms, different specialist approaches may be appropriate. Psychoanalytic support can also help a person put their experience into words.
Psychoanalysis offers a space in which the experience can be explored gradually.
The aim is neither to force someone to recount an event nor to systematically search for memories.
The work involves allowing what can be expressed to find a place within the individual’s personal history.
For certain types of trauma and post-traumatic symptoms, specialist treatment may be particularly appropriate.
As a psychoanalyst in Lyon, I offer in-person and online consultations to explore how present-day experiences may resonate with earlier events in a person’s life.
An initial session provides an opportunity to get to know one another, clarify what brings you to therapy, and consider whether a psychoanalytic approach is suited to your situation and expectations.
Rebuilding Yourself After Trauma Through Psychoanalysis