Stress vs. Trauma: How to Listen to Your Body’s Cues

 Understanding the Difference with Stress Counselling in Coquitlam

You’ve probably had weeks when your shoulders feel tight, your chest feels heavy, and it’s hard to take a deep breath. You wonder — am I just stressed, or is something deeper going on?

Many people struggle to tell the difference between stress and trauma, but your body often carries the answer long before your mind can.

At Rene Health Clinic in Coquitlam, we help clients recognize the body’s signals and understand how stress and trauma affect the nervous system differently. By learning to listen to your body’s cues, you can begin to heal from within — whether you’re managing daily pressures or recovering from past experiences.

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🌿 What Is Stress?

Stress is your body’s natural way of responding to challenges. A certain amount of stress can even motivate you — helping you meet deadlines, stay alert, and adapt to change. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can take a serious toll on your physical and emotional health.

Acute stress is short-term and tied to specific situations, like running late or preparing for an important meeting. Once the event passes, your body usually returns to normal.

Chronic stress, on the other hand, builds slowly and lasts longer — often from work pressure, family conflict, or financial strain. Over time, it can leave your body in a constant state of tension.

Common signs of stress include:

• Headaches or muscle tension

• Rapid heartbeat or chest tightness

• Trouble sleeping or fatigue

• Digestive issues

• Feeling irritable or overwhelmed

If these symptoms persist, stress counselling in Coquitlam can help you develop healthy coping strategies and bring your nervous system back to balance.

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💔 What Is Trauma?

While stress is your body’s reaction to daily pressures, trauma occurs when an event overwhelms your ability to cope. Trauma isn’t only about what happened — it’s about how your body and mind experienced it.

Trauma can result from:

• Accidents or sudden loss

• Childhood neglect or emotional abuse

• Domestic violence or repeated exposure to conflict

• Life-changing events such as war or natural disasters

When left unprocessed, the body can remain “stuck” in survival mode long after the danger has passed. You might feel hypervigilant, emotionally numb, or disconnected from your surroundings.

Common trauma responses include:

• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts

• Feeling detached or frozen

• Difficulty trusting others

• Nightmares or disrupted sleep

• Emotional highs and lows

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⚖️ Stress vs. Trauma: Key Differences

Both stress and trauma activate your fight-or-flight response, but they differ in duration, intensity, and how your body recovers.

Understanding this difference helps you seek the right kind of counselling support for your body and mind.

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🌸 Healing Stress and Trauma at Rene Health Clinic

At Rene Health Clinic, our team offers personalized counselling in Coquitlam to help clients manage stress and heal from trauma.

We use evidence-based approaches such as:

• 🧩 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to reframe negative thoughts

• 💬 Somatic Therapy to release body-held tension

• 🌬️ Mindfulness and Breathwork for emotional regulation

• 🌈 EMDR Therapy to safely reprocess painful memories

Our approach is gentle, compassionate, and trauma-informed — helping you rebuild safety and confidence at your own pace.

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🕊️ When to Seek Support

If you notice ongoing signs such as:

• Trouble relaxing or sleeping

• Emotional numbness or constant anxiety

• Physical tension that doesn’t go away

• Difficulty concentrating or feeling present

…it may be time to reach out for help.

You don’t have to manage stress or trauma on your own. Our stress counsellors in Coquitlam are here to help you understand what your body is telling you — and support you on your path to healing.

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💬 Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to find relief from stress or begin healing from trauma, book a consultation at Rene Health Clinic today.

Together, we’ll build a personalized plan to help you feel calmer, more connected, and in control of your well-being.