There are many reasons that trauma hurts us. One thing you may not know is that trauma physically changes our brains. When you experience a traumatic event, your mind changes. Areas of your brain that once worked in a particular way change based on hyperarousal due to trauma. For example, the amygdala gets over-activated after a traumatic experience. When you hear the phrase "fight, flight or freeze" that's when you have a physical and emotional response to a trigger. You remember your trauma, and your amygdala becomes overactive. You're hypervigilant, and you're on alert, making sure that you're safe from danger. Your trauma is real, and your brain is telling you that you're hurting and need help.