marceline

Hyperventilating and shortness of breath

This is especially common if someone starts to relive it

And feel like they're back in that place of vulnerability

They give a big reaction to something small

That is, their reaction is disproportionate to the situation

Because their past trauma has been touched on

And therefore is impacting their perception

They shut down emotionally

So the conversation may shift to something more surface level

Because they have less capacity to go deeper

Given part of their attention is taken up by their trauma

They go silent