Can I Trust My Gut?
Many clients come to counselling with a version of this question, even if they don’t say it out loud:
“Why don’t I trust myself anymore?”
“Why does my intuition feel off?”
“Can I trust my gut — or has it let me down?”
If you’ve experienced trauma, these questions make a lot of sense. Trauma doesn’t just affect our memories or emotions; it can deeply impact how we relate to ourselves, our bodies, and our inner sense of knowing.
What Do I Mean by “Gut Instinct” or "Intuition"?
Before we explore how trauma can impact intuition, it’s helpful to clarify what we mean by it. Intuition is often described as an immediate, non-conscious sense or knowing — a feeling that guides decisions without deliberate reasoning. This is sometimes referred to as “gut instinct,” because these signals often show up as bodily sensations, such as tension, warmth, or a sense of unease (Hogarth, 2010).
In other words, intuition isn’t just a thought — it’s a combination of bodily signals, past experiences, and subconscious processing. When trauma has affected your nervous system, these signals can feel confusing, muted, or even overwhelming, which is why many people question whether they can trust their gut.
How Trauma Can Disrupt Self-Trust
At its core, trauma is an experience of overwhelm — something happens that exceeds our nervous system’s ability to cope at the time. When that happens, the body often shifts into survival mode: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
In order to survive, many people learn (often unconsciously) to override their internal signals. You might have learned to ignore discomfort, minimize fear, second-guess yourself, or stay alert to others’ needs instead of your own. Over time, this can create distance from your intuition and a sense that your “gut” isn’t reliable anymore.
Judith Herman’s foundational trauma research describes how chronic trauma can disrupt a person’s sense of agency and self-trust, especially when the trauma occurs in relationships where safety was supposed to exist (Herman, 1992). When your instincts once told you something wasn’t safe — and you couldn’t act on it — it makes sense that trusting those instincts later feels complicated.
Trauma, the Body, and Intuition
Intuition isn’t just a thought process; it’s deeply connected to the body. Trauma researcher Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes that traumatic experiences are often stored somatically — meaning in the nervous system and body, not just in memory (van der Kolk, 2014).
When the body has learned that the world and other humans can be unpredictable or dangerous, it may stay in a state of hypervigilance or shutdown. In these states, body signals can feel confusing:
Anxiety may feel like intuition For example, you might have a strong urge to avoid a situation or person and assume it’s your “gut warning you,” when it may actually be anxiety anticipating danger based on past experiences.
Numbness may feel like clarity You might feel emotionally flat or disconnected and interpret that as being calm, logical, or “over it,” when it’s actually your nervous system shutting down to cope.
Fear may drown out curiosity or desire You might notice that it’s hard to imagine what you want, try something new, or feel excited — because fear quickly steps in and says, “That’s not safe,” before curiosity has a chance to speak.
This doesn’t mean your intuition is broken. It means your nervous system is doing its best to protect you.
Why You Might Doubt Yourself Now
Many trauma survivors are deeply self-aware, thoughtful, and sensitive — yet still struggle to trust themselves. You might notice patterns like:
Constantly second-guessing decisions
Looking to others for reassurance
Feeling disconnected from your needs or preferences
Worrying that your gut feelings are “wrong” or “too much”
Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory helps explain this. When our nervous system is stuck in survival states, our ability to accurately read internal and external cues can be affected (Porges, 2011). In other words, it’s not that you lack intuition — it’s that your system may not always feel safe enough to access it clearly.
Rebuilding Self-Trust After Trauma
Learning to trust yourself again isn’t about forcing confidence or “just listening to your gut.” It’s often a slow, compassionate process of reconnecting with your body and rebuilding a sense of safety.
This might include:
Noticing body sensations without judging them
Learning to differentiate between fear responses and intuitive signals
Practicing small acts of choice and agency
Developing curiosity toward your reactions instead of self-criticism
Peter Levine’s work on somatic experiencing highlights that healing happens when the nervous system is gently supported in completing stress responses, rather than being pushed to relive or override them (Levine, 2010). Over time, this can help intuition feel less reactive and more grounded.
Therapy as a Space to Reconnect With Yourself
In trauma-informed counselling, rebuilding self-trust is often a central part of the work. Therapy can offer a safe, supportive relationship where you don’t have to have all the answers — and where your experiences are taken seriously.
Rather than asking, “Can I trust my gut?” many clients slowly arrive at a different question: “How can I listen to myself with more compassion?”
From there, trust tends to grow naturally.
Support as You Take the Next Step
If trauma has impacted your ability to trust your “gut” (aka intuition), there is nothing wrong with you. Your nervous system adapted in ways that helped you survive. With support, patience, and care, it’s possible to rebuild a relationship with yourself that feels steadier, kinder, and more trustworthy.
If this resonates and you’re curious about trauma-informed counselling, I offer individual counselling where these experiences can be explored with care and support. You’re welcome to connect for a free 15-minute consultation to see if it feels right for you.
Video Link for Anyone Interested to Learn More about Trauma: https://youtu.be/BJfmfkDQb14?si=xv885RdzVGuzprqn
*Disclaimer: This video includes visuals and discussion related to domestic abuse, childhood abuse, and sexual assault. If you feel this content may be distressing, please feel free to skip this video.*
Research References
Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror (1st ed.). Basic Books.
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
