As a Kensington, MD trauma therapist practice, we’ve seen firsthand how trauma doesn’t just shape memories, it can fundamentally alter how time itself is experienced. At Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, we proudly offer evening and weekend appointments so clients can access support when they need it most. For many people who have experienced trauma, time can feel distorted: the past feels too present, the future seems unreachable, and the present moment slips away unnoticed.
One of the most surprising ways trauma shows up in daily life is through changes in how time is processed. After a traumatic event, people often report feeling as if time has slowed down, sped up, or lost its meaning entirely. This disruption isn’t imagined, it’s a documented effect of trauma on the brain’s ability to process and sequence events accurately. When time feels “off,” it can become an underlying condition harmful to relationships, creating confusion and miscommunication in close connections. And no, we aren’t talking about the instant something traumatic happens and it can feel like slow motion. After an event occurs, time can be warped for quite some time beyond the event.
Why Trauma Warps Time
When we experience intense fear or stress, our brain shifts into survival mode. In this state, the body floods with stress hormones and the brain prioritizes threat detection over rational processing. This reaction can create what’s known as “time dilation,” where traumatic moments seem to last forever or replay endlessly. Even long after the event, the brain may remain locked in patterns that confuse past and present.
Clients often share that they feel “stuck” in moments that should be behind them. For others, days pass in a blur, or emotions from old wounds surface unexpectedly. These reactions are not failures of willpower or memory, they are part of how trauma interrupts the brain’s usual way of organizing experience.
The Relationship Impact
These shifts in time perception can strain even strong relationships. If one partner feels time is standing still while the other is focused on the future, it can create disconnection. Reactions triggered by old trauma may appear sudden or disproportionate to current events, leading to arguments about what couples fight about: missed expectations, emotional withdrawal, or lack of communication.
When past pain feels as vivid as the present, the ability to stay grounded in current conversations becomes harder. One partner may feel they’re “over it,” while the other is still emotionally back in the moment. Without recognizing that trauma has shifted time perception, both partners may misread the situation and feel increasingly distant.
How Therapy Can Help
Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help individuals begin to restore their sense of time and reconnect to the present. Our therapists have clinical degrees in their areas of specialty and use research-based approaches that support healing at both the emotional and neurological levels.
Some therapeutic techniques that support healthy time perception include:
- Grounding strategies that help individuals reorient to the present moment during emotional distress. For example, we work to help you understand where your mind is at versus where your body is at when you feel the sensations left behind by trauma.
- Narrative therapy that helps clients make sense of their personal timeline and reintegrate fragmented memories
- Cognitive work that challenges beliefs like “I’ll always feel this way” or “nothing will ever change,” which are rooted in trauma-time distortions
Therapy can also include couples work, where both partners learn how trauma may be affecting their shared sense of time. When both people understand that responses are not irrational but rooted in survival, it opens the door to greater compassion and stronger communication.
Small Steps Toward Healing
Restoring time perception takes patience, but even small shifts can help individuals feel more in control. With support, it’s possible to rebuild a timeline that makes sense, one where the past no longer overrides the present.
Moving Forward With Support
If trauma is affecting your ability to stay grounded in the present or causing stress in your relationships, we’re here to help. At Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, we offer flexible scheduling options and a team of clinically trained therapists ready to support you in your healing process. Contact us today to get started.