Flood Trauma Is Real And Your Body Remembers It

Flood Trauma Is Real And Your Body Remembers It

Gain insights from experts and survivors on how trauma can live in the body long after the floodwaters recede. This episode centres on flood trauma in Niagara and why so many people are feeling on edge every time they hear rain on the roof. Host Janice Arnoldi chats with trauma therapist Laurie Gill, executive director of Attach Niagara, who explains that what many call “just stress” is actually a full-body response to crisis.

Laurie breaks down the core ingredients of trauma: events that are unexpected, out of our control, and leave us feeling helpless. From ruined basements and lost belongings to confusing insurance advice, she shows how this constant pressure can leave nervous systems in overdrive. Laurie shares how trauma is “a sensory experience” and why the logical part of the brain “gets kicked offline” during extreme stress.

Instead of focusing on talk-heavy approaches, her team uses a “bottom-up” model that starts with the body: calming the nervous system, softening the shock, and helping memories move into the past so they don’t feel like they’re happening all over again. You’ll hear about very human reactions across the community: seniors overwhelmed by strangers in their homes, children grieving lost playrooms, and even Laurie herself noticing old memories of a childhood house fire being stirred up by the floods.

She stresses that “those are normal human responses to abnormal experiences” and urges people to drop the “I should be over this” mindset. The episode also highlights free short-term trauma support, resources for kids and teens, and simple practices like “name it and tame it” – pausing to say “I feel… I need…” as a way to steady the nervous system.

If your heart still races when it rains or you’re quietly thinking, “Why can’t I just move on?”, this conversation might help you finally take a kinder breath with yourself and consider reaching out for support.