Why does your body act like you are still in danger? with Guest Lisa RobinsonWhy does your body act like you are still in danger? with Guest Lisa Robinson
The Recovered Life Show
Host Damon Frank talks with clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Robinson about why the body can stay stuck in “trauma time”, how triggers work and how this connects to addiction. They discuss EMDR, childhood neglect and abuse, and the possibility of healing with the right support.
30:53•19 Oct 2026
Why Your Body Still Acts Like You’re in Danger with Dr Lisa Robinson
Episode Overview
- Traumatic experiences can remain “stuck” in the brain, causing the body to react as if past danger is still happening in the present.
- A trigger is anything that reminds the brain of old danger, leading to responses like fight, flight, freeze or fawn even in safe situations.
- Addictive behaviours such as substance use, overworking or people-pleasing often develop as attempts to escape overwhelming feelings and symptoms rooted in trauma.
- Neglect and emotional absence in childhood can create deep shame and beliefs like “I am worthless”, which may be harder to shift than some forms of abuse.
- Healing is possible through trauma-focused therapies, especially those that involve the body, alongside building safety, boundaries and present-moment awareness.
“You can absolutely heal from it if you get the right support.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober when their body still thinks danger is right around the corner? This episode of The Recovered Life Show zooms in on that question, with host Damon Frank chatting to clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Robinson about trauma, the nervous system, and why your body might still be on high alert even years after the worst is over.
Dr Robinson breaks down, in plain language, what happens when “the brain didn’t finish its job” after a traumatic event. She explains how memories can get stuck, why we end up living in “trauma time”, and how a perfectly ordinary moment – a smell, a tone of voice, a dominant person in the room – can suddenly make someone feel like they’re right back in the past.
As she puts it, “a trigger is just something that is reminding your brain of old danger.” For people in addiction recovery, this hits especially close to home. Dr Robinson and Damon talk about how alcohol, drugs, overworking or people-pleasing can become quick fixes to avoid “big, bad feelings”, and how those old survival strategies can quietly run the show long into sobriety.
They also cover the less obvious signs of trauma responses – chronic defensiveness, freezing, fawning, or constantly feeling “stuck” – and how many people simply think, “that’s just my personality”. Dr Robinson explains EMDR and other trauma therapies in everyday terms, contrasting them with traditional talk therapy and showing why working with the body can be crucial for healing.
She stresses that trauma can come from neglect as much as from obvious abuse, and that complex histories don’t mean someone is broken beyond repair. Most importantly, she offers hope: “You can absolutely heal from it if you get the right support.” For anyone in recovery who still feels on edge even in a safe life, this conversation may spark the question: what if your nervous system just needs a new way to learn safety?
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