Your intuition is a sacred inner compass — a quiet voice, a subtle pull, a gut feeling — that guides you toward what’s right, safe, and aligned for your life. But for many of us, especially those who’ve experienced trauma, that voice can feel muted or hard to trust.
Whether you’re living with a disability, raising a child with unique needs, or simply navigating a world that hasn’t always felt safe or supportive, trauma can impact the way we connect with ourselves.
The good news?
Your intuition never disappears — it just waits patiently to be heard again.
How Trauma Creates Distance from Intuition
Trauma isn’t just the big, obvious things — it can be chronic stress, emotional neglect, repeated medical gaslighting, or growing up in an environment where your feelings weren’t safe to express.
I didn’t need to go to a therapist to figure out that I’ve experienced massive amounts of trauma in my life. And as a result, I’ve found myself at times, deeply disconnected from my intuition.
When these experiences happen, your body learns to survive by scanning for danger, people-pleasing, second-guessing, and shrinking your needs. Over time, that survival mode can quiet the intuitive voice that once spoke clearly.
Instead of:
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“I know this isn’t right for me,”
You hear: “Maybe I’m just being too sensitive.”
Instead of:
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“I need rest and space,”
You hear: “I should be doing more.”
Signs You May Be Disconnected from Your Intuition
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Constant self-doubt or second-guessing your decisions
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Difficulty saying no (even when you’re exhausted)
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Over-reliance on others’ opinions to guide your choices
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Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions
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A sense that something feels “off,” but not knowing why
If you’ve experienced these, you’re not broken. You’ve simply adapted to survive. Now, it’s safe to come back home to yourself.
Read: 5 Signs Your Intuition is Trying to Get Your Attention
How to Reconnect with Your Inner Knowing
1. Create Safe Space for Stillness
Trauma teaches urgency. Intuition thrives in calm. Even just 5 minutes a day of quiet — without distraction — gives your inner voice a chance to speak. Try breathwork, nature walks, or sitting with hand over heart.
2. Feel Your Feelings Without Editing Them
Start small. Let yourself notice when something excites or drains you. Instead of judging the emotion, get curious. “What might this feeling be trying to tell me?”
I started to notice that my heart rate would accelerate at certain times. I also noticed that I would literally feel my energy drop when I had interactions with certain people–and would feel bad that I reacted that way.
Read: 3 Ways to Quiet the Noise & Activate Your Intuition
3. Journal Your Truth Without Censoring
Try prompts like:
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When have I known something deep down but ignored it?
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What am I afraid to admit I already know?
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What does my body say yes to? What does it say no to?
Give yourself permission to be brutally honest with yourself. That time that you knew your brother’s girlfriend was bad news? The fact that you have been drinking too much? When your stomach ties in knots on the way to visit your family in Minneapolis? Write all those things down and give yourself permission to acknowledge them–even if you don’t have the capacity to address them right now.
4. Honor the Tiny Nudges
Your intuition doesn’t always shout — sometimes it whispers. Begin to act on the small “yeses” and “no’s” your body gives you: rest when you feel tired, say no without overexplaining, trust the vibe you get, and ask the universe to give you little nudges where it can.
I find that it’s easier to honor the small nudges and winks from the universe than it is to trust your gut on the big decisions. Case in point: I know that I’m always going to pick the right check out lane at the grocery store, find parking no matter where I go, and have the perfect idea pop into my head for my next blog post. Why? Because I ask the universe for help and trust that they will show up to help me align with my true path.
Read: 6 Ways to Listen to Your Intuition
5. Seek Support That Sees You
Therapists, coaches, or support groups that understand trauma or disability can help you build self-trust again. Being seen and believed by someone else makes it easier to believe yourself.
Healing Is Coming Home to Yourself
Reconnecting with your intuition after trauma is not a quick fix — it’s a gentle remembering. A reclaiming. A return to the truth that was always inside you.
Your body knows.
Your spirit knows.
You know.
And as you begin to listen, you’ll find that inner voice grows louder, stronger, and more loving every day.
Sending you love and light,
Jaime
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