Reflections on therapy, trauma, and the nervous system

Articles and reflections from my practice

This page brings together articles and reflections from my practice.

Some focus directly on therapy, trauma, the nervous system, and relationship patterns. Others reflect more broadly on the values and human questions that shape how I think about suffering, care, relationship, and psychological work.

If you have come here because you are considering therapy, you may also want to look at the main therapy pages, About, or Getting started to get a clearer sense of how I work.

You can also read more about some of the key values behind my work.

May 16, 2026

Trauma and relationships — why closeness can feel unsafe

May 16, 2026/ Paolo Imbalzano

Many people long for closeness while also feeling anxious, guarded, ashamed, overwhelmed, or withdrawn in relationship. This article explores how trauma and relational wounding can shape patterns of contact, distance, mistrust, and longing, and why these patterns often make sense.

May 02, 2026

What shutdown, freeze, or collapse can feel like — and why it happens

May 02, 2026/ Paolo Imbalzano

Not all trauma responses look like panic or agitation. Sometimes the system goes quiet, heavy, numb, foggy, or flat. This article explores what shutdown, freeze, and collapse can feel like, why they happen, and why these responses often make sense in the context of overwhelm or chronic strain.

April 15, 2026

Functioning, but at too great a cost

April 15, 2026/ Paolo Imbalzano

Some people look as though they are coping well from the outside, yet inside they are exhausted, tense, shut down, overwhelmed, or still reacting in ways they cannot fully shift. This article explores the hidden cost of high functioning, why insight and talking may not always be enough on their own, and how therapy can help.

April 03, 2026

Why do I feel on edge all the time? Understanding hypervigilance

April 03, 2026/ Paolo Imbalzano

Feeling constantly on edge can be exhausting. This article explains hypervigilance in plain language: why the nervous system stays on guard, how trauma and chronic stress can shape this response, and why it is not a sign of weakness or overreaction.