If you’re a high-achieving woman in Chevy Chase, Georgetown, McLean, or the greater DMV area, you’ve built a life that many aspire to—thriving in your career, managing responsibilities, and pushing yourself to achieve at the highest levels. But what happens when success and resilience aren’t enough to fix trauma?

Many high-performing women believe that if they just work harder, stay busy, and keep moving forward, they can outrun the emotional impact of a traumatic experience. But trauma doesn’t work that way. Even the most driven, accomplished professionals can find themselves overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally numb, or stuck in the aftermath of a traumatic event. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep struggling in silence.

Trauma Recovery After a Recent Crisis

After a traumatic event, it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions. You might feel fine one moment, only to be overwhelmed the next. You might think you’ve “handled it,” only to realize later that anxiety, irritability, exhaustion, or intrusive thoughts are interfering with your life and work. This is because trauma doesn’t simply fade away with time—it lingers in the nervous system and requires intentional healing.

If you’re wondering how to get over a traumatic event fast, the answer isn’t about ignoring your emotions or “powering through.” Instead, it’s about giving yourself the right tools and support to process what happened in a way that allows true healing.

Why Do I Feel Fine One Moment and Then Totally Overwhelmed?

Trauma affects the brain and body in unpredictable ways. In high-stress professions, many women are accustomed to compartmentalizing emotions in order to function. However, unresolved trauma has a way of resurfacing, often when you least expect it.

This rollercoaster of emotions happens because the brain’s fight-or-flight response can remain activated long after the event itself. You might feel calm and focused at work but experience sudden waves of panic, irritability, or emotional exhaustion when things quiet down. This is completely normal—and a sign that your body is still processing what happened.

How Long Does PTSD Last After a Traumatic Event?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long PTSD or trauma-related stress lasts. Some women find their symptoms fade within weeks or months, while others struggle for years without proper support. Factors that influence recovery time include:

• The nature and severity of the trauma

• Whether the event was sudden or prolonged

• Your support system and coping mechanisms

• Whether past traumas were triggered by the recent event

The good news? With the right approach, trauma recovery doesn’t have to take years. Many high-achieving women benefit from EMDR therapy, a research-backed method that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories quickly and effectively.

I Just Had a Traumatic Experience—What Should I Do?

If you’ve recently experienced trauma, your first instinct might be to push it aside and keep going. While this may work in the short term, unresolved trauma can show up in unexpected ways—affecting your mood, sleep, relationships, and overall well-being.

Instead of ignoring it, consider these steps:

1. Acknowledge What Happened – Suppressing emotions can make them more intense over time. Give yourself permission to recognize that what you went through was difficult.

2. Prioritize Self-Care – Trauma recovery isn’t about indulgence; it’s about giving your body and mind the resources they need to heal. Sleep, proper nutrition, and gentle movement can help regulate your nervous system.

3. Talk to a Professional – EMDR therapy is one of the most effective ways to process trauma and prevent long-term PTSD symptoms. If you’re in Chevy Chase, Georgetown, McLean, or anywhere in the DMV, virtual EMDR therapy makes it easy to get the support you need from the comfort of your home.

4. Avoid Overworking to Cope – Many high-achievers use work as a distraction from emotional pain. While staying busy can temporarily numb feelings, it doesn’t address the root issue.

Why Am I Still Stuck After What Happened?

If time has passed and you still feel stuck, anxious, or emotionally disconnected, it’s not because you’re weak—it’s because trauma rewires the brain. Your nervous system is still operating in a heightened state, making it difficult to fully move forward.

Trauma healing requires more than willpower. It requires a structured, science-backed approach that allows your brain to reprocess distressing memories in a safe and efficient way. This is where EMDR therapy can be life-changing.

The Role of EMDR Therapy in Trauma Recovery

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized therapy that helps high-achieving women process traumatic memories quickly so they no longer feel overwhelming. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to relive the trauma over and over—instead, it uses bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements) to help your brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge.

Many professional women in Chevy Chase, Georgetown, McLean, and the DMV have turned to EMDR therapy because it offers fast, effective relief without requiring years of traditional therapy. If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start feeling like yourself again, EMDR can help.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If you’ve been trying to push through trauma on your own and it’s not working, it’s not because you’re failing—it’s because success doesn’t erase trauma. True healing requires a different approach, one that prioritizes processing emotions, retraining the nervous system, and regaining a sense of safety and control.

If you’re a high-achieving woman in Chevy Chase, Georgetown, McLean, or anywhere in the DMV, virtual EMDR therapy can help you finally move past trauma without disrupting your busy schedule.

Services Offered with Kate Regnier, LCSW and EMDR Therapist

Are you a woman struggling with PTSD and anxiety after experiencing a recent trauma? Kate Regnier, LCSW and EMDR Therapist, can help you process through trauma that has upended your life, while helping you to feel lighter, less burdened with anxiety and dread, and to dull the sharpness of recent trauma in your body and mind. Kate also offer online EMDR Therapy for women experiencing unexpected grief who are struggling with intense images and flashbacks and feelings of hopelessness in Georgetown, Chevy Chase, and McLean. Kate see’s clients virtually in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., Indiana, and Michigan. To learn more about Kate, visit the page Meet Kate and check out more on the blog!

Disclaimer* The content provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. While I strive to ensure the accuracy of the information shared, I cannot guarantee that all information is current or correct. Readers are advised to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions based on this post.