How Trauma Affects Decision-Making and Risk-Taking

By Maria Diaz, LMHC-D, LPC, EMDR Certified Therapist

Trauma Impacts Decision-Making

When we think about trauma, we often focus on its emotional weight—grief, anxiety, fear, or numbness. But trauma doesn’t just linger in our feelings; it reshapes the way we think, act, and make decisions. It can color our view of the world, our sense of safety, and even how we weigh risks and rewards. Understanding how trauma affects decision-making and risk-taking is essential—not only for those living with its impact, but also for the people who support them.

Let’s explore how this plays out in everyday life, and how awareness can lead to more compassionate choices and healing paths.

Trauma Changes the Brain’s Operating System

Trauma—whether from childhood neglect, violence, loss, or any overwhelming experience—doesn’t just leave a psychological imprint. It can physically alter brain function.

When someone experiences trauma, the brain’s alarm system (the amygdala) becomes hyper-alert. The prefrontal cortex, which governs rational thinking and decision-making, can become less active, especially under stress. In short: the brain is rewired to focus on survival, not thoughtful planning.

This means decisions may be made reactively, not reflectively. The nervous system is primed to avoid perceived danger at all costs—even when the “threat” isn’t life-threatening. Over time, this can influence both big life choices and smaller, day-to-day decisions.

Risk Perception: Either Hyper-Cautious or Overexposed

One of the clearest ways trauma affects decision-making is through risk perception. People who’ve experienced trauma may find themselves at one of two extremes:

1. Avoiding all risks

   For some, trauma leads to hypervigilance and a strong need to feel in control. The world can feel unsafe, and even small risks—like starting a new job, having a difficult conversation, or traveling to a new place—feel overwhelming. These individuals may avoid change altogether, not out of laziness or fear of failure, but from a deeply rooted need to protect themselves.

2. Engaging in risky behaviors

   On the other end, some trauma survivors may seem to seek out danger. Risky behaviors like substance use, reckless driving, or unsafe relationships can be ways of self-soothing or re-enacting trauma in an attempt to “gain control” over it. Others may feel emotionally numb and take big risks simply to feel something again.

Neither response is a character flaw. These are survival strategies born out of the brain and body doing their best to cope with overwhelming stress.

Trauma’s Role in Self-Doubt and Indecision

Trauma can also erode trust—especially self-trust. If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I don’t trust myself to make the right decision,” that may be a trauma response.

When decisions in the past have led to harm (even if through no fault of their own), people may become overly cautious, second-guessing their instincts. They may defer to others or freeze altogether, avoiding decisions to escape the pressure.

This is particularly true in people who experienced childhood trauma, where early experiences of betrayal or neglect taught them that their needs weren’t safe or valid. Later in life, even simple decisions—what to eat, where to live, who to trust—can feel paralyzing.

What Healing Looks Like

The good news? Our brains and bodies are adaptable. With support, trauma survivors can—and do—reclaim their sense of agency and rebuild a healthy relationship with risk and decision-making.

Here are a few ways that healing can take shape:

• Therapy: Trauma-informed therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic experiencing, or cognitive behavioral therapy can help people process traumatic memories and restore more balanced thinking patterns.

• Mindfulness and nervous system regulation: Practices like meditation, breathwork, and grounding exercises help reduce the brain’s threat response, making it easier to think clearly and calmly.

• Supportive relationships: Trust is rebuilt in the context of safe, consistent connection. Whether through friends, support groups, or partners, relationships provide the scaffolding for trying new things and taking healthy risks.

• Small wins: Rebuilding decision-making confidence often starts with small choices. Each positive outcome reinforces the idea: “I can trust myself.”

Moving Forward with Compassion

Whether you’re navigating trauma yourself or supporting someone who is, it’s important to meet these experiences with compassion, not judgment. People don’t avoid decisions or take big risks because they’re weak or irresponsible—they’re often responding to deep survival instincts.

Understanding the impact of trauma on the brain helps us shift from frustration to empathy. And when we recognize these patterns, we can begin to gently challenge them—with patience, curiosity, and care.

At the heart of healing is the belief that safety, choice, and empowerment are possible. With time and support, people can move from surviving to thriving—making decisions not from fear, but from freedom.

About the Author

Maria Diaz is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NY, NJ, and CT. She's certified in EMDR and trained in trauma-focused modalities. She is focused on healing and providing compassionate treatment to best support clients looking to feel better.

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