Hyper-awareness or Intuition?

Many trauma survivors are told they’re “too sensitive,” “overreacting,” or “hypervigilant.” In this episode of After the Fire, Michelle Hadley explores what’s actually happening beneath that label—and why heightened awareness isn’t something to eliminate, but something to understand.

This conversation unpacks how trauma sharpens perception, pattern recognition, and emotional intelligence, and why survivors often notice shifts, inconsistencies, and unspoken dynamics long before others do. Michelle examines the difference between nervous-system-driven vigilance and grounded intuition, and what it takes to rebuild trust in your own perception after it’s been dismissed or minimized.

Rather than asking listeners to turn their awareness off, this episode offers a reframing: awareness becomes power when it’s regulated, embodied, and integrated. If you’ve ever doubted your instincts—or been taught not to trust what you see and feel—this episode invites you to reclaim discernment as a strength forged through survival.

After the Fire is a Resilience Labs podcast about healing, integration, and the power that emerges after trauma.