Learning to Trust Yourself Again: Anxiety vs. Intuition After Trauma or Illness

Have you ever had one of those gut feelings about something? You just knew what to do but then second-guessed yourself. Maybe you wondered: Am I overreacting? Is this just anxiety, or is it actually my intuition?

If you’ve experienced trauma, chronic illness, or years of people dismissing your experiences, learning to trust yourself again can feel impossible. When the world tells you your body is lying to you, it’s hard to know what’s real.

In this post, we explore the difference between anxiety and intuition, how trauma and illness affect self-trust, and practical ways to rebuild it—especially after a major diagnosis.

Trauma, Illness, and the Nervous System

“Your nervous system’s primary job is to keep you safe. When it’s hijacked by trauma, it can make it really hard to listen to your intuition.”

The nervous system’s primary job is survival. The fight-or-flight response keeps us alert to danger, scanning our environment constantly. While this response was essential for our ancestors, today it can hijack our internal compass.

When the nervous system is stuck in a heightened state—common after trauma or long-term illness—it becomes difficult to recognize when there’s no immediate danger. Intuition might whisper, but the body reacts as if a threat is real, making it challenging to know whether a gut feeling is a warning or fear amplified by anxiety.

When the World Doubts You

“After being dismissed medically or personally, it’s no wonder you might doubt your intuition.”

People with chronic illness or major diagnoses often experience medical gaslighting. Symptoms are downplayed, or healthcare professionals say, “It’s probably nothing,” leaving individuals questioning their own bodies. Friends and family can unintentionally contribute too:

• “You look fine—surely it’s nothing.”

• “Maybe you just need more water or exercise.”

• “It’s all in your head.”

Anxiety can feel urgent and noisy, screaming at you, whereas intuition is calmer, persistent, and often quieter.

Anxiety vs. Intuition: How to Tell the Difference

Anxiety: loud, urgent, fear-based, often tied to past trauma. The body reacts with racing heart, sweating, or tightness in the chest—physical symptoms of fight-or-flight.

Intuition: calm, persistent, a deep knowing that quietly nudges action. It doesn’t scream—it whispers.

“Anxiety is screaming at you in your face, while intuition is almost like a whisper.”

Learning to distinguish between the two takes practice. Ask yourself:

• If I weren’t afraid, what would I do?

• Is this coming from fear or a quiet inner knowing?

Practical Tips to Rebuild Self-Trust

1. Pause and breathe. Give yourself a moment to check in with your body before reacting.

2. Use the 10/10/10 rule. When facing a decision, ask yourself how you’ll feel in 10 minutes, 10 hours, and 10 days.

3. Journal or voice note successes. Record moments when intuition was correct and when anxiety didn’t dictate the outcome.

4. Practice self-compassion. Forgive yourself for past “wrong” decisions—self-trust grows when you treat yourself with kindness.

5. Ground yourself. Techniques like deep breathing, sensory awareness, or mindfulness can calm hyper-vigilant nervous systems, allowing intuition to emerge.

“Even if trauma or illness has made you doubt yourself, your intuition is still there. Trust isn’t about always being right—it’s about giving yourself permission to listen.”

The Takeaway

Start small: pause, check in with your body, and ask, If I weren’t afraid, what would I do? The more you practice, the stronger your trust will become.

“Learning to trust yourself again isn’t easy—but you don’t have to do it alone.”

We’d love to hear from the community: Have you mistaken anxiety for intuition—or trusted a gut feeling that turned out to be right? Join the conversation in our Support Circle or connect with us on social media.