Nikki's Story: Trauma Recovery in Her 40s

Nikki was the type of person everyone thought had it all together. In her mid-40s, she was thriving in her career as a marketing director and raising two teenage boys who adored her. On the outside, she seemed polished, composed, and successful. But inside? Inside, Nikki felt like she was barely holding on.  

Carrying Trauma in Silence

Nikki’s life hadn’t been easy. Growing up in a household filled with chaos and emotional neglect left her feeling small and unseen. Over the years, she learned how to push through, pretending everything was fine even when it wasn’t. As an adult, she found herself in a long-term relationship where abuse became part of her everyday life. When she finally left, she was determined to rebuild for her kids.  

But the weight of her past stuck with her. The flashbacks, the restless nights, the constant feeling of being on edge—it all stayed, no matter how hard she worked to ignore it. Most people in Nikki’s life had no idea what she was going through. She wore her "everything's fine" mask like a pro, but underneath, she felt like a shell of herself.  

Is This Just How I’m Going to Feel Forever? 

Nikki tried therapy—lots of it. She spent thousands of dollars on different approaches, hoping one would finally help her feel better. Nothing clicked. “I’m too broken,” she thought. “This is just how I’ll feel for the rest of my life.”  

Her body seemed stuck in survival mode. Most days, she lived on autopilot, numb and detached. Then, out of nowhere, she’d find herself overwhelmed with adrenaline, her heart racing and her thoughts spinning out of control. She felt like she was constantly bracing for something bad to happen, even when she was sitting safely at home.  

Nikki thought healing just wasn’t in the cards for her.  

Taking a Chance on Something New

One night, scrolling through her phone, she stumbled on the Rebound app. She didn’t expect much—how could an app succeed where therapy hadn’t? But the idea of dedicating just 10 minutes a day, a few times a week, felt doable. With her busy schedule, the convenience was appealing. “What do I have to lose?” she thought.  

Rebound Gave Her Tools She Could Actually Use 

Nikki was surprised by how quickly Rebound started making a difference. The lessons unpacked how trauma was affecting her brain and body. 

“It wasn’t just “self-help” talk—it was science-backed and practical. For the first time, I didn’t feel like the problem was me; it was what I’d been through.”

On some days, she logged in right before bed, lying under the covers. Other times, she’d squeeze in a session from her car before picking her kids up from practice. Her motivation for this sort of thing was always tough to sustain, especially with kids, but since the lessons were short, this was something she could do daily.

Small Changes That Added Up to Big Shifts 

At first, the changes were subtle. Nikki noticed she wasn’t waking up quite as drained. Her moments of panic became less frequent—and when they did happen, she had strategies to calm herself down. For the first time in years, she felt like she was in control.  

She also started reconnecting with herself. She journaled, something she hadn’t done since her 20s, and even picked up painting again. These little acts of self-care felt like tiny victories.  

And then there was her family. “Mom, you seem happier,” her youngest son said one night. That simple comment made Nikki realize how far she’d come. She wasn’t just surviving anymore; she was showing up for her kids and herself in a way she never thought possible.  

“I Didn’t Think Healing Was Possible—But It Is”

The flashbacks stopped controlling her. She set boundaries in her relationships, started feeling confident at work, and finally began seeing herself as more than the sum of her past experiences.  

For anyone feeling stuck, Nikki has this to say: “I spent so long thinking nothing could help me. But Rebound showed me I wasn’t broken—I just needed the right support. Healing is possible, and it’s closer than you think.”  

Nikki’s story is proof that even when the past feels overwhelming, there’s a way forward.