Courtrooms are built for order, control, and compliance. Complex PTSD is built from the opposite: long-term exposure to chaos, power imbalance, and unpredictability. And court does not feel neutral when your nervous system has an astute memory.
So when survivors are told to “just stay calm,” “be professional,” or “don’t take it personally,” what they’re really being asked to do is override a nervous system that has learned (correctly) that authority and power can be dangerous.
This post is not about pretending court is trauma-safe. It’s about getting through it without breaking yourself.
First: Name the Reality (Even If the Court Won’t)
Complex PTSD can (and often does) show up in court as:
- dissociation
- memory gaps
- flat affect or emotional flooding
- hypervigilance
- difficulty speaking under pressure
- delayed processing
- shaking, nausea, panic, shutdown
None of these mean you are dishonest. They mean your body is prioritizing survival. You are not weak. Your nervous system is doing its job.
Before Court: Prepare Your Body, Not Just Your Case
Legal prep matters. But nervous system prep matters more.
Do this before court:
- Sleep as much as you can (even rest helps)
- Eat something grounding (protein + carbs)
- Hydrate
- Wear clothing that feels physically safe, not performative
- Bring water, mints, tissues, or a grounding object
If possible:
- Visit the courthouse beforehand
- Sit in the courtroom when nothing is happening
- Reduce novelty wherever you can
Predictability reduces threat.
Regulate, Don’t Suppress
Court rewards stillness, but suppression backfires with Complex PTSD. Instead of trying to “control” these symptoms:
- Slow your breathing (long exhales)
- Press your feet into the floor
- Notice physical anchors (chair, table, temperature)
- Keep your gaze low if eye contact is overwhelming
You don’t need to look confident. You just need to stay present.
Memory Gaps Are Not Failures
Trauma fragments memory. Court expects linear recall. This mismatch is not your fault. If you forget something:
- Pause
- Say, “I need a moment”
- Ask for the question to be repeated
- Answer only what you remember clearly
Do not fill gaps to appear credible. Accuracy matters more here than speed.
Speak Strategically, Not Emotionally
You are allowed to feel. But court responds to clarity, not catharsis. Helpful framing:
- “I don’t recall exact dates, but I documented it.”
- “I can refer to my notes.”
- “I need clarification on the question.”
- “I’m asking for a brief pause.”
Short sentences protect your nervous system and your record.
Boundaries Are Trauma-Informed Advocacy
If something feels overwhelming:
- Ask to sit
- Ask for a break
- Ask to speak through counsel if you have one
- Ask for accommodations if appropriate
Requesting support is not weakness. It is self-advocacy.
After Court: Decompression Is Not Optional
Court takes more from trauma survivors than it does from others. Plan for after:
- Cancel unnecessary obligations
- Eat
- Rest
- Cry if you need to
- Avoid replaying every moment
- Remind yourself: It’s over for today.
You survived something that activated old wounds. That deserves care, not critique.
The Crux of The Whole Thing
Court often measures credibility by behavior, not truth.
Trauma changes behavior—not truth.
You do not have to be unshaken to be believable. And you do not have to perform calm to deserve justice. Getting through court with Complex PTSD is not about winning. It’s about protecting yourself while telling the truth.
And that, in itself, is brave.
