What is Trauma?
The phrase “I was traumatized” is often used to indicate that something has stunned us. However, trauma speaks to something that causes an intense emotional impact that exceeds your coping abilities and leaves a lasting mark. It’s usually a painful situation in which you feel you had no control and where your available coping skills were limited to deal with the situation.
Traumatic events can produce conflicting and painful emotions. Such feelings may lead to drastic changes in behavior or can impair the ability to objectively assess life experiences. To prevent the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) it is vital to address these symptoms. In PTSD, the intensity, duration, and constant presence of symptoms can interfere with relationships, self-esteem levels, and overall health since they can disrupt every aspect of your life. Recognizing the symptoms and knowing that help is available are key steps in discovering that something can be done about it. Next is a brief description of some central aspects of PTSD:
Trauma Type:
- Acute trauma results from a stressful or dangerous experience.
- Chronic trauma results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events, for example, cases of child abuse or domestic violence.
- Complex trauma results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.
- Secondary or vicarious trauma develops from close contact with someone who has experienced a traumatic event.
Symptoms and Effects:
Symptom levels can range from mild to severe depending on several factors. Factors that influence severity are: the presence of a psychological condition prior to the traumatic event (e.g. depression, anxiety), the type of attitude or strategies employed to manage emotions, the kind and specific characteristics of the event or events, and prior exposure to traumatic events.
Emotional reactions:
• Anger/rage
• Fear
• Sadness
• Shame
• Guilt
• Emotional outbursts
Psychological reactions:
• Denial
• Confusion
• Despair
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Numbness
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
Physical Reactions:
• Headaches
• Digestive problems
• Tiredness/fatigue
• Nervousness
• Difficulty to sleep
• Sweating
• Hyperarousal, a feeling of being on constant alert
• Increased heart rate
• Substance abuse issues
How can therapy help?
When such symptoms interfere with your ability to have a relatively peaceful life, it can be helpful to remember that there is help. Therapy can help you process your experience by providing a safe space in which you can learn to cope with your emotions, discover psychoeducation which helps you understand your experience, and provide you with tools that help you manage your situation effectively. You are not alone.