TRAUMA
Are you struggling to move forward in your life due to feeling stuck on events from your past?
Do you notice fear-based responses to anything that reminds you of a previous experience, even if it’s not directly related?
Do you find yourself avoiding anything that may trigger intense emotions? Do you feel disconnected from yourself at times, almost like you’re watching yourself from the outside?
If any of these questions resonate with you, it’s possible that you may be suffering from trauma. This is a completely normal response to an extremely distressing or painful event(s), whether it is personally experienced, witnessed, or acquired indirectly through a loved one.
Different types of trauma
Not only are there different levels of trauma, but there are also a variety of responses to trauma, mostly because trauma shows up in different ways based on the individual. Listed below are three main categories of trauma and examples of the types of events that may cause each type of trauma; however, it is important to keep in mind that there are countless subcategories of trauma due to the extensive range of potential events that can be considered traumatic.
Acute trauma- Trauma that shows up after a single impactful event
Examples: car accident, death of a loved one, sexual assault, hospitalization, witnessing a single incident
Chronic trauma- Trauma that shows up after prolonged exposure to terrible events, oftentimes in a series of events that fall into the same or similar categories
Examples: repeated sexual or physical assault, domestic or interpersonal violence, repeated hospitalization, repeated witnessing of terrible events
Complex Trauma- Chronic trauma that leads to depersonalization (feeling completely separated from self) and severely impacts interpersonal relationships, specifically ones that relate to the inflicted trauma
Child abuse or neglect that causes severe damage to child-parent relationships, intimate partner violence that causes someone to isolate from any relationships following the abuse, intergenerational trauma that shows up through oppression, emotional instability, and genetic vulnerabilities
How do I know if I have PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be developed following any level of trauma if it creates persisting and chronic impairments to daily functioning and quality of life. For example, someone who experiences a car accident may not be able to get in a car or drive for years following the event. Another example is if someone experiences abuse in a past relationship and ends up avoiding relationships or intimacy altogether. PTSD can last anywhere from months to years to decades. Some common symptoms include:
Flashbacks and/or nightmares
Isolation or avoidance
Hyper-reactivity or anxiety
Blurred memory of the event
Distorted thoughts about self or others
Fortunately, PTSD and trauma responses can be effectively treated through therapy.
What does treatment for trauma look like?
There are multiple ways in which our providers at GCWG can work with you to manage symptoms of trauma and feel less alone following a traumatic event or series of events. Each individual responds differently to trauma, and our providers are sensitive to approaching therapy from a trauma-informed lens, meaning we are especially careful and mindful when treating the residual pain and suffering caused by trauma. We will work with you to create a therapeutic environment that feels safe and beneficial to your healing process. Below are some examples of trauma treatment approaches.
Cognitive restructuring- identifying distorted or harmful thoughts towards yourself or the external world and working to reframe these thoughts to create more effective behaviors
Narrative therapy- sharing your story in a supportive and protected environment with a mental health professional who listens and cares
Psychodynamic therapy- mentally revisiting childhood events and relationships that have chronically impacted your functioning and wellbeing to understand the root causes of certain behavior and unpleasant emotions
Somatic therapy- examining trauma’s impact on the body and working to release tension and any physical pain that may have developed following the event(s)
You may still have further concerns about trauma treatment…
What if talking about my trauma brings it all back to the surface?
It is likely that discussing these experiences in therapy may bring some emotions and memories from the trauma to the surface. However, the goal in therapy is to reprocess the traumatic experiences in a safe environment so that you are able to reframe negative thoughts associated with trauma to form new, more helpful ones. Although it may be scary and unsettling to recall memories that have been suppressed for a long time, it is important to move through this stage of healing with a professional who can provide support along the way.
What do I do with my trauma responses when I’m not in a therapy session?
You and your therapist will work together to form a treatment plan that works best for you to ensure continued growth and safety outside of session. An important first step is understanding how trauma affects you outside of therapy. Once these negative effects have been identified, your therapist will help you to use coping skills such as mindfulness, grounding techniques, and increased awareness of body sensations to cope with trauma responses.
I would like support around an experience that feels difficult to cope with, but I am not sure whether or not it is considered trauma.
Trauma comes in many forms, and the definition of it is centered around the impact on an individual rather than the event itself. Levels of trauma vary depending on the severity of the emotional experience following an event, but any degree of trauma can impair your mental health and wellbeing. If you are experiencing symptoms of trauma affecting your day to day life, mental health therapy has the potential to be beneficial for you.
Healing is a collaborative process
Developing a trusting, therapeutic relationship with your therapist can be transformative in your healing process. Something that you may have kept to yourself for years due to the fear of confronting the memory or being a burden to others, can finally be shared in an environment where collaborative healing can take place. An empathetic and trained therapist can create space for you to begin healing from trauma, teach you ways to cope with the negative effects from trauma, and help you dismantle harmful or distorted thoughts that contribute to ongoing suffering.
Through therapeutic intervention, a therapist can help support you in the process of taking your power back from the trauma you experienced.
If you are seeking support to manage symptoms of trauma, you can schedule a complimentary phone consultation by clicking on the button below to get connected with one of our therapist who can help.