What is Trauma?
Trauma is often an emotional response to a terrible life event that leaves an emotional scar. Immediately after the incident, feelings of shock and denial are typical.
What do the effects of trauma look like?
- Feeling frightened
- Under threat
- Humiliated
- Rejected
- Abandoned
- Unsafe
- Unsupported
- Feeling trapped
- Feeling ashamed
- Feeling powerless
- Dissociation
- Nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts
- Addictions and disordered eating
- Social withdrawal and self-isolation
- Avoiding anything or anyone that recalls the traumatic event
- Being easily startled and always on guard
Traumatic experiences can impact a person's life and relationships and cause difficulties at work, school, and other social settings. Trauma therapy can improve quality of life. Although it can be challenging to face harrowing events, with support and psychotherapy, symptoms can lessen over time. Trauma therapy can be very beneficial as it can help you with the following:
- To find coping skills to handle distorted or negative thoughts and feelings.
- To reframe the traumatic experience and make some sense of it.
- To improve close relationships and connections with people.
- To reduce irritability, anger, and frustration and increase peace of mind.
- To eliminate or reduce triggers and symptoms of PTSD.
