What comes to your mind when you think of trauma?
Surviving an automobile accident? A violent attack? War? Loss of a child? Natural disaster?
True, all of these events can be experienced as trauma and some people who survive these events might develop PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
But not everyone reacts to the same event in the same way. Naturally, we wonder why are some affected more than others?
The answer is that experience of trauma is in the eye of beholder… It is personal, individual and unique…
Our values, beliefs, upbringing and genetics, all impact how we perceive a triggering event. We are constantly assessing our life events against our resources and supports. Do we have what it takes to meet and survive this demand?
Recent research on trauma shows that not only intense events like war can be experienced as trauma. Regular life events such as divorce, being fired from a job, or just an accumulation of many mishaps can be traumatic and lead to some psychological and physiological symptoms.
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Examples of obvious cause of potential trauma: · War and terrorist attacks · Childhood abuse & neglect · Sexual assault and rape · Car accidents · Natural disasters · Body injuries |
Examples of less apparent causes of potential trauma:
· Being cheated on by your spouse · Divorce & Custody · Medical producers and illnesses · Loss of a job and/or financial security · Receiving threats & stocking |
With this expanded definition of what traumatic events are, we can conclude that many of us have gone through one or two if not many traumatic experiences in our lives. So what are the consequences? What are the symptoms associated with trauma?
We know that if we break our arm, we will experience intense pain in the arm region, but the signs of trauma are not as clear cut. For this reason, we often fail to make a connection between the participating event and consequent symptoms. What adds to this complexity is that every single person will experience a unique combination of symptoms that come on with different intensity.
Symptoms that can appear following the exposure to a traumatic event:
| · Persistent anxiety
· Insomnia · Hypervigilance · Nightmares · Inability to handle stress · Low self-esteem · Sensitivity to light and noise |
· Reckless & unpredictable behavior
· Physical & emotional numbness · Avoidance of places · Poor memory and mental fog · Self-harm and/or addictions · Inability to connect or experience love · Depression and low energy |
It is important to remember that these symptoms, although debilitating, are a way of our bodies to communicate to with us, to get our attention to a place in our body that needs healing. Just like we wouldn’t ignore a broken arm, nor should we ignore these symptoms of mental and physical ache. As we heal the trauma, the symptoms become subtler until they disappear to signal to us the end of our healing journey.
As a therapist who joined many clients in their healing process from trauma and as someone who processed my own trauma, I can with confidence say that healing and wellness after trauma are possible!
Healing process with my approach –
- Is personalized and unique for each and every person
- Involves restoration of mental and physical health and wellness
- Can take place with or without recollection of trauma
- Is grounded in the latest Neuroscience research
Being burden by a traumatic experience is overwhelming and disorienting. It is at times like this that we need a guide, an expert, a listener so we can restore ourselves and regain our strength. You don’t have to take this journey alone! Connect with me today to enjoy the healing transformations in your life.
Don’t wait to start living your life the way you want!