What is trauma?
- Car accident
- Sudden death of a loved one
- Divorce
- Sexual abuse or assault
- Natural disaster (hurricane, tornado, etc)
- Chronic illness
- War or political violence
Trauma is experiencing a stressful or scary event. Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, domestic violence, or a natural disaster. Trauma can be a single event or something that is experienced for a longer period of time.
How can I overcome trauma?
- Supportive relationships
- Create a new routine
- Counseling
While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends, others may discover effects of lasting trauma. Trauma or stress can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. Symptoms of trauma do not always appear immediately after the stressful event, but can occur months or even years after.
In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a trauma therapist is fundamental for trauma recovery.
Trauma Symptoms
According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are used in treating trauma. There