Trauma

We tend to think of trauma as something that only veterans, victims of violent crime, or people in high stress jobs like ER doctors, paramedics, or law enforcement experience, but the truth is, most of us will suffer from some kind of significant trauma in our lifetimes.

“Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event or series of events that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.” Karen Onderko

Trauma can be caused by abusive relationships, the death of a loved one, life threatening or chronic illness, bullying, systemic oppression, and financial insecurity. Though these triggers cut across a wide spectrum of human experience, the responses are predictable.

COMMON RESPONSES AND SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA

Emotional signs include:

sadness
anger
denial
fear
shame

These may lead to:

nightmares
insomnia
difficulty with relationships
emotional outbursts

Common physical symptoms:

nausea
dizziness
altered sleep patterns
changes in appetite
headaches
gastrointestinal problems

Psychological disorders may include:

PTSD
depression
anxiety
dissociative disorders
substance abuse problems

If you recognize yourself here it’s time to get help.

It may seem like there is no way to heal from trauma, but nothing could be further from the truth. Through talk therapy geared towards understanding the trauma itself, and by learning specific skill sets to help better manage moods and triggers, you can move on from painful experiences.

There is so much goodness in the world just waiting for you! Don’t let your past continue to dictate your future. Let Sound Mind Counseling help plug you back in.