WHAT IS TRAUMA
Defining Trauma
How We might Respond
How We might Respond
The psychological and emotional distress as a result of an event or situation, such as an accident, abuse, assault, community violence, or natural disaster which is perceived as threatening, frightening or dangerous.
As a distressing event occurs, our brain and body processes and stores the associated memories.
How We might Respond
How We might Respond
How We might Respond
After a disturbing event, people may experience mild to moderate distress, and even continuing to think about the event, have a heightened emotional state, feeling sad, anxious or worried.
Depending on multiple factors, people can recover with minimal impact on their daily functioning. Some may require additional self-care or support from loved ones, and slowly the associated memories and emotional responses begin to fade.
The Long-Term Impact
How We might Respond
The Long-Term Impact
However, there are times when an event can be too much for the brain and body to handle, significantly impairing the individual and their family system.
When this occurs, they may experience challenges in understanding or regulating their emotions, become focused on others, neglect their own needs, and perhaps feel increasingly irritable or nervous.
At times, they may be frightful, weary or cautious impacting the quality of their life.
Trauma signs and symptoms
· Feeling anxious, sad, or fearful
· Crying often
· Difficulty thinking clearly
· Reoccurring frightening thoughts, reliving the experience
· Feeling angry or irritability
· Difficulty sleeping or experiencing nightmares
· Avoidance of people or places that may bring back disturbing memories and responses.
· Headaches
· Stomach pain and digestive issues
· Feeling tired or fatigued
· Racing heart and sweating
· Feeling jumpy and easily startled
People impacted by a traumatic event may experience these symptoms; however may not always require professional help to cope.
It’s when these symptoms begin to interfere with their functioning (work, school, family or social) or their ability to care for themselves that we recommend someone seek professional support to prevent a mental health problem from developing, such as anxiety, depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
When to seek professional help
It is suggested to seek professional help if you or someone you know has experienced symptoms for more than 4 weeks.
A mental health professional can assess the intensity, frequency and severity of these symptoms and provide trauma therapy and support, including cognitive behavioral therapy, talk-therapy, EMDR, exposure therapy or a referral for psychiatric medication to begin healing and recovering.
Whether we are seeing you for individual, group, couples or family counseling services, our therapists utilize a trauma-informed perspective to understand the complexities of these experiences and their long term impact on how you may experience safety and security in the world.
How Can trauma informed care help
One who has experienced trauma may say:
It’s not safe to trust!
I’m a burden, I don’t want to impose on others!
It’s my fault! I caused this! I need to get over this - alone!
Trauma-Informed Approach
At Semillas Counseling, we utilize a trauma-informed approach to create a safe, therapeutic environment to empower you throughout every step of your healing.
Trauma-informed therapy can support you to gain a deeper understanding of your experiences, without feeling flooded, overwhelmed, or re-traumatized when bringing up painful issues.
FREE yourself from trauma
Whether in family, couples or individual counseling, our therapists work with you to set the pace to explore past, traumatic experiences which may be interfering with the ability to do the things which once brought you pleasure and satisfaction.
You will begin to gently work through those emotional struggles, build resources to process and grow, and ultimately feel free and fully engaged in your world.
The impact of trauma on relationships
When love feels dangerous
The impact of a traumatic event can interrupt a sense of peace and security, ultimately disrupting a sense of trust and intimacy with another person.
When distress from a trauma lingers, trusting another person may feel worrisome, terrifying, and as partners engage with one another can lead to misunderstandings, confusion and perhaps frustration.
Recognizing the emotional, physical and psychological impact can be challenging, as most people attempt to work through these painful experiences on their own.
People may feel broken, guilty, shame or have been given messages by others reinforcing these negative beliefs, leaving a sense that trust, intimacy, and connection with another are dangerous and perhaps impossible.
The Negative Self-Talk
People may feel flawed, undeserving or unworthy of love. These types of negative, repetitive thoughts can wear on an individual and their relationships with others.
Internally they may tell themselves:
- It’s not safe to trust!
- I’m a burden, I don’t want to impose on others!
- It’s my fault! I caused this! I need to get over this - alone!
Although these thoughts may provide some relief when the pain feels unbearable but can lead toward disconnection with others.
And often, when they enter into a loving safe relationship with another person, these statements linger in the back of their mind and may interfere with how they engage with their partner when a perceived may threat surface.
Early signs
Survivors with unresolved trauma may experience:
A form of depression or depressive symptoms
Develop compulsive behaviors as an attempt to try to manage their emotions or symptoms (e.g. eating disorders, substance use or gambling issues, etc)
Experience anxiety or panic attacks
Have flashbacks or recurrent nightmares
Persistent self-doubt
Recurrent suicidal thoughts
Engage in at-risk behaviors
Impacts on Relationship Dynamics
Individuals and their partners may not be aware of how the effects of the trauma may be lingering and impacting their relationship, which may lead to distance, disconnection, frequent arguments, charged emotions and ineffective communication.
As these occur, emotions are heightened, partners withdraw become unresponsive, become conflict-avoidant, minimizing their ability to work through issues.
Partners begin to formulate assumptions about each other, the future of their relationship, building and holding on to negative beliefs and resentments.
Long-term Consequences
As this dynamic develops, partners notice difficulty:
resolving even the most minor conflict
providing and receiving love
expressing fondness and admiration
accepting and receiving reassurances
feeling a sense of security within the relationship
These can wear away at the foundation of your relationship
