Trauma
Many of us will experience trauma at least once in our lifetime, whether it’s abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, a car accident, exposure to the violence of war, a natural disaster, witnessing someone else experience violence, or a variety of other experiences.
While some people are resilient and can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends, others may experience the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, anger, and other intense emotions long after the traumatic event has passed.
Symptoms of trauma can include:
- Avoiding specific people, locations, sights, situations, and sounds, that serve as reminders of the traumatic event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, and guilt
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
- Anger and irritability
- Hypervigilance or often being watchful or on guard
- Self-harming behavior (e.g., cutting)
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
If you're experienced a traumatic situation, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma. Research has proven that psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Common forms of treatment for trauma include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
If you or someone you know experiences the trauma symptoms listed above, I invite you to contact me today for a free 20-minute phone call to discuss how treatment can help.