Trauma
What is trauma?
The dictionary defines trauma as “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.” Trauma makes life difficult to cope with. You might feel hopeless, and have low self-esteem from the traumatic event. Trauma can be very complex and cause deep emotional pain. This could affect a person throughout their life. If you are experiencing trauma from a past event or a recent event, you might be feeling very alone, depressed, angry, afraid and distressed. Upsetting memories could be haunting your dreams at night, and you might not be able to trust other people. These are some of the symptoms of trauma.
Trauma can affect anyone. It doesn’t discriminate, and people all over the world have experienced trauma. What happened to you is unique, and painful, whatever traumatic event you have experienced, know that you can seek help and slowly begin to heal.
What are the symptoms of trauma?
- Sadness
- Anger
- Fear
- Shame
- Denial
- Insomnia
- Emotional outbursts
- Difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships
- PTSD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Disassociative disorders
Physical Symptoms could include
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Either sleeping too much or not enough
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Not wanting to eat or binge eating
What causes emotional and psychological trauma?
Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by different things.
Perhaps a one-time event, that happened during your childhood, such as an attack, an injury, severe illness, abuse (sexual or physical) or an accident caused you to feel traumatized. This is especially true if what happened was unexpected.
You could also experience ongoing trauma that does not stop. For example if you are in an abusive relationship, or grew up in an abusive home. You can also experience ongoing trauma if you live in a war-torn country or a dangerous area. Trauma can also be a bit more subtle though. For example, a recent breakup, a divorce or the death of a loved one. This can also happen if you have experienced a surgery recently or in the past, that left you feeling traumatized.
What treatment options are there for trauma?
When it comes to trauma, you might need psychological help for longer periods of time. Patience will be needed. This might not be the answer that you were hoping for, but there is hope and you can begin to feel human again and cope. You will begin to feel better again slowly but it is also not uncommon to still have memories of the traumatic event at times. Those who have survived trauma will do well with therapists that can help them to heal.
Different types of therapies include:
- CBT- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Talk Therapy
- Eye movement desensitization
- Mindfulness
- Hypnosis
- Art therapy
- Medications
- Yoga
When should you seek professional help?
- When you start to have trouble functioning at work or at home normally
- Using alcohol or drugs to feel better
- Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from people in your life
- Suffering from fear, anxiety, and depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- If you keep reliving the traumatic memories in your mind and are having nightmares or flashbacks.
- Avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma
- Struggling to trust people
What should you do?
If you are experiencing any of the above, please seek professional help. You do not need to suffer alone. Being a trauma survivor is a huge feat. You survived something which people should never have to face. Trauma survivors have an inner strength which is very special. We would love to help you at the Winnipeg Anxiety Clinic. You can feel safe again and live a meaningful life.
Phone: 204-515-6433
Fax: 204-272-9855
Pembina Location: 200-701 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg MB, R3M 2L7
St. Mary’s Location: 125 St. Annes, Winnipeg MB, R2M 2Z1