Overview
Trauma is a psychological or emotional response to suffering, or witnessing an event that was distressing or terrifying either physically or emotionally. The experience can leave a person feeling overwhelmed by a variety of emotions that they struggle to process and feel unable to cope with. Trauma can effect anyone at any point in their lives but certain people can be more at risk than others, this can include:
- People who have been or are in prison
- People who are living in poverty
- Refugees or people seeking asylum
- People who are or have served in the military or emergency services
- Members of the LGBTQIA community or people that have suffered racial or mental health discrimination
There are several different types of trauma and they can affect people in different ways, and to different degrees depending on the individual. Trauma can also be caused by a variety of events and experiences. The main types of trauma are:
- Acute trauma, which is caused by a one time experience, this could be caused by being the victim of an assault either physical or sexual. It can also be as a result of a bereavement like the loss of a family member or even the end of a serious relationship.
- Chronic trauma arises from having experienced prolonged or persistent events. This could be neglect or abuse, bullying, domestic violence, or long-term abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual.
- Complex trauma can occur when someone experiences repeated or multiple different types of trauma where there is no chance escape.
- Psychological trauma occurs when a persons mind is damaged as a result of the experience they have suffered.
- Secondary trauma sometimes called vicarious trauma is a result of being a witness to, or responding to, other people’s trauma. It might be witnessing an accident or assault, either as an individual or because you work in the emergency services and were a responder.
A traumatic event or experience will involve a feeling of danger to our physical or emotional safety. It can leave a person feeling powerless, trapped or in fear of their life.
Adverse childhood experiences which are also known as ACE’s are a wide range of potential traumatic situations that can effect children under the age of seventeen. Whether they have suffered or witnessed something whilst growing up, and before they were able to develop effective coping skills, it can damage the bond between themselves and their caregiver. It can also result in emotional damage from the trauma being carried forward into their adulthood. Whilst trauma is not a mental health condition it can have a detrimental effect on your mental health.
Physical Symptoms
Symptoms can vary amongst individuals and not everyone will have all of them but the most common include:
- Headaches
- Stomach issues, nausea and changes to appetite
- Sleep problems including nightmares
- Muscle tension, aches or pains
- Feeling light headed or dizzy
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
- Palpitations or feeling like your heart is racing
- Fatigue
Psychological Symptoms
These can include feelings of:
- Fear and panic
- Shame or guilt
- Anger and frustration
- Sadness or hopelessness
- Numbness and shock or feeling disconnected
- Denial or disbelief
- Confusion or having problems concentrating
Behavioural Changes
People who have suffered trauma can often display changes to their behaviours such as:
- Emotional outbursts and mood swings
- Relationship problems as a result of the trauma especially if they were physically or sexually assaulted
- Withdrawing from people or shutting down emotionally
- Being hypervigilant or sensitive to noise and their surroundings
- Avoiding anything that reminds them of the experience as well as being reluctant to think or speak about it
Associated disorders
Suffering trauma can result in a person being more likely to develop one or more of the following mental health conditions:
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Dissociative disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
Self help
Support for people who have suffered from trauma is available from a variety of professional organisations and support groups, try to confide in a family member or friend if you feel you need support before contacting them. You can help yourself by ensuring you eat well and get quality sleep as well as taking regular exercise, which will help with feelings of anxiety and depression. Breathing and relaxation exercises as well as yoga and practicing mindfulness can all help you to improve your mental health. You can also benefit from keeping a journal to help you process your thoughts and feelings.
Professional Help
You should consult your doctor if you are struggling to overcome trauma or its symptoms, they can prescribe you with anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication if necessary. They can also refer you to a therapist to help you work through the effects of your trauma.
There are a variety of therapies available and these can be tailored to your specific needs. These can include CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which will help you to process your thoughts and feelings, as well as changing any negative thoughts or behaviours. EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), which is often used for PTSD to help whilst recalling trauma. Somatic experience focuses on sensations in your body rather than recalling memories of the event, which can be too traumatic for some people initially, and can help them to release supressed emotions through a physical response like crying. Talking therapies like psychotherapy and counselling can also prove effective and can be combined with other therapies for optimum results, such as clinical hypnotherapy. Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK). For more free information click above link.