Many individuals will experience some form of traumatic stress in their lifetime whether it a car accident, various forms of abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, an act of violence, exposure to war, or a natural disaster.

What makes something traumatic is not necessarily the event itself, but rather the impact it produces on our lives. Trauma can fundamentally rewire the way that our nervous system works, and always lives in both the mind and the body as it will change how we think, how we feel, and how our body reacts and responds to various situations and people around us and in our lives.

While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. Indeed one of the hallmarks of PTSD is feeling that the events and memories of the past continue to haunt you and feel alive and active today in your present life in various ways.

In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.

Trauma Symptoms

According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5

Avoidance Symptoms

• Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
• Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt

Re-experiencing Symptoms

• Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks

Hyperarousal Symptoms

• Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
• Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
• Sleep disturbances

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

• Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
• Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
• Change in habits or behavior since the trauma

Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Effective treatments for trauma include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and others.

If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, we can help and invite you to contact us today for a free consultation.