What’s your trauma response look like?

You ask yourself, “This is old stuff why is it still affecting me?!” Or maybe, “I haven’t thought of this in years, why now?” Maybe you find yourself wrestling with your thoughts, “I know he loves me, and everything is okay, but when he doesn’t respond right away I totally lose it. I go back to the place when my ex was cheating on me.” Or this scenario, you're walking on eggshells, anxiously awaiting to see what his mood is like when he gets home… “he says I never make him happy…If only I tried harder, then he wouldn’t be so disappointed in me. It’s all my fault.”

Many different experiences cause trauma.

Psychological trauma can be caused by many experiences and events that overwhelm an individual's ability to cope, leaving them feeling helpless and powerless.

Some common causes of trauma include Betrayal Trauma-When a trusted partner lies, deceives, threatens, or leaves us. Narcissist abuse: Gaslighting- when a parent or partner uses manipulation to control you and make you doubt yourself. Isolation, withholding affection, and threats and intimidation. Neglect or abandonment: This can include negligence or abandonment by a parent, caregiver, or significant other. Accidents or injuries: This can include serious or minor car accidents, serious falls, or any other traumatic event that causes significant physical harm or threat of physical harm. Physical or sexual abuse: such as child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, or any other form of physical or sexual violence. Childhood trauma: physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, or abandonment during childhood. Stressful environments: such as a toxic work environment, a difficult family life, or ongoing financial difficulties.

Trauma expresses itself in many ways.

Unprocessed trauma can remain alive in our bodies long past the time of the actual incident. The effects of trauma may manifest as physical symptoms and physiological maladies. Trauma’s symptoms often co-occur with, develop into, or can be mistaken for symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Traumatic symptoms may vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of trauma include:

1. Psychological symptoms:

   • Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event

   • Nightmares or vivid flashbacks

   • Emotional numbness or feelings of detachment

   • Anxiety, fear, guilt, or shame

   • Depression, hopelessness, or suicide ideation

   • Panic attacks

2. Physical symptoms:

   • Chronic pain, headaches, or digestive problems

   • Insomnia or sleep disturbances

   • Fatigue or low energy

   • Startle response or being easily frightened

   • Rapid heartbeat or sweating

3. Behavioral symptoms:

   • Avoidance of people, places, or activities that trigger memories of the traumatic event

   • Substance abuse or addiction

   • Aggression, impulsiveness, or anger outbursts

   • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

   • Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships

   • Feeling overwhelmed in certain situations.

You may even have negative thoughts about yourself, feel emotionally overwhelmed and reactive or you can even find yourself to be emotionally numb. When triggered you may sometimes feel detached from yourself or your body or freeze up and shut down easily.

Maybe, you feel unrelenting guilt and blame yourself for what happened even though a part of you knows, it’s not your fault.

You are not what’s happened to you.

• Trauma can change how you see the world and yourself.

• The rupture of an important relationship can cause trauma.

• EMDR is an efficient and effective form of trauma treatment.