"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." -Helen Keller-

What is trauma?

Trauma is a response to an intensely stressful event or situation. A person may have experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to the physical or emotional integrity of them or others. A person's response following an event that is psychologically overwhelming can often result in shock and denial. During extreme stress, the body and mind become overwhelmed, triggering the "fight-or-flight" reaction in the brain, as this is the brain's natural way of protecting us from a threat.  

Some traumas can sneak up on us overtime, and can be harder to recognize, such as living through the pandemic, big life changes, emotional abuse, medical illness, or bullying.

Not everyone who has experienced a traumatic event will have long lasting effects. It's normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, and most people recover naturally over time. Most people who go through a traumatic event will not develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some will develop subthreshhold symptoms of PTSD, but do not meet the full dignostic criteria for PTSD. 

Common symptoms after a trauma:

• Intrusive thoughts, including flashbacks or nightmares.
• Avoiding things that remind you of the trauma, including people, places, or objects.
• Hypervigilence, or being very aware of danger.
• Being easily startled or "jumpy."
• Being activated by triggers that remind you of the trauma.
• Sleep problems.
• Changes in how you see yourself, such as believing that you're unworthy, not good at coping, or feeling excess guilt or shame.
• A small "window of tolerance, "meaning that you find yourself being more emotionally reactive, irritable, or emotionally shut down.

While many people heal naturally after a trauma with the benefit of time and support from loved ones, others need the extra support an expertly trained trauma therapist. 

Types of trauma therapy: 

Some of these therapies are used for trauma and some are used for PTSD. It is the job of an expert in trauma and PTSD to work with you to determine the most helpful approach.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Specifcally, a type of CBT called "Prolonged Exposure," or "PE." This form of therapy involves teaching skills of relaxation and coping, and then gradually using exposure techniques to the source of fear, until you are not afraid of it anymore.

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

This form of therapy involves using rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation to help process and release emotions, beliefs, and body sensations, that been blocked by trauma.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

This form of therapy involves challenging and modifying the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that have developed as a result of the trauma.

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) 

This form of therapy involves recognizing how different parts of our "self systems" have developed as a response to trauma. These parts include the wounded (exiled) parts and the protector parts that have developed to keep us safe. The goal is to recognize and appreciate the role these parts play in our self systems, and to nourish our true selves.

Healing from trauma is possible. If you or someone you know fits with the trauma symptoms listed above, I invite you to contact me today for a consultation.