Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster.
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 the 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.
In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist are 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. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is used in treating trauma.
If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free consultation.
Healing from Toxic Relationships: 10 Essential Steps to Recover from Gaslighting, Narcissism, and Emotional Abuse By Dr. Stepahnie Sarkis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0306847256?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VTWXG8Z05BY432VMP44E
Talking Brains Episode 4: Memory, Trauma, & State-Dependent Learning with Rick Moskovitz MD.
How does trauma affect memory creation and retrieval? How does blackout drinking impact memory recall? Rick Moskovitz MD is a Harvard-educated psychiatrist and vintage being, who had the privilege of 37 years of sharing in his patients’ stories while leading his own imperfect life. He is the author of Lost in the Mirror: an inside look at Borderline Personality Disorder and Carousel Music: a novel, based on the controversy around recovered memories in psychotherapy. He left practice to write fiction that explores the psychological consequences of living in a world of expanding possibilities. The Methuselarity Transformation is his first science fiction work.