What Is Trauma? Trauma Therapy
“Even if you’ve accumulated a house full of nice things and the picture of your life fits inside a beautiful frame, if you have experienced trauma but haven’t excavated it, the wounded parts of you will affect everything you’ve managed to build.”
– Oprah Winfrey
What Is Trauma?
“Trauma is not what happens to you but what happens inside you”
Gabor Maté
Trauma is a psychological and physiological response to an event or experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing. Trauma can result from a variety of experiences, including abuse, neglect, natural disasters, accidents, or other life-threatening events.
Traumatic events can overwhelm an individual's ability to cope, and can cause intense feelings of fear, helplessness, and horror. Trauma can also impact a person's sense of safety, trust, and security in the world, and can affect their physical, emotional, and mental health.
Trauma can lead to a range of symptoms and reactions, including anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbness, and avoidance of certain people, places, or situations associated with the traumatic event.
It's important to note that trauma can affect individuals differently, and what one person finds traumatic may not necessarily be traumatic for another person. Additionally, trauma can be experienced as a single event or as ongoing stressors, such as in cases of chronic abuse or neglect.
trauma symptoms
“Trauma Survivors have symptoms instead of memories.”
Harvey (1990)
Trauma symptoms can vary widely depending on the individual, the type of trauma, and other factors. However, here are some common symptoms of trauma:
Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
Nightmares or flashbacks of the traumatic event
Avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event
Emotional numbness or detachment
Hypervigilance, feeling easily startled or on edge
Irritability, anger, or outbursts
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or oversleeping
Physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension
Feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame
Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
Social withdrawal or isolation
Depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders.
Loss of sense of who I am
Emotional overwhelm
Loss of sense of future or hopelessness
Self-destructive behaviour
Little or no memories
Substance abuse, eating disorders
Feeling unreal or out of body
It's important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop symptoms, and those who do may experience a wide range of symptoms with varying severity.
Trauma Exposure
“Traumatic experiences are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life… the common denominator of trauma is a feeling of ‘intense fear, helplessness, loss of control, and threat of annihilation.’”
Judy Hermann
There are many events that can be considered traumatic, as different individuals may experience and react to events differently. Some examples of traumatic events include:
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires
Accidents, such as car accidents, plane crashes, or workplace accidents
Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, including domestic violence and child abuse
Acts of terrorism, war, or political violence
Medical trauma, such as a serious illness, surgery, or medical malpractice
Witnessing or experiencing violent crimes, such as murder, rape, or assault
Sudden or unexpected loss of a loved one, including suicide or homicide
Serious injuries or life-threatening illnesses
Bullying or harassment, including cyberbullying
Neglect or abandonment, particularly in childhood or elderly populations
Relationship betrayal, infidelity, abandonment, rejection, divorce
It's important to note that what one person finds traumatic may not necessarily be traumatic for another person, and that trauma can also result from ongoing stressors or chronic experiences rather than a single event.
Types of Trauma
“The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating. It can affect our habits and outlook on life, leading to addictions and poor decision-making. It can take a toll on our family life and interpersonal relationships. It can trigger real physical pain, symptoms, and disease. And it can lead to a range of self-destructive behaviours.”
Peter Levine
There are different types of trauma, which can be classified based on the nature and duration of the traumatic event, as well as the age and developmental stage of the individual who experiences it. Here are some common types of trauma:
Acute trauma: This type of trauma is caused by a single event or experience that is highly distressing or life-threatening, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or violent attack. Acute trauma typically has a clear beginning and end point.
Chronic trauma: This refers to ongoing exposure to traumatic events or stressors, such as living in a war zone, being in an abusive relationship, or experiencing ongoing discrimination or harassment. Chronic trauma can have a cumulative effect over time.
Complex trauma: This refers to exposure to multiple or chronic traumatic events, particularly in childhood, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. Complex trauma can have a profound impact on a person's development and can affect their ability to form healthy relationships and cope with stress.
Developmental trauma: This type of trauma occurs during childhood or adolescence and can be caused by experiences such as neglect, abuse, or unstable living situations. It can impact the child's development.
Vicarious trauma: This refers to the emotional and psychological impact of hearing about or witnessing the traumatic experiences of others, such as in the case of first responders, healthcare providers, or therapists.
Secondary trauma: This refers to the trauma experienced by individuals who are indirectly affected by a traumatic event, such as the family members or loved ones of those directly impacted by the event.
Interpersonal trauma: This is a type of trauma that occurs within the context of relationships, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, betrayal, infidelity or emotional abuse.
Historical or generational trauma: This is a type of trauma that is passed down through generations and can be related to cultural or historical events, such as genocide or forced relocation of indigenous people.
Medical trauma: This is a type of trauma that results from medical procedures, treatments, or diagnoses, such as a serious illness or surgery.
Traumatic grief or loss: This is a type of trauma that results from the loss of a loved one, often in a sudden or violent manner, such as homicide or suicide.
It's important to note that these categories are not mutually exclusive, and an individual may experience more than one type of trauma in their lifetime. Additionally, the effects of trauma can be complex and may manifest differently over time, depending on the individual's coping mechanisms and support system. Trauma can affect individuals differently, and what one person finds traumatic may not necessarily be traumatic for another person.
Trauma Therapy In Olds, Alberta Or Online In Alberta
“Whether trauma will be a cruel and punishing Gorgon or a vehicle for soaring to the heights of transformation and mastery depends upon how we approach it.”
Peter A. Levine
Trauma therapy is a form of counselling that focuses on helping individuals who have experienced traumatic events to heal and recover from the effects of trauma. Trauma therapy aims to address the psychological, emotional, and physical symptoms that can result from trauma, and to support individuals in developing coping strategies and resilience.
There are several different approaches to trauma therapy, but some common techniques and principles include:
Creating a secure and supportive therapeutic environment where the individual can feel heard, validated, and understood.
Helping the individual to process and make sense of the traumatic experience.
Addressing negative thoughts and beliefs that may have developed as a result of the trauma, such as feelings of guilt or shame.
Developing coping skills and self-care strategies to manage symptoms of trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or flashbacks.
Promoting resilience and post-traumatic growth, which involves helping the individual to identify strengths and resources that can aid in their recovery from trauma.
Some common types of trauma therapy include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy such as Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga, and experiential therapies such as Sand Tray Therapy. The type of trauma therapy used will depend on the individual's specific needs, preferences, and the severity and nature of the trauma they have experienced.
Trauma therapy can be offered in-person or online. The goal of trauma therapy is to help individuals heal from the psychological, physical, interpersonal and emotional impact of trauma, and to improve their overall quality of life.
“Most people think about therapy as something that involves going in and undoing what’s happened. But whatever your past experiences created in your brain, the associations exist and you can’t just delete them. You can’t get rid of the past. Therapy is more about building new associations, making new, healthier default pathways. It is almost as if therapy is taking your two-lane dirt road and building a four-lane freeway alongside it. The old road stays, but you don’t use it much anymore.”
Bruce D. Perry
If you're looking for support in deciding if Trauma Therapy is right for you, feel free to contact us for a free 15 minute phone consultation. We’d be happy to hear about what is happening and answer any questions you might have. If you are looking for support with relationship counselling, couples counselling, marriage or family counselling or individual therapy for depression, stress, ADHD, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma and PTSD; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR therapy); or counselling in Olds, Alberta or online in Alberta, you can read more about how we can help here.
