It is estimated that 70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Traumatic events, such as accidents, violent crimes, abuse and neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, or natural disasters, can have a lasting effect on a person’s mental health. While many people will only experience short-term responses and can recover with the support of family and friends, approximately 20% of individuals who experience a traumatic event may develop long-term symptoms that impact their daily life and could lead to a mental health diagnosis such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD
Symptoms of trauma and PTSD can vary from person to person and change over time.
- Flashbacks, reliving aspects of what happened
- Unwanted, distressing memories of a traumatic event
- Nightmares
- Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea, or trembling
- Intense emotional distress to something that reminds you of a traumatic event
- Physical reactions such as sweating, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, or shaking
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior
- Self-destructive behavior such as drinking, using drugs, or driving too fast
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Alertness or feeling on edge
- Negative changes in thinking and mood
- Avoidance, feeling detached from family and friends
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
Traumatic experiences can have long-lasting effects on a person’s life, causing difficulties in relationships, work, school, and social settings. Trauma therapy can help individuals process their feelings about these events, learn to prioritize self-care, practice patience, and rediscover joy, hope, and trust. While it can be difficult to work through these challenging experiences, with the support of a therapist and psychotherapy, symptoms can improve over time.
Other benefits of trauma therapy include:
- Gaining insight into your thought patterns and learning to control thoughts of fear and distress
- Identifying and managing triggers and symptoms
- Developing healthy coping skills to manage symptoms
- Improving health, well-being, and quality of life
- Enhancing relationships and connections with people
- Reducing irritability, anger, and frustration
- Helping people feel less isolated and restoring hope and trust
