What is Trauma?
Trauma is an emotional reaction to a traumatic incident such as a car accident, abuse, or a natural disaster. Shock and denial are common reactions right after an event. Unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headache or nausea are all long-term effects. While these responses are common, some people find it difficult to move forward in life, past the traumatic incident. Psychologists can assist these people in developing healthy coping mechanisms for their emotions.
At least a third of more than 125,000 individuals surveyed in 26 nations had experienced trauma (World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey). However those figures are only for cases that have been reported; the actual number is almost certainly substantially higher. While there are no objective criteria for determining which events will result in post-trauma symptoms, common circumstances include loss of control, betrayal, abuse of power, helplessness, agony, uncertainty, and/or loss of identity. It does not have to be a war, a natural disaster, or a personal assault to have a tremendous impact on a person’s life and alter their experiences. Traumatic events that result in post-trauma symptoms differ greatly from one person to the next. It is true that it is highly subjective, and it is crucial to remember that it is defined more by its response than its trigger.
Because trauma reactions encompass a wide spectrum, psychologists have established categories to help distinguish between them – complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and developmental trauma disorder.
Complex Trauma
Complex trauma occurs repetitively. It results when individuals are frequently exposed to harmful situations. Complex trauma has a cumulative effect. The traumatic event usually takes place in a certain time frame, within a specific relationship, and in a specific setting.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event or has gone through an ordeal in which they were exposed to or threatened with severe physical injury. PTSD individuals experience continuous terrifying recollections and thoughts about the event.
Developmental Trauma Disorder
Developmental trauma disorder is a relatively new field in the discipline of psychology. During a child’s first three years of life, this trauma can occur. Developmental trauma affects an infant’s or child’s neurological, cognitive, and psychosocial development as a result of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. It interferes with the victim’s capacity to form a bond with an adult caregiver. Adults who induce developmental trauma rarely do it intentionally, rather, they do so because they are unaware of children’s social and emotional needs.
Responses and Symptoms of Trauma
Shock and denial are common responses to traumatic events. These emotional responses may fade over time, but a survivor may potentially have long-term reactions. Although everyone’s reaction to a traumatic incident is different, there are certain common symptoms.
Emotional signs include:
Individuals who have experienced trauma benefit from consulting with a trauma-focused or trauma-informed therapist. The majority of trauma-informed therapists will combine therapies and modalities. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to trauma therapy. Treatment requires tweaking to address various symptoms. Trauma-trained mental health professionals can analyse the survivor’s specific requirements and design a treatment plan for them.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
SSP restores the brain and body’s ability to discover states of peace, safety, and regulation by utilising the auditory system and its direct connection to the nervous system. The Safe and Sound Protocol is a stress-reduction and auditory sensitivity improvement programme that also boosts social interactions and resilience. The way to better communication and more successful therapy is opened by soothing the physiological and emotional state.
According to research, the SSP can have significant improvements in as little as five days in the following areas:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT teaches the person to become more aware of their trauma-related thoughts and beliefs, as well as techniques to help them react to emotional triggers in a healthier manner. It helps people evaluate thoughts and feelings related to trauma and replace negative thinking with more realistic thoughts. This is a short-term treatment that usually lasts no more than 16 sessions, as more than 80% of traumatised adolescents improve within this time frame. Through CBT, both parents and children may be able to better process emotions and thoughts related t o a traumatic experience. CBT can provide those in therapy with the tools they need to deal with the overwhelming thoughts that cause stress, anxiety, and depression. CBT can assist those who have been through trauma in learning healthier ways to cope with challenging emotions.
Exposure therapy
Also known as Vivo Exposure Therapy, it is a type of cognitive behaviour therapy that is designed to reduce the fear associated with emotional triggers produced by trauma. The ultimate goal is to eliminate avoidance behaviour and improve the quality of life. This is accomplished by confronting the things that a person is afraid of. A person can learn to overcome anxiety and dread through engaging frightening circumstances, ideas, and emotions. Exposure is always done in a controlled environment under the guidance of a trained therapist.
Talk therapy (psychodynamic psychotherapy)
It is a type of verbal communication that is utilised to help a person find relief from emotional distress while also strengthening the adaptive problem-solving skills the already possess. Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on the unconscious mind, which is where we store negative feelings, urges, and thoughts that are too painful to confront directly. Even though we are unaware of these feelings, urges, and thoughts, they still have an impact on a person’s behaviour. The psychodynamic therapist will help the client see and understand their defense mechanisms, as well as connect with and appropriately release those feelings and thoughts that were previously avoided.
These methods address the memory (unconscious) aspect of the trauma, but the conscious brain of the survivor must also be addressed. Recent studies have discovered that body-centred techniques like mindfulness, yoga, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are effective tools for reconnecting the mind and body. Furthermore, neurofeedback (a biofeedback that focuses on brain waves) has shown potential in helping trauma survivors learn to adjust their brain wave activity in order to become calmer and better able to interact with others.
Medications
For persons diagnosed with PTSD as a result of trauma, there are medications that may also be helpful as a part of treatment.
Sources:
1. https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma
2. https://integratedlistening.com/what-is-trauma/
3. https://centerforanxietydisorders.com/what-is-trauma/
4. https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma/
5.https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm
At least a third of more than 125,000 individuals surveyed in 26 nations had experienced trauma (World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey). However those figures are only for cases that have been reported; the actual number is almost certainly substantially higher. While there are no objective criteria for determining which events will result in post-trauma symptoms, common circumstances include loss of control, betrayal, abuse of power, helplessness, agony, uncertainty, and/or loss of identity. It does not have to be a war, a natural disaster, or a personal assault to have a tremendous impact on a person’s life and alter their experiences. Traumatic events that result in post-trauma symptoms differ greatly from one person to the next. It is true that it is highly subjective, and it is crucial to remember that it is defined more by its response than its trigger.
Because trauma reactions encompass a wide spectrum, psychologists have established categories to help distinguish between them – complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and developmental trauma disorder.
Complex Trauma
Complex trauma occurs repetitively. It results when individuals are frequently exposed to harmful situations. Complex trauma has a cumulative effect. The traumatic event usually takes place in a certain time frame, within a specific relationship, and in a specific setting.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event or has gone through an ordeal in which they were exposed to or threatened with severe physical injury. PTSD individuals experience continuous terrifying recollections and thoughts about the event.
Developmental Trauma Disorder
Developmental trauma disorder is a relatively new field in the discipline of psychology. During a child’s first three years of life, this trauma can occur. Developmental trauma affects an infant’s or child’s neurological, cognitive, and psychosocial development as a result of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. It interferes with the victim’s capacity to form a bond with an adult caregiver. Adults who induce developmental trauma rarely do it intentionally, rather, they do so because they are unaware of children’s social and emotional needs.
Responses and Symptoms of Trauma
Shock and denial are common responses to traumatic events. These emotional responses may fade over time, but a survivor may potentially have long-term reactions. Although everyone’s reaction to a traumatic incident is different, there are certain common symptoms.
Emotional signs include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness and despair
- Anger
- Denial
- Fear
- Shame
- Nightmares
- Insomnia
- Relationship difficulties
- Unpredictable emotional outbursts
- Intense feelings of guilt as though they are responsible for the event
- Feelings of isolation and hopelessness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal difficulties
Individuals who have experienced trauma benefit from consulting with a trauma-focused or trauma-informed therapist. The majority of trauma-informed therapists will combine therapies and modalities. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to trauma therapy. Treatment requires tweaking to address various symptoms. Trauma-trained mental health professionals can analyse the survivor’s specific requirements and design a treatment plan for them.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
SSP restores the brain and body’s ability to discover states of peace, safety, and regulation by utilising the auditory system and its direct connection to the nervous system. The Safe and Sound Protocol is a stress-reduction and auditory sensitivity improvement programme that also boosts social interactions and resilience. The way to better communication and more successful therapy is opened by soothing the physiological and emotional state.
According to research, the SSP can have significant improvements in as little as five days in the following areas:
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Sensitivity to sounds
- Anxiety and trauma-related issues
- Inattention
- Stressors that have a negative impact on social engagement
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT teaches the person to become more aware of their trauma-related thoughts and beliefs, as well as techniques to help them react to emotional triggers in a healthier manner. It helps people evaluate thoughts and feelings related to trauma and replace negative thinking with more realistic thoughts. This is a short-term treatment that usually lasts no more than 16 sessions, as more than 80% of traumatised adolescents improve within this time frame. Through CBT, both parents and children may be able to better process emotions and thoughts related t o a traumatic experience. CBT can provide those in therapy with the tools they need to deal with the overwhelming thoughts that cause stress, anxiety, and depression. CBT can assist those who have been through trauma in learning healthier ways to cope with challenging emotions.
Exposure therapy
Also known as Vivo Exposure Therapy, it is a type of cognitive behaviour therapy that is designed to reduce the fear associated with emotional triggers produced by trauma. The ultimate goal is to eliminate avoidance behaviour and improve the quality of life. This is accomplished by confronting the things that a person is afraid of. A person can learn to overcome anxiety and dread through engaging frightening circumstances, ideas, and emotions. Exposure is always done in a controlled environment under the guidance of a trained therapist.
Talk therapy (psychodynamic psychotherapy)
It is a type of verbal communication that is utilised to help a person find relief from emotional distress while also strengthening the adaptive problem-solving skills the already possess. Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on the unconscious mind, which is where we store negative feelings, urges, and thoughts that are too painful to confront directly. Even though we are unaware of these feelings, urges, and thoughts, they still have an impact on a person’s behaviour. The psychodynamic therapist will help the client see and understand their defense mechanisms, as well as connect with and appropriately release those feelings and thoughts that were previously avoided.
These methods address the memory (unconscious) aspect of the trauma, but the conscious brain of the survivor must also be addressed. Recent studies have discovered that body-centred techniques like mindfulness, yoga, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are effective tools for reconnecting the mind and body. Furthermore, neurofeedback (a biofeedback that focuses on brain waves) has shown potential in helping trauma survivors learn to adjust their brain wave activity in order to become calmer and better able to interact with others.
Medications
For persons diagnosed with PTSD as a result of trauma, there are medications that may also be helpful as a part of treatment.
- Antidepressants: Paxil (paroxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) for example, are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of PTSD.
- Anti-anxiety medications: benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
Sources:
1. https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma
2. https://integratedlistening.com/what-is-trauma/
3. https://centerforanxietydisorders.com/what-is-trauma/
4. https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma/
5.https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm