MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR TRAUMA

Trauma. We hear that word a lot these days, but what exactly is trauma? Well, trauma is the Greek word for “wound” and was originally used to describe a physical wound. In the 1980s, the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was first included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of mental disorders.

Since then, trauma has moved beyond a physical wound and is now used in reference to other forms of trauma including emotional, mental, and even spiritual trauma. Fortunately, research has moved beyond viewing trauma as strictly a mental disorder and many different forms of therapies have been developed in the past few decades for treating individuals who have experienced a history of trauma. 

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So how do you know if you have trauma?

Some common symptoms include: 

-Hypervigilance (Do you find your fight or flight response is activated often?)
-Anger (Have you been feeling irritable and are you having trouble managing your anger?)
-Denial (Have you been struggling to accept things that you may have experienced in your past?)
-Dissociation (Feeling detached from self and others?)
-Sleep disturbances (Nightmares? Insomnia? Trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep?)

These symptoms can develop after a single-incident traumatic event (referred to as Type 1 trauma) including but not limited to:
-Violent assault
-Sexual assault
-Car accident
-Military combat incident
-Childbirth
-Witnessing a natural disaster or terrorist attack
-Being a victim or witness violence
-Traumatic loss
-Serious illness/injury

Or perhaps after repetitive trauma (referred to as Type 2 trauma), which may have been experienced in early childhood or within a relationship with a significant person in your life, which includes but is not limited to:

-Childhood abuse
-Abandonment
-Sibling abuse
-Domestic abuse
-Religious abuse
-Bullying

-Emotional neglect
-Attachment trauma

No matter the type of trauma, we are here for you.

At 253 Therapy and Consult we work with a variety of modalities that may help clients identify, name, and learn about the trauma they have experienced in their lives. We can help a client manage their current trauma symptoms and learn to develop trust, self-compassion, and reclaim their identity following a traumatic event or years of repetitive trauma.

If you feel like you relate to these symptoms and/or have experienced Type 1 or Type 2 trauma in your life, reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation. We can help you on your journey towards recovery!