At some point in most people’s lifetime, they may experience a trauma. This may look like abuse, neglect, a car accident, war, death of a loved one, being a victim of a violent or criminal act, or a natural disaster.
While it is possible to bounce back or recover from trauma over time, the lasting impact of trauma can show up in varying ways. It can cause you to feel deep emotional pain, confusion, posttraumatic stress, and fear after the event has passed. Working with a therapist is a fundamental part to healing from trauma.
Symptoms of trauma can look like:
- Avoidance of specific things that may remind you of the trauma including places, sounds, situations, and sights.
- Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares
- Anxiety, ruminating thoughts
- Depressed mood, numbness, or guilt
- Anger, aggression, self-hard
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Blocking out of large periods of time out of memory
Psychotherapy is proven to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. In treating trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be extremely effective. If you or someone you know is struggling with any of the above symptoms, I invite you to contact me for a consultation.