Trauma Counseling

Trauma Counseling: Can I ever live a “normal” life?

Trauma definition: An emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event (or series of events) that overwhelms the nervous system’s ability to cope and leaves a lasting effect on the brain, nervous system and emotions  

“I feel like I just keep being pulled back into the same old bad relationship patterns and can’t seem to pull myself out.”
“I feel so broken inside it stops me from taking next steps towards what I want.”
“I can’t ever seem to give myself a break, always feeling like I’m to blame for everything.”

If you are struggling to understand why you keep repeating old patterns, especially with relationships, and feel like you are “overreacting” to situations, you might have experienced trauma. Current statistics indicate that 50% of children in the United States experience trauma and up to 70% of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives.

Our understanding of just how much past trauma affects our everyday lives has increased exponentially over the last 15 years, as more scientific knowledge of how it leaves our nervous system ready to jump at the slightest hint of a traumatic event. Immediate reactions into flight, fight or freeze when triggered are shocking to us and confusing to those around us. Relationships in particular can be strained while we fight to come back from the trigger and our friends/family/SO’s are concerned they have caused a reaction/trigger that wasn’t in their control or intention. 

In addition, past trauma can rear its head when we embark on next steps in life, when we least expect it.  It can be debilitating to live with a high level of constant confusion and fear that affects everything we hear, say, do and think. Our relationships, work, school, hobbies, goals, downtime all become saturated by this endless underlying buzz of fear. It’s exhausting.

With so much at stake, let’s take a few minutes to some solid information about trauma and what we can do about addressing it:

Range:

Consistent feelings of confusion/anxiety about life to PTSD and/or panic disorder

Symptoms:

• Anger.
• Unresponsiveness.
• Anxiety.
• Emotional outbursts.
• Depression.
• Panic Attacks
• Difficulties with social interaction
• Difficulties with intimate relationships
• Multiple health problems
• Low self esteem
• Lack of direction

Causes: 

• Chaos or dysfunction in the house (domestic violence, parent with mental illness, substance abuse or incarcerated)
• Death of a loved one, especially a sudden death/murder/suicide
• Emotional abuse or neglect
• Physical abuse or neglect
• Separation from a parent or caregiver
• Sexual abuse
• Stress through poverty
• Sudden and/or serious medical condition
• Violence (at home, at school or in the surrounding community
• Bullying/cyberbullying
• War/Terrorism

Solutions: What can help?

Therapy

• Individual: work one on one with professional therapists/ therapeutic tools
• Group: Connect with others that struggle with trauma
• Couples therapy: work with a trauma informed couples therapist that can help you and your Significant Other navigate the inconsistent nature of trauma response/reactions

Therapeutic Tools

• TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure
• Narrative Exposure Therapy
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy
• Medications
• Mindfulness 

Hopefully, much of this is helpful, especially if you, or someone you love, is struggling with trauma. Therapeutic intervention for trauma has a high rate of success with 77% and over experiencing a significant improvement in their symptoms.  We have a group of very talented therapists who are ready to help you navigate trauma and all the ways it interferes with you living your best life.

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