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Traumatic Events That Change You
The American Psychiatric Association defines trauma loosely as an emotional response to a devastating event.
We have all experienced events that have left us distressed, shocked, and forever changed. Whether the experience was in childhood, recent, or anywhere in between, these events can change the way that we perceive the world.
Trauma can happen to anyone, but most of the time people associate the word to veterans, first responders, children, human trafficking. While these experiences and professions can lead to traumatic disorders, it is important for each of us to examine our own experiences and consider we could also have been affected in some way by intense events in our life.
symptoms of Emotional Trauma
- Depression
- Irritability
- Loss of interest
- Numbing behaviors (alcohol, drugs, other additions)
- Intrusive memories
- Nightmares / Flashbacks
- Exaggerated startle response
- Panic attacks
- Chronic pain, headaches
- Eating disorders
- Insomnia
- Hopelessness
- Self-destructive behavior
- Loss of memory or no memory of certain times in your life
- And others
All therapists in our practice have had training in trauma-informed care. Some therapists have additional extended training to help you identify and process these events so that you can better understand your brain, behaviors, and emotions.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidenced-based psychotherapy technique used to process past trauma, your response in the present, and identifying how to move forward in the future. The technique is a specific sequence of allowing your brain to process past triggers, so they are no longer creating maladaptive coping as you move through the present day and into the future. The technique uses bilateral eye movements to help process the most critical aspects of the trauma and reduce the negative emotional response to the memory.
While this may sound like a daunting or confusing process, we will be happy to discuss the details to lead you to quicker emotional healing.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Connecting with your body and emotions is a critical part of navigating negative behavioral responses in your life. Connecting through mindfulness and meditation can help you connect quickly and easily. While all this sounds exhausting, the process can be done effectively even in 5-10 minutes a day. Our therapist can help you find the path that is right for you and provide you with a way to “check in” with yourself.
