When you hear the word ‘trauma’, your mind might instantly picture a soldier who has come back from war. While this is certainly an example of trauma, it is, by no means, the only example of trauma.
In fact, our understanding of trauma and what constitutes a traumatic event has changed drastically in the last decade. The definition of trauma has expanded to include events that many people might not recognize as trauma.
But, as we’ll discuss, trauma has less to do with the event itself and more to do with a person’s experience of that event.
It’s estimated that 60-70% of Americans have experienced a traumatic event in their life, even if they wouldn’t label it as such. By taking steps to properly name our trauma, we can make more space for healing.
What is trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing or frightening event that leaves a person feeling helpless, alone, or unsafe in their body or environment. While trauma can be a life-threatening event, it doesn’t haven’t to be. Events which do not threaten your life can still be traumatic.
This brings up our next point – the facts surrounding an event do not determine whether or not that event is traumatic. Just because one person finds an event to be traumatizing does not mean someone else experiencing the same event will feel this way.
Traumatic events cannot be understood objectively. People can have very different emotional experiences and reactions to the same event.
In such a way, it makes more sense to view trauma not as what happens, but how it impacts someone’s mental and emotional state.
Factors that can influence the impact of an event
As mentioned, a distressing event could potentially be very traumatizing to one person, while being less so to another person, or not at all. There are many factors that influence a person’s response to a potentially traumatizing event.
These factors include:
- Age – Distressing events that occur in childhood often have a larger impact since a child’s brain is still developing during this time.
- Mental state – Particularly difficult weeks or months can impact your ability to cope with a potentially traumatizing event.
- Past experiences – Past experiences can cause you to react to events differently than other people. Certain sights, smells, or sounds could be potentially triggering to you, while having no impact on others.
- Coping skills – Everyone is raised with different coping skills. If you were never taught how to cope with difficult situations, you may not know how to navigate a traumatic event.
- Presence of a support system – Having a strong support system can make a huge difference in your ability to cope with distressing events. Some people have a wide support system while others may not.
Examples of traumatic events
This list may contain events that you may not have considered traumatic, which can help you broaden your view on trauma:
- Natural disaster
- Terrorism, war
- Car crashes, accidents
- Violence
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Unsafe home environment or dysfunctional home dynamics
- Bullying, harassment, humiliation
- Death of a loved one
- Separation from a guardian figure
- Neglect
- Illness
- Living in a dangerous area
Generally speaking, unexpected events for which someone is unprepared and feels helpless often contributes to an event being traumatic.
Emotional and physical effects of trauma
Trauma can show up in many ways, mentally and physically, even long after the event has occurred. Studies have shown that trauma actually affects the structure and function of the brain.
Physical signs of trauma include:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Always feeling ‘on edge’
- Disruption to eating patterns
- extreme alertness
- Aches and pains
- Difficulty focusing
- Racing heartbeat
Emotional signs of trauma include:
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Withdrawing from others
- Guilt
- Shame
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Denial
Unresolved trauma often shows up in negative ways later in life, if not dealt with and addressed in a timely manner. This can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and avoidance methods such as using drugs, drinking, overeating, etc.
How to heal from trauma
Healing from trauma is a process, it’s not something that can be done in a day and checked off of your to-do list. The first step is recognizing that you’ve experienced trauma and acknowledging the impact it had on you.
- Having compassion for yourself – Survivors of trauma often believe it is their fault that something terrible happened to them. Healing starts with being kind to yourself – which means recognizing that you are not to blame. What happened to you is not your fault, and you should not feel guilt, shame, or responsibility for what you’ve experienced.
- Taking care of your body – Many studies have shown the healing effects of movement and staying connected to your body. Taking care of your body can include eating right, engaging in exercise, resting when you need to, and practicing good self-care.
- Talking to others – Trauma can feel like an isolating experience. Opening up to others can offer relief. Talking to others about your experiences can make you feel less alone and can make the experience feel less shameful.
Talking to a Professional
Last, but certainly not least, trauma is a complex experience that you shouldn’t have to go through alone. One of the most effective things you can do to heal is to talk to a professional.
Oftentimes, trauma can cause us to get “stuck” in a certain time or place in our life. Getting a new perspective and challenging the narrative inside of your head can help you get unstuck. The behaviors and patterns you’ve adopted due to a traumatic event may have helped you survive, but you deserve more than just to survive. You deserve to thrive.
Give one of our licensed and professional therapists a call today to begin your journey to healing. We have convenient locations in the Georgetown and Liberty Hill area.
On your side,
Jenna
