Emotional pain is usually what first comes to mind when people think about trauma. Although trauma usually deals with emotional pain, it usually isn’t only that; most of the time, there is more to it.
Trauma can extend beyond a person’s feelings and their mind. Whether the underlying cause is a single difficult, distressing event or prolonged exposure to troubling experiences, the bottom line is that trauma influences mental and physical health. Depending on the severity and on the individual, this can last for months, years, or sometimes a lifetime.
It comes as no surprise that every person responds differently. Every person has their own thresholds and their own ways of dealing with problematic events; some have a higher threshold than others.
Yet despite that factor, most of us experience trauma, and most trauma manifests in a similar manner. It manifests as, and has been linked to, increased stress, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and a mixture of various physical symptoms.
It’s important to properly understand trauma, know what causes it, and know how it affects the body and the mind. This is because understanding this is the first step towards healing. After all, recovery is rarely possible without the right support, healthy lifestyle, and mindset, and oftentimes professional help and guidance.
It isn’t a quick process, nor one that should be hurried. It is, however, a key process for many people to be able to regain a sense of wellbeing and achieve a healthy balance in their lives.
When dealing with trauma, it is important to note that it affects the mind. It changes the way the brain responds to stress and how it processes it.
In some cases individuals will experience intrusive memories, which can affect their relationships with other people and their state of mind.
Other people experience symptoms such as heightened anxiety or difficulty concentrating, even long after the initial traumatic experience took place. Some become withdrawn as a form of coping, and some feel like they are constantly on the edge.
Common psychological effects of trauma include:
● Anxiety and worry
Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and not everyone experiences them at the same level of intensity. As with most things, it depends on the individual and the cause of the trauma, including their upbringing and character.
It’s not just the mind and emotions that are damaged. Another aspect of trauma is the fact that it can impact a person’s physical health.
Think about it – your body is experiencing constant stress. Stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) are being overproduced. It’s draining on your body. All this exertion tends to add up, leading to physical symptoms.
Trauma patients often experience things such as chronic fatigue , muscle tension, frequent headaches, digestive discomfort, high blood pressure, and weakened immune systems, and their appetite can also be affected. There are numerous other side effects, too.
What’s important here is to note that these symptoms can have many possible causes apart from trauma. It is for this reason that they are harder to pinpoint and oftentimes go overlooked.
When it comes to recovery, a key factor is support. This could be in the form of having supportive people around you or professional guidance. The more, the better.
Friends, family members, therapists, physicians, and anyone else who fits the criteria and who has the right mindset can provide the assistance that is crucial when it comes to the healing process.
In some situations, recovery may also involve addressing practical concerns beyond just physical and emotional health.
For example, for survivors of institutional abuse, obtaining appropriate legal guidance can be one part of moving forward. In the recent cases of Kalamazoo clergy abuse, people who worked with Kalamazoo clergy abuse attorneys got to move past their trauma by knowing the perpetrators got what they deserved.
They’re given some peace of mind, which contributes to their healing alongside therapy and medical care.
Trauma is something that should be taken seriously, as it affects both mental and physical health. But – and this is important to note – most of the time it’s not a be-all and end-all; it is something that can be beaten.
Recovery is possible. Most of the time it isn’t easy, and it does take time. But it’s worth it because recovery leads to a better and healthier life. Healthy lifestyle habits, emotional support, professional care, and practical resources all have a role to play.
While every recovery journey is unique, seeking help when needed and taking small steps are things they all share.
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