Emotional and Psychological Trauma Causes
Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by:
- One-time events, such as an accident, injury, natural disaster, or violent attack
- Ongoing, relentless stress, such as living in a crime-ridden neighborhood or battling a life-threatening illness
- Commonly overlooked causes, such as surgery (especially in the first 3 years of life), the sudden death of someone close, the breakup of a significant relationship, or a humiliating or deeply disappointing experience
An event can lead to trauma if:
- It happened unexpectedly.
- You were unprepared for it
- You felt powerless to prevent it.
- It happened repeatedly.
- Someone was intentionally cruel.
- It happened in childhood.
Living with trauma is never an easy thing. And more often than not, the victims of trauma were not responsible for the situations that placed them there. Most people, at some point in their lives, will have to deal with a traumatic event. This could be anything from an accident to abuse, neglect, war, natural disasters, the sudden death of a loved one, and many others. When people are under trauma, they find themselves in a scary place where it feels as if the world has gone out of control. They no longer feel as if they are in control of their own lives, stress and anxiety increase, as does feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. For some people, with the help of family and friends, they are soon able to leave their traumas behind and move on to lead more happy, fulfilling lives. But this is not the case for everyone. Some people find that they are leading a life where the trauma never left – and exhibit great signs of emotional distress. Going to a therapist can help alleviate their problems however. By working together with a trained professional who will do their best to remove the trauma from the patient – the individual stands a greater chance of recovery.
What exactly is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and do you have it?
In order to understand what exactly is wrong with you, a therapist may put you through various tests to determine your mental condition. If you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, then counseling or therapy is definitely a good option for you. What this disorder essentially entails is that, even after a certain traumatic event has passed – the effects of that continue to create ripples in the life of the person who suffered through it. An individual with PTSD might find that resuming a normal life is hard for them. Take war veteran and soldiers for instance – the trauma they face in a battlefield scenario is one they risk harboring for the rest of their lives. Many soldiers come back distressed, feeling as if they are out of place, or with their anxiety levels sky high. It takes a good therapist to counsel their mental health back to a place where they can go about leading normal lives. Now that the traumatic event has happened, it is impossible to go back in time to change it. The effects of that will continue to be felt. But by working with a therapist, you can learn effective coping mechanisms and work out how to live your life, struggle free.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms
Symptoms may include nightmares or flashbacks, avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma, heightened reactivity to stimuli, anxiety, or depressed mood.
- People may experience: Behavioral: agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation
- Psychological: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust
- Mood: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness
- Sleep: insomnia or nightmares
- Also common: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts
What Does Emotional and Psychological PTSD / Trauma Therapy Entail?
When you go to a therapist to deal with PTSD, they may offer Psychotherapy to you, as it is the most effective way to deal with this disorder. In addition to that, they may help you to better understand what you are going through, develop coping mechanisms and make you feel equipped and ready to take on the world. Healing may take time, and you need to give it that. But by going to a therapist, you ensure that you are taking a step in the right direction.
Collaborative Therapeutic Services (CTS) seeks to maximize clients’ options by offering a variety of services, hours, locations and service providers with diverse specializations. We offer evening & weekend appointments. Have questions? Contact Us Here or Call 813-951-7346. Locations in Tampa & Brandon, Florida.
Photo By Marines from Arlington, VA, United States (Battling PTSD) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons