We live in a world where trauma can occur at any time without warning. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as, “an emotional response to something terrible”. These devastating events could be an accident, witnessing or being a victim of a crime, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, natural disasters, death of a loved one, war, or other forms of violence (apa.org, 2024). Researchers have long studied the effects of trauma and how it may manifest amongst a variety of people. The National Library of Medicine states, “trauma is an event that shocks us, it overwhelms completely it is a confrontation with something disturbing” (nih.gov, 2019). Trauma varies widely as do the effects of those traumas.
The after effects of trauma can feel like anxiety, numbness, exhaustion, sleeplessness, headaches, changes in your appetite, nausea, sweating and feelings of detachment from others (betterhealth.vic.gov.au, 2024). When your body has experienced something so traumatic it makes sense that you will feel the trauma affecting your body mentally, emotionally, physically and behaviorally. Once the shock and trauma on your body is over you will likely begin to make sense of the shocking event that occurred. These alarming events take time to process and understand (betterhealth.vic.gov.au, 2024).
However, oftentimes, trauma lingers on. It is important to know the signs of unresolved trauma. Warning signs could include: alarming flashbacks, strained relationships, unpredictable emotions, negative thoughts and continuing headaches and nausea (apa.org, 2024). The National Library of Medicine has also found that ongoing trauma can turn into PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, which is defined as symptoms continuing longer than a month (nih.gov, 2019). Another sign to be wary of is the use of alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with the pain and memories associated with past trauma (betterhealth.vic.gov.au, 2024).
Remember, trauma looks and feels different to everyone. If you find yourself being uncharacteristically depressed, anxious or even angry, these could all be signs of unresolved trauma. There are therapeutic techniques, such as EMDR, that are specifically designed to treat and alleviate the symptoms of trauma. While the trauma may stay with you, you certainly do not have to continue to relive the associated traumatic emotions.
If you think you may have unresolved trauma, please reach out to us to schedule with one of our specialized trauma therapists today. You also have 24/7 access to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by texting 988.
Sources
Trauma and Public Mental Health: A Focused Review – PMC (nih.gov)
