Understanding Trauma
Trauma is extremely common, and as Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has identified, it is how you respond to a traumatic event, that determines the impact this trauma has on your brain, and your body. According to Francine Shapiro, trauma is anything that has happened to you, that you have been unable to digest or process and is held in the brain/body as trauma, causing distress or uncomfortable symptoms. (Shapiro, 2018, pg 39).
So many of us have experienced traumatic events in our lives. Trauma can look like very different things to each of us. What may be traumatic to one person, may not be to another. What matters is how you perceive and process your experiences. We know that trauma is also loss. A loss of what we expected, what should have been, what was. Trauma is the loss of stability; sometimes our very foundations.
Trauma is both what happened to us that should not have OR, what should have happened, and did not. For example, experiencing abuse, assault or natural disaster can lead to trauma. Growing up without nurturing parents, without proper care and love, can also cause trauma. Trauma is what happens inside us, as a result of what happened to us. Trauma is the impact to our minds and bodies following any experience that was overwhelming, creating extreme stress and fear and freezing our minds into a hyperalert status; and keeping us here. The effects of trauma can be long lasting and can show up in physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms. The changes to the brain caused by trauma can literally leave us stuck in that "fight or flight" mode, removing the ability to lead a joyful life.
At the Center for Loss, Grief, Hope & Healing, we treat both trauma and the grief that always accompanies trauma. There is a loss of so many things when we experience a traumatic event. Our goal is to help you heal the trauma and the grief surrounding this trauma so you can engage in and enjoy your life
Events Causing Trauma
Trauma can occur as a result of things that happened to you, or things that should have happened, and did not. These include:
Physical or sexual abuse/assault
Unexpected loss of a loved one
Serious accidents/injuries
Childhood neglect, abuse
Witnessing violence
Natural disasters
Emotional abuse
Military, combat
Bullying
Divorce
Any other event you experienced as traumatic
Trauma Symptoms
Cognitive
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Feeling detached, disconnected
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Difficulty concentration
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Reliving the experience
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Nightmares, flashbacks
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Intrusive thoughts
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Suicidal ideation
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Flashbacks
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Confusion
Emotional
Behavioral
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Irritable or angry
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Hypervigilance
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Shame
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Guilt
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Fear
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Overreaction to noises
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Addictive behaviors
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Under/over eating
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Hypervigilance
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Withdrawal
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Self harm
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Isolation
Somatic
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Unexplained medical conditions
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Migraines, headaches
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Autoimmune disease
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Dissociation
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Chronic pain
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Fibromyalgia
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Diabetes
Trauma Treatment
At Center for Loss, Grief, Hope & Healing, we recognize that everyone experiences grief and trauma differently. Our team is committed to providing compassionate and effective care to those who are looking for a safe space to recover and heal.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), is an evidence-based treatment for trauma that has proven effective in helping individuals recover from trauma and traumatic life events. EMDR has been found to be successful in helping individuals overcome their trauma and get back to living a full life.
Learn about EMDR therapy here: EMDR Therapy
Disenfranchised Grief
There is Hope
At Center for Loss, Grief, Hope & Healing, we understand that grief and trauma can come in many forms and can affect us all differently. We are here to provide a safe and supportive space for those who are struggling with the impact of grief and trauma in their lives.
Our counselors are dedicated to helping you find a way to move forward and heal in the face of these difficult experiences. Through compassionate and supportive guidance, we can help you work through the challenges of grief and trauma and find healing and hope.