Trauma

As much as we would like them to be, our lives and the lives of our loved ones are seldom sheltered from hardship and hurt. One of the hardest things we must deal with is when we are harmed or threatened with harm. That harm, whether real or threatened, can lead to trauma and its negative mental and emotional effects.

The good news is that trauma can be addressed, and finding healing and wholeness is possible. Often it requires therapy to return to a healthy state of mental health. Fortunately, trauma counseling can help and is available at Rockwall Christian Counseling in Rockwall, Texas.

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What Is Trauma?

Trauma is a word that gets used often, but not with a consistent meaning. According to the American Psychological Association, “trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” Trauma results from exposure to an emotionally disturbing or life-threatening incident or series of events.

Trauma can come in several forms, including acute trauma, which results from a single dangerous or stressful event; complex trauma, which comes from exposure to several traumatic events; and chronic trauma, which is when one is exposed to traumatic events repeatedly and over an extended period of time. People can also experience trauma vicariously, which is what happens when you’re close to someone that has experienced trauma.

It’s important to note that exposure to a life-threatening or dangerous situation doesn’t automatically lead to trauma. Some people will go through such an experience and develop mild symptoms that will resolve over a short period. Meanwhile, others will be affected over the long term and struggle with the symptoms of trauma for a while. A person’s response to these situations is determined by a host of factors.

What Kinds of Experiences May Lead to Trauma?

While not every life-threatening or dangerous situation will lead to trauma, there are some experiences that are generally associated with trauma. Some of these include the following:

Being involved in a serious traffic collision
Experiencing physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse
Poverty
Childhood abandonment and neglect
Experiencing racism, discrimination, and oppression
Living with a family member with mental health or substance use disorders
Sudden, unexplained separation from a loved one
Violence in one’s community
Bullying, whether in person or online
War or terrorism
Experiencing a natural disaster
Being harassed
Childbirth
Experiencing a life-threatening or serious illness
The sudden loss of a loved one
Being attacked or mugged
Being kidnapped or held against your will

Whatever experiences you’ve gone through that may have led to trauma, the Christian trauma counselors at Rockwall Christian Counseling are here to help you reconnect with yourself, cope better with your symptoms, and improve your quality of life.

How Does Trauma Affect a Person?

When a person goes through a dangerous or life-threatening experience, some of the first reactions include denying what happened and feeling a sense of shock. Other responses include fear, anger, shame, confusion, guilt, hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating. It may also produce unpredictable emotions like irritability, as well as fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

Over the long term, trauma can have all kinds of impact on an individual. People may develop unhealthy behaviors and strategies to cope with the trauma, such as using drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or food as a coping mechanism. These might appear helpful in the short term, but they have negative long-term health consequences.

Likewise, trauma can also affect a person’s relationships, making them feel as though they have been betrayed, or they are unsafe with other people. Trauma can leave a person feeling shame, which can isolate them from others in the very moment that they most need support. Trauma can make it hard for a person to move on with their life in a constructive way.

Another effect of trauma is that a victim may feel constantly on alert for danger. This is called being in a state of hyperarousal and can result in struggling to relax or sleep. If the signs of trauma persist or get worse over time, that can begin to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. It can result in developing or deepening anxiety and depression. A person may end up avoiding any triggers related to the trauma, which can make life very complicated.

Can Trauma Be Effectively Treated?

Trauma can affect a person in deep and profound ways, but the good news is that trauma can be treated so that its symptoms are alleviated, and one’s quality of life is improved. Therapy with a trauma-informed or trauma-focused therapist will involve the use of techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Through these and other therapies, one can find constructive ways of managing emotions and dealing with the symptoms of trauma. A self-care regimen that includes getting enough exercise, sleep, a healthy diet, and finding meaningful connection with other people, must also couple with the therapy. Medications may also be prescribed to help address other signs of trauma and co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one have experienced a traumatic event, you can reach out to the counselors at Rockwall Christian Counseling to talk with a mental health professional. Together with a Christian trauma counselor in Rockwall, Texas, you can develop the necessary tools to cope well with trauma.

Through compassionate support grounded in evidence-based therapies and the unique resources of the Christian faith, your counselor at Rockwall Christian Counseling will help you walk anew with joy, strength, and confidence.