“Trauma” is a word that’s been used more commonly around the world over the past several years. This increase in awareness of trauma and the potential impacts of these events is an incredible step forward for mental health awareness; however, I often get asked a great question about trauma - “what IS trauma"?” Here, I’ll answer this question, along with common symptoms of trauma and next steps to take.

The basics

Trauma is an emotional, and often physical, response to event or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or threatening. What does this mean? The more commonly identified traumatic events are natural disasters, accidents, abuse, etc., but trauma is not limited to these types of experiences, as the event itself does not dictate whether it’s traumatic or not. Trauma is rooted in the emotional response to an event, not the event itself.

How Does Trauma SHow up?

Like with everything, how trauma presents itself will vary from person to person, and may relate to the traumatic event. For example, someone might become afraid of driving if they’ve been in an accident, while another person may not be impacted in this way. With this in mind, there are common emotional and physical manifestations of trauma, including: increased irritability, avoiding things or people that remind you of the event, feeling withdrawn or numb, being easily startled, isolating yourself from others, vivid dreams or flashbacks of the event, engagement in risky behaviors (substance use, gambling, sex, etc.), difficulty concentrating, and an increase in nervousness, anxiety, and hypervigilance.

For some people, these responses can also show up physically - shaking, fidgeting, GI issues, changes in eating habits, headaches, anxiety attacks or panic attacks, fatigue, and changes in sleeping patterns, to name a few.

What Should I Do?

If you’ve experienced an event or series of events that have impacted your mental health, I recommend reaching out for support with a professional. No matter how big or small you think the event or situation was, these experiences can alter how we navigate the world around you. You may be anxious around other people, fear rejection or abandonment, or have difficulty building trust or being vulnerable with your loved ones. While we can’t take away the experiences themselves, we can work through the trauma and its impact on you so it doesn’t take up as much headspace, allowing you to live your life without feeling weighed down by the past.

Conclusion

Trauma can occur from a variety of experiences and situations, but just because you’ve experienced trauma doesn’t mean that “this is how it is forever”. Receiving professional support and a safe space for you to gradually talk through your experience(s) and/or the impacts of the experience will allow you to learn important skills that will help you move toward the life you want to have - the life you deserve.

As always, I’d like to be clear that this blog post is intended for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace professional counseling or clinical advice. If you’re in need of support, or this post resonates with you, please consider speaking to a professional.

If you’re located in Virginia, you are also welcome to contact me to see if I might be able to support you as you journey forward.

~ Catherine