Understanding Trauma Treatment and When to Seek Help
Trauma comes in many forms. Psychological trauma can be caused by an event, a series of events, or circumstances. The American Psychological Association defines it as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster.” There are different types of traumas, including acute, chronic, and complex. Anytime you or someone you love is struggling with emotional issues like anger, fear, anxiety, or depression, seeking professional help is the best answer. There are a variety of trauma-treatments available to help you or your loved one overcome these tough times.
Not everyone who goes through what might be considered a traumatic event develops trauma. Each person is different, and each experience is unique. Some people may only have temporary effects from a traumatic event. Others, however, have longer-lasting mental health impacts. The way we cope with these life events can differ dramatically. However, suppose you have been through something like an abusive situation, natural disaster, or even a car accident. In that case, you may have lasting psychological trauma. Anytime you experience impacts on your mental health, you should consult with a professional; trauma-treatment might be the right fit for you.
Traumatic Childhood Experiences
Recent studies have shown that 3 out of 5 middle-aged or older Canadians have experienced childhood trauma. Trauma is usually connected to challenging events or actions against a person, such as living through abuse or surviving a natural disaster. However, trauma can come from a wide range of things and can occur over an event or the circumstances someone is in.
Issues related to childhood trauma include intrusive memories, paranoia, and avoiding situations. Physical responses may even occur from unresolved childhood trauma, including exhaustion and sleep disorders.
PTSD and Trauma-Treatment
Statistics have shown that 1 out of 13 Americans develop PTSD, and Canada has the highest level of PTSD when compared with 24 other countries.
PTSD develops due to a traumatic event, something usually shocking to the system or dangerous. It’s most associated with military members who have seen active combat zones. It is not limited to service members, however.
PTSD is something that should never be ignored. It directly impacts the person’s daily life. Some of the diagnostics criteria for PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding places or events, or specific items that may remind the person of their trauma. PTSD is often accompanied by feelings of anger, restlessness, or extreme tension in situations that don’t call for those emotional responses.
When you’re faced with PTSD or have a loved one going through PTSD, it’s essential to understand a wide range of professional help. We’ve come a long way in trauma-treatment as it has become more thoroughly understood.
Therapy is a significant step in the right direction for treating PTSD. A range of methodologies is used to help those who suffer from PTSD overcome their issues and get their lives back. Trauma-treatment can come in various forms, including one-on-one counseling and group therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Trauma-Treatment
One of the most common and highly ranked methods for treating trauma is cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT. CBT is a specific treatment method that focuses on the thoughts and feelings associated with particular behaviors.
The idea of CBT is to retrain the thoughts and actions of someone suffering from trauma. For example, suppose there is an object that someone avoids because it triggers the memories or feelings associated with the trauma. In that case, a therapist can help create a plan to overcome this avoidance behavior.
It usually starts with just simple statements. For example, if someone feared snakes, they would begin to tell themselves that they are no longer afraid of snakes and mentally go through what it would be like to interact with that snake. Eventually, with a therapist’s help, they work their way up to putting themselves into the situation until they can overcome the response. This can be applied to nearly any case or object and is a standard method used during trauma-treatment.
CBT therapy helps make the patient more aware of what they are doing and deal with the situation in a more positive and helpful way. Trauma-treatment plans can have CBT in both one-on-one sessions and in groups.
Newer Trauma-Treatment Methods
As we learn more about trauma response, we develop more therapies to help people cope. One of the newer therapy methods that are becoming commonplace for trauma-treatment is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, EMDR for short.
EMDR is a method designed to help people process traumatic memories. EMDR has been shown to be helpful psychotherapy for symptoms tied to trauma, especially in those who have comorbid psychiatric conditions.
Though it’s been around since the late eighties, it’s just begun taking hold in the trauma-treatment community in the last fifteen years. EMDR, like all other psychotherapies, should always be approached with the help of a trained and qualified professional.
During EMDR, patients relive the most traumatic experiences of their lives. At the same time, a therapist guides them in specific eye movements with the goal being integrating traumatic memories. Learn more about what is emdr therapy here.
Natural Methods for Trauma-Treatment
Along with trauma treatments and therapy methods, many professionals advise adding a variety of self-care techniques to help re-balance your life when you’re trying to overcome trauma.
Exercise is known to release endorphins and help people feel better in general, so adding in any type of exercise with your therapy sessions can improve your overall results.
Mindfulness is another popular self-care and meditative methodology that many therapists promote. Mindfulness is about being in the moment and acutely aware of what’s going on. It helps ground people and can be a preventative measure against anxiety attacks or flashbacks.
Some studies have shown that it may be a highly effective measure to treat PTSD.
Overall, self-care and wellness are essential. It can be easy to allow ourselves to slide and stop taking care of ourselves properly when battling trauma. Eating right, sleeping, drinking plenty of water, and finding something you love to do can all be effective in helping you re-balance your life while you undergo trauma-treatment.
Anyone struggling with mental health or having thoughts of self-harm should always reach out and seek help immediately. There are resources available 24/7 for those in crisis.
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