Trauma
" The damage done to us...cannot be undone, since we cannot change anything in our past.
We can, however, change ourselves."
- Alice Miller
An event can become emotionally traumatizing when it was unexpected, the individual was unprepared for the event, and when what occurred during the event was not controllable.
Symptoms of trauma include:
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Anger, agitation, irritability
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Anxiety, fear, avoidance
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Difficulty concentrating
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Difficulty sleeping
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Dreams or nightmares
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Feeling life is hopeless
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Feeling numb or disconnected
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Flashbacks
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Isolating from others
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Mood swings
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Pain
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Sadness
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Shock or denial
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Tension in body
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Tiredness
If these symptoms follow a traumatic event, it is a good idea to seek professional help. Therapy assists by helping an individual working through past events so they can return to a healthy level of functioning.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop in individuals who survive traumatic events. Read more about PTSD on the Anxiety Page under Therapy Services.
EMDR is an effective therapy for treating PTSD and trauma. To learn more about EMDR, click here.