Different Ways of Dealing With Trauma
What Is Trauma?
Trauma. It’s a word that carries a lot of weight, often invoking feelings of fear, confusion, and pain. Whether it's caused by a single event, like an accident or the loss of a loved one, or by ongoing circumstances, such as chronic abuse or neglect, trauma has the power to reshape our lives in ways that are both profound and lasting.
At its core, trauma is an emotional, psychological, or physical response to a distressing or life-threatening event or series of events. It’s not just about the incident itself; it’s how that event is perceived, processed, and internalized. Different people react to the same event in vastly different ways, which is why two individuals can experience similar events yet emerge with very different outcomes.
There are two main types of trauma: acute and chronic.
Acute trauma refers to the response to a single overwhelming event, like a car crash or a natural disaster.
Chronic trauma occurs when an individual is exposed to prolonged, repeated events, such as ongoing abuse, neglect, or living in a war zone.
Complex trauma, a newer term in mental health, refers to the experience of multiple and varied traumatic events, often occurring in childhood and affecting an individual’s overall worldview, relationships, and ability to cope.
Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD
Trauma, and the more chronic condition of PTSD, can result from a person experiencing any life experience which is distressing and disturbing. This can range from the more obvious “Big T” traumas of war and combat experiences, violent assaults, car crashes and other near death experiences, right down the “Small T” traumas or unpleasant life events.
At some point, if the backlog of trauma in a person’s life becomes too much, then they will start manifesting PTSD style symptoms, where they remain “frozen” psychologically and struggle to move past the trauma.
This can lead to a whole host of knock on symptoms which can negatively affect a person’s ability to function in society and live the life they want to live. Some of the more common symptoms include:
Depression
Anxiety
Rumination and preoccupation with the trauma
Explosions of anger
Flashbacks of the traumatic incident
Hyper-alertness and hyper-vigilance
Withdrawn nature and avoidant of others
Avoidant of situations which remind you of traumatic event.
Being easily startled by loud bangs or sudden movements.
Inability to get enjoyment out of things they used to – numbed out psychologically.
Physical symptoms, like sweating, nausea, trembling or shaking, headaches, tenseness etc.
Loss of appetite.
Insomnia and nightmares
Problems with thinking, concentration and general day to day functioning.
Feelings of guilt or blame in some cases.
There is a great deal of variability in different people’s ability to overcome and move past trauma. Some people do eventually manage to move on from these symptoms; others struggle and remain psychologically stuck for years in some cases. It can be as though the traumatic experience still happened yesterday even though it may have been years ago.
The Long-Term Effects of Trauma
While some people may eventually recover from a traumatic event, for many, the effects can linger long after the event itself has passed. These long-term impacts can show up in a variety of ways:
Emotional dysregulation: People who have experienced trauma may struggle to manage intense emotions. They might experience mood swings, outbursts of anger, or deep sadness.
Difficulty with trust and relationships: Those who have been traumatized may find it hard to trust others, especially in intimate or vulnerable situations. This can lead to isolation, anxiety, or fear of abandonment.
Avoidance behaviors: In an effort to avoid reminders of the traumatic event, individuals may steer clear of certain places, activities, or even people.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): In some cases, trauma leads to PTSD, which is characterized by persistent flashbacks, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, and intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event.
EMDR: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
EMDR therapy takes a radically different approach to trauma to conventional talk therapy, in that it uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to actually stimulate the mind/brain into processing or “digesting” the trauma.
Designed to tap a person neurologically into past trauma and then use eye movements to stimulate the mind into processing this “re-awakened” trauma in the way it couldn’t at the time because it was too overwhelming.
Here a a very quick overview of the 8 steps involved in EMDR therapy.
Client History – Identify target memories.
Preparation – Prepare the client appropriately for the therapy.
Assessment – Fully assess and evaluate target memories, feelings, beliefs etc.
Desensitization – Use eye movements or other forms of bilateral simulation to process memories.
Installation – Install positive beliefs about self to replace negative beliefs and affects associated with memories.
Body Scan – Eliminate any remaining physiological symptoms with further bilateral stimulation.
Closure – Return client to safe calm equilibrium as session ends.
Re-evaluation – Check that all aspects of memory have been fully processed.
This form of therapy has a proven track record of dealing with all types of trauma, but can be especially effective in handling the more severe forms of trauma which other forms of therapy and self help have struggled to shift.
If a person has experienced not just isolated traumas but has a history of trauma going back into their early years, then this form of therapy can be very helpful to them. It can be a systematic way to go back through the key traumatic experiences, revisit them in a safe, controlled environment with a greater sense of power and control, and process them to resolution using the EMDR framework.
Clients who complete this process report a much greater sense of detachment from their traumatic experiences, now viewing them as just another experience which does not distress them nearly as much. The emotional sting has been taken out of them. They are better able to move on with their lives.
Moving Forward: A New Chapter
While trauma can leave lasting scars, it doesn't have to define us. Many people who have experienced trauma find strength in their healing process. Through resilience, self-compassion, and seeking help, individuals can rewrite their stories and lead fulfilling, empowered lives.
If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma, remember that help is available. Reaching out for support is not a sign of weakness—it's a powerful step toward healing.
Whether you're just beginning your journey or are further along, know that you are not alone, and the possibility of recovery and growth is within reach.
