Trauma is an emotional and physiological response that is caused by an event that was distressing or life threatening. The changes to the central nervous system can be caused by one event, or a series of events, some that are most notable are natural disasters, life threatening car crashes, or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. However, if you have experienced one or any combinations of these events, that does not automatically mean that you have been traumatized. Immediate reactions to a traumatic event can include shock or denial, but did you know that the longer-term effects can include mood swings, challenges to relationships, and other physical symptoms? There are distinct types of traumas and though an individual can experience a physical trauma, like breaking a leg, in psychotherapy, our focus is usually emotional trauma. These are the emotional responses experienced after experiencing a distressing situation.
- Acute - when emotional responses happen directly after or shortly after a single event.
- Chronic- when there is a long-term emotional response that can come from repeated distressing events that can range from months, even years.
- Complex- emotional responses associated with multiple disturbing events. They can be related to one another, or not. For instance, you have experienced trauma from a car accident and also through community violence and they were not at the same time.
The effects of trauma can show up physically as an increased heart rate, feeling on edge, difficulty sleeping and changes in appetite in addition to other symptoms. Additionally, the effects of trauma can show up emotionally as a change in concentration, avoidance of certain situations, places, or people that remind you of the disturbing event, guilt or shame, or the feeling of emotional numbness, along with other emotional manifestations.
In real life, this may look like a panicked feeling every time you get in the car after experiencing a car accident in the past. It can look like creating relationships or situation-ships that resemble the distressing relationships you experienced in youth. The effects of trauma create a constant sense of failure, guilt, or shame related to a specific event.
