There are many different types of trauma. Let’s review some of them here.
Unhealthy Relationships Can Cause Trauma
Traumatic experiences leading to PTSD can also occur in relationships that become physically or emotionally abusive. Any relationship can be exposed to trauma, whether it’s mother and children, peers, or marriage.
Abuse and manipulation over a long period can cause extreme emotional and psychological damage to the victim, which may develop into impaired social functioning, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation. Persistent abuse can cause long-lasting and even permanent damage, and unsafe coping mechanisms may arise as a result.
Trauma Caused by Neglect and Abandonment
Abandonment and neglect are two different types of trauma that are often experienced during childhood. Abusive homes, foster care, and orphans are the highest risk groups for these types of trauma, and victims may develop personality disorders, behavioral instability, violent behavior, and addiction.
PTSD as a Result of Experiencing a Traumatic Event
The most well-known example is PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. People with PTSD may exhibit symptoms such as addiction, flashbacks, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating. Most people will have heard about PTSD during discussions about returning war veterans who were involved in active duty in a war zone.
PTSD Caused by Witnessing a Traumatic or Violent Event
When a person witnesses a violent or traumatic event, they may develop PTSD. Mental illness is prevalent in returning service members who may have seen one or several traumatic events during their tour of duty. Accidents and natural disasters resulting in harm to someone are also scenarios that result in PTSD.
Trauma Caused by Sexual and Mental Health Issues
Rape victims and sexual abuse is a traumatic experience that can have long-lasting repercussions for the victim, with many women also being diagnosed with PTSD because of the feelings of shame and shock that linger long after the horrific event.
Rape survivors are also likely to develop mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, in addition to PTSD. When left unreported or untreated, these issues can become dangerous and life-threatening.
It Can Be Tough to Talk About Trauma
A lot of people will experience some form of trauma in their lives, but many different variables surrounding the event will determine if long-lasting pain and anxiety will develop as a result.
People enduring through trauma will experience a great deal of pain and emotional turmoil because of it. It’s for this reason that many trauma victims will have a lot of trouble talking about their issues and will attempt to deal with it by burying their feelings or ignoring them.
Trying to hide or ignore your pain will prevent the healing process, but many forms of trauma will require more than talk therapy alone. Fortunately, newer strategies have been developed which have remarkable success rates.
Using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Trauma and PTSD
EMDR is a new psychotherapy technique for PTSD that assists clients with processing painful memories, thoughts, and feelings specific to the trauma. The new method is proving itself as a process that can help people find relief from the symptoms of PTSD.
How Does EMDR Work?
One of the biggest challenges faced by people with PTSD is in making sense of what they have been through. When EMDR is employed, it helps them process and work through their feelings and get them on the road towards healing.
The EMDR process begins with the client experiencing bilateral stimulation while focusing on the upsetting memory. The therapist uses various tools to assist the client with this alternating focus from one side of the body to the other using the senses of sight, sound and/or touch. Examples of bilateral stimulation are: a back and forth motion with the eyes, a sound alternating from the left and right ear, or a gentle tactile pulse vibration from one hand to the other.
Is EMDR Effective?
Clients report that, in a short amount of time, the memories have much less impact than before, and they feel relaxed with a sense of peace. Researchers believe that the physical movement of the eyes, when combined with the focus on the memory, prompts the brain into storing it differently and giving it less power over the emotions.
EMDR has been demonstrated in numerous research studies to be an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD. Many people going through EMDR have reported reduced symptoms after only one treatment, with some studies reporting an 80% success rate.
Discover more healing trauma with EMDR here: EMDR