Psychological and emotional trauma can be related to an event that is very disturbing or stressful and challenges a person’s sense of security. During a traumatic event, the body’s natural defenses take over and create a stress reaction known as the fight or flight response. This leads to a variety of physical symptoms and intense emotional reactions. How each individual responds to a traumatic event is unique. Many people who have experienced these events may wonder how to overcome trauma.
Generally, the symptoms of trauma ease over time as the mind processes the event. Sometimes, however, the brain gets “stuck” in the trauma leading to several possible mental health disorders. When this happens, it is best to seek professional treatment from a trauma therapy program at Harmony Hills. Call 855.494.0357 or connect with us online to learn how our PTSD treatment center can help you or a loved one.
Understanding the Impact of Traumatic Experiences
Typically, traumatic experiences often involve threats to life or safety, but that is not always the case. Any situation or event that leaves someone feeling isolated and overwhelmed, even without the threat of physical harm, can lead to trauma. Examples include emotional abuse, bullying, or the death of a significant loved one. Traumatic events that pose a threat to one’s physical safety include, but are not limited to:
- Physical abuse or neglect
- Sexual abuse or assault
- Long-term illnesses
- Accidents or significant injuries
- Natural disasters
- War or acts of terrorism
- Being the victim of a violent crime
For many, witnessing events that cause harm to others can result in trauma, especially if there is repeated exposure. This type of trauma can affect police, EMTs, firefighters, or children or adults who witness domestic violence. It is not the objective circumstances of an event that determine whether or not it is traumatic but rather an individual’s subjective response to the event. In other words, it is not the event that causes trauma but how a person reacts to and processes the event.
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Those affected by PTSD undergo a range of symptoms that can significantly impact their daily lives. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for seeking timely help and support. Here are some common symptoms of PTSD:
- Intrusive thoughts – Recurrent and unwanted memories of the traumatic event that can cause distress.
- Nightmares – Frightening dreams related to the trauma that can disrupt sleep.
- Flashbacks – Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again in the present.
- Avoidance – Efforts to steer clear of reminders of the trauma, including places, people, or activities.
- Negative changes in thinking and mood – Persistent feelings of fear, guilt, or shame, along with potential memory issues related to the event.
- Hyperarousal – Increased anxiety and jumpiness, which can lead to difficulties concentrating or sleeping.
- Emotional numbness – Feeling detached from others or losing interest in activities once enjoyed.
Recognizing these symptoms early on is critical. If you or someone you know exhibits these signs, it’s important to seek professional help to begin the journey toward healing and recovery.
How to Overcome Trauma
Overcoming trauma means not putting yourself through that event or experience again, even in your mind. Instead, we want to break your connection and the feelings it creates for you. Many types of mental health treatment therapies can help you, but the heart of it is simply having the right tools to guide you.
Personalized Treatment
Overcoming trauma means having a treatment plan designed for your specific needs. That means working one-on-one with a counselor to discuss what’s happening. You may have a condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder, where sounds, experiences, smells, or other things make you remember that trauma. They can put you back into that position of intense fear and overwhelming terror. During your mental health treatment program, you’ll be able to learn to break that connection so that you can move through your life without constantly reliving that terror.
Anxiety Management
Another component of overcoming trauma often centers around minimizing anxiety. It is very common for people with PTSD to have intense anxiety that limits much of what they do and experience. Through anxiety management, you can learn how to reduce those risks. You’ll learn how to relax your muscles, breathe through intense moments, and clear your head.
How Can a Trauma Therapy Program Help?
Traumatic events can happen to anyone at any time. Individuals under a great deal of stress or who have previously been traumatized are more likely to experience new trauma. Children who have experienced trauma are especially at risk. Childhood trauma typically has severe and long-lasting effects, especially when left untreated. Any trauma that is left untreated has the potential to develop into a mental health disorder such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Substance use disorders
Overcoming trauma and overcoming traumatic events can be difficult. At Harmony Hills, we understand the connections between these events. We provide mental health and substance abuse treatment programs designed to treat dual diagnoses, simultaneously offering the most effective results.
Contact Harmony Hills for Effective Trauma Therapy
Untreated trauma often results in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. If you or a loved one suffers from the effects of unhealed trauma, help is available in the trauma therapy program at Harmony Hills. Call 855.494.0357 or contact Harmony Hills online to learn how to overcome trauma in a safe, compassionate, and therapeutic environment.
