What is Trauma?
Trauma results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being.
Traumatic experiences might include:
- Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
- Childhood neglect
- Living with a family member with mental health or substance use disorders
- Sudden, unexplained separation from a loved one
- Invasive medical or dental procedures
- Poverty
- Racism, discrimination, and oppression
- Violence in the community, war, or terrorism
Trauma reactions rarely look like how the media portrays them.
The impact of trauma can look like these:
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- Depression and anxiety symptoms
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling disconnected from your body and the world
- Difficulty letting your guard down and trusting others
- Hypervigilence or being “on guard”
- Difficulty relaxing or sitting still
- Memory issues
- Sleep difficulty
What forms of psychotherapy help with trauma symptoms?
There are many evidence-based treatment options to help process trauma. These include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TCBT), Polyvagal Therapy, Internal Family Systems and others.
How long does it take to resolve the impacts of trauma?
Relief from trauma symptoms begin with learning how to calm your nervous system that becomes very activated about an overwhelming experience. Mastery over your body can happen very quickly by using strategies that fit into your lifestyle.
After you’ve taken control of your nervous system, the work begins on processing the experiences that are negatively impacting your life.