Trauma is a response to an overwhelming experience that can have long-term impacts on both mental and physical health. Whether it’s a single shocking incident or a series of painful experiences, trauma changes the way we handle our thoughts, emotions, and physical responses to the world around us. This is why understanding the impact of trauma is so necessary for effective healing.
Just as conducting a detailed research study requires careful analysis, time, and expert guidance, addressing trauma and its impact on your health also demands a thoughtful approach, time, and professional support for successful healing.
While it can be a lengthy process, with the right strategies and support, you can heal more quickly and regain control of your life.
What is trauma?
Trauma is something that many of us face at some point, though its impact varies from person to person. It is the way our mind and body respond to an overwhelming, shocking event, with effects that can persist long after the event has passed.
It may come up from distressing events like the death of a close pet or breaking up with someone you love. It can also stem from more severe, life-threatening experiences, like physical violence, war, or natural disasters.
If left untreated, traumas can lead to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other mental health complications.
Impacts of trauma on health
Mental health impacts
PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that occurs when severe symptoms persist following a traumatic event.
These are some common signs of PTSD:
Intrusive memories of the trauma, severe anxiety and depression, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and emotional numbness.
Emotional Numbness: Trauma may lead to emotional numbness as a defence mechanism. This can make it difficult to manage your emotions and turn even simple tasks into stressful experiences.
Physical health impacts
Sleep Disorders: It is very common for traumas to cause sleep problems like insomnia and nightmares. When you're not sleeping well, it can make stress and health issues even worse.
Chronic Pain: Studies have shown that stress related to emotional trauma can lead to chronic pain conditions, highlighting a deep connection between emotional trauma and physical pain. (PLOS ONE, 2023).
Cardiovascular Diseases: Constant stress and anxiety from trauma are associated with a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke because they continuously activate the body's stress response system. (NIH, Psychological Traumas and Cardiovascular Disease)
Behavioural impacts
Adopting harmful coping skills: When individuals are unable to cope with their emotional pain, they might turn to unhealthy and harmful habits like drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, overeating, or isolating themselves.
Isolating oneself: People who have experienced trauma may try to avoid things that remind them of what happened. This can make them want to stay away from people or places, which can lead to feeling lonely.
How to heal from trauma?
Acceptance
Acknowledging the impact of trauma on yourself is important; avoiding or denying it won't resolve the issue. Instead, it will slow down the healing process. Accept that the event happened and cannot be changed. Focus on the things that can be changed, like the perception of the incident and how you see it now.
Try Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness exercises are effective ways to calm both the body and mind, especially when a panic attack is triggered as a result of the remembrance of a traumatic incident. Meditation can improve focus and concentration, which can be difficult for those who are experiencing trauma, and greatly helps in reducing anxiety and fear by creating a sense of mental distance from traumatic memories.
Seek professional help and support
Dealing with trauma without professional guidance can be a slow process. If you’re aware of your trauma and its impact on your health, consulting a trauma-informed therapist can provide the needed support to facilitate your recovery.
Trauma-focused approaches such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, and IFS are among the most successful methods for addressing traumatic events.
Focusing on self-care and lifestyle
A lifestyle with habits such as exercising regularly, doing yoga, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep can help in both emotional and physical healing. Spending time in joyful and fulfilling activities can further support overall healing.
Conclusion
The effects of trauma on one's physical, emotional, and behavioural aspects of well-being are huge. Understanding these impacts shows how important it is to get special care and professional support to heal from trauma. Resolving mental and physical health issues through counselling, self-care, and social support is essential for recovery and enhancing general well-being.
At Luna Psychotherapy
Are you ready to take a step toward healing from trauma? At Luna Psychotherapy, we offer a specialized trauma-informed approach to help you process and overcome the effects of traumatic experiences. Contact Luna Psychotherapy today to schedule your initial consultation and start your path to recovery. Your healing journey begins here.
Comentarios