Trauma is actually very common. It is estimated that up to 70% of adults will experience a traumatic event at least once in their life. For some people, especially if they experience multiple traumatic events, a condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop. The effects of exposure to trauma can persist for a long time, even years or decades. In order to properly heal from trauma, it can be helpful to participate in trauma therapy treatment. Understanding trauma, its effects, and how therapy can help are vital to ensuring you get the help you need. Reach out to Northpoint Seattle at 888.483.6031 for more information and to learn how we could help.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is an event or circumstance that is intensely upsetting. Trauma can be an emotionally disturbing experience or a life-threatening event. Some examples of trauma are:
- Witnessing or being involved in an accident
- Being the victim of abuse or seeing others be abused
- Natural disasters
- Exposure to violence or war
- Being the victim of an assault or seeing others be assaulted
- Sudden loss of a loved one
- Becoming seriously ill or having a loved one be seriously ill
Trauma can affect a person’s physical and mental health, as well as their overall sense of well-being and quality of life.
What Are the Effects of Trauma?
Sometimes, people who experience a traumatic event or circumstance can continue on in life with few or no lasting effects. However, others may develop long-lasting effects. The effects of trauma can be varied, including physical symptoms, emotional issues, mental health conditions, and other effects. Some of the more serious effects of trauma can be:
- Having sudden, vivid, intrusive memories of the event
- Dreams that are disturbing involving the event
- Physical or emotional reactions when exposed to anything that reminds one of the event
- Anger, irritability, or sudden emotional outbursts
- Avoiding anything or anyone that might remind one of the event
- Memory problems, especially about the traumatic event
- Being easily startled or scared
- Using drugs or alcohol to relieve emotional distress
- Depression or negative feelings about the future
- Distancing from loved ones or relationships
Trauma therapy can be invaluable to those living with the impacts of trauma. If your symptoms are taking over your life, it is time to reach out for professional help.
What Is Trauma Therapy and How Can It Help?
For someone who has been through a traumatic event, the effects may not be immediately apparent. However, trauma can have a long-lasting impact on work, school, relationships, and quality of life. Trauma therapy seeks to ‘release’ trauma and break its hold on patients’ daily lives. Some of the types of therapy used in trauma therapy are:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT has the goal of helping the patient break their experiences down into manageable parts. Thoughts, feelings, and reactions are all interconnected, and CBT seeks to give patients the tools to understand and cope with their emotions.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – EMDR helps patients by encouraging them to think deeply about their experience. At the same time, the therapist uses bilateral stimulation techniques (lights, sounds, and light tapping) to help the patient reprocess the experience in a healthier way.
- Talk therapy – Even though it seems simple, just being able to talk about the experience in a safe and supportive environment can provide relief from symptoms and allow patients to explore and process their traumatic experiences.
With the right help, individuals living with trauma can find relief for their symptoms, learn healthier ways to cope, and improve their overall health and well-being.
Northpoint Seattle: Helping You Recover from Trauma
At our treatment center in Seattle, we offer flexible, individualized treatment plans that ensure each patient receives the help they need in a way that will work for their situation. Our patients get treatment and therapy based on current best practices, as well as a safe and supportive environment. If you or someone that you care about has been struggling to recover from a traumatic event, you may benefit from getting some help from our trauma therapy program. Reach out to our caring and knowledgeable staff today at 888.483.6031 or online and learn what we can do to help.