Professionals Want You To Know This About Trauma
Fear of Driving?
Every time you get into the car now, you're anxious. After that car accident you can't seem to feel comfortable driving like you used to. Certain sounds bring you back to that moment when you felt so out of control you thought you might die. Now you are even considering taking alternative transportation rather than getting behind the wheel again.
Fear of Public Speaking?
Every time you have to give a presentation for work, you just.feel.dread. You feel nauseous. It takes you back to that time when you had to give a speech in High School and you froze. In fact, you feel like a High Schooler again - all that confidence you've developed over your career just vanishes in an instant.
Fear of Facing Your Past?
You absolutely hate the smell of cedar. There's something about it that punches you in the gut when you smell it. It reminds you of the cabin your family used to visit in the summers . . . and you're not quite sure - but you think something bad might have happened. You don't think too hard about it though, because then you'd have to face it and you're not ready yet.
If any of these scenarios sound like you, you could be having a trauma reaction. "But I can't have trauma. I'm not in the military." Yes, you can have trauma symptoms without ever being in combat! This misconception has prevented so many people from finding relief from their past.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma can be anything that made you feel physical or emotional pain, feel unsafe or scared - or even afraid for your life. Trauma can be from an accident, an illness, or from someone purposely harming you. Trauma is unpredictable. We don't really know why, but two people can be in the same situation and one person can experience traumatic symptoms and the other may not. One thing we DO know, is having trauma symptoms has nothing to do with being weak! In fact, trauma survivors are among the strongest people I have ever had the pleasure to know.
Trauma Symptoms
Here are some common symptoms of trauma:
-memories, nightmares of the incident(s)
-flashbacks - feeling like you are re-experiencing some or all of the incident again
-certain sounds, smells or even physical sensations bring the memory up
-at times feeling like you're not in your own body (usually in reaction to something that triggers traumatic memories)
-avoiding things that might remind you of the incident (places, smells, activities, intimacy)
-only remembering part of the event or events
-feeling really upset or emotional when something reminds you of the situation
-uncomfortable physical symptoms (such as nausea, stomach pain, racing heart) when you are reminded of the event
-feeling disconnected from others
-having bouts of depression or anxiety
Trauma can be something that "sort of" bothers you - or it can consume you! You probably don't even realize all of the different ways it's affecting your every day life - including your relationships, your job and your general sense of well being and confidence. Sometimes, a traumatic incident (or incidents) can develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - which is a separate, but also very important conversation.
Trauma Treatment Is Available
Whether you meet criteria for PTSD or only have some symptoms - you can still find great healing from seeing a counselor trained to treat trauma. I've heard over the years how people didn't realize the weight they were carrying around until it's gone. Your feelings of depression, anxiety and dread can be relieved by seeing a trained psychologist for trauma and PTSD.
When you are ready to put these things behind you, click here for a free 15 minute video consultation for trauma counseling in California.
Online EMDR Therapy and Trauma Counseling in California and Carlsbad, CA.
SpecialtiesCassandra Cannon, Ph.D.Licensed Clinical PsychologistClick here to contact me for a free 15 minute video consultation for online emdr in california.