Experiencing a trauma, such as being involved in a serious car accident, getting divorced, or being the victim of child abuse, can have a long-term effect on your mental and physical well-being. Whether you experienced a “little t” or “Big T” trauma, you can carry the effects with you for many years without proper treatment. Processing trauma is the key to easing your symptoms and moving on with your life.
Whether you realize it or not, you might be struggling with the effects of trauma. Many people don’t recognize the symptoms or make the connection to a past traumatic event. This is especially true for “little t” traumas since they’re often viewed as less severe. However, everyone experiences trauma differently, so a “little t” trauma can have minimal effect on one person’s life while another person may find it difficult to get through each day. Getting the help you need through trauma processing techniques can help you move forward. If you think you’re experiencing adverse effects from past trauma, call Promises Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086 to enroll in our trauma therapy program.
Recognizing Trauma
Trauma can stem from many different experiences, and it affects everyone differently. It might come from losing your home in a natural disaster, facing physical or emotional abuse, losing someone you love, going through the challenges of military combat, or even losing a job. These moments can be incredibly hard, and it’s important to acknowledge how they shape us.
Trauma isn’t always related to severe events. For this reason, many people aren’t even aware that they’ve experienced trauma, but the effects can leave lasting imprints on one’s body and mind. You might be experiencing trauma if:
- You keep replaying the traumatic event in your mind
- You feel intense emotions in connection with the event
- You have nightmares about the event
- You feel on edge or hypervigilant
- You feel distressed by triggers that evoke memories of the event
Without treatment, you’ll continue to experience symptoms for many years to come. Reclaiming your quality of life requires help from a trauma-informed therapist.
The Importance of Processing Trauma
Some people believe they can move past trauma by simply suppressing memories of the event. Trying to stop thinking about what happened doesn’t serve you well. It doesn’t make the trauma go away, nor does it address your symptoms. While you may feel temporary relief, bottling up trauma over the long term can be harmful and put you at risk of:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-harm
- Difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships
- Self-medication with drugs or alcohol
When you don’t process trauma properly, your physical and mental health can suffer. People who self-medicate to numb the symptoms of trauma often develop substance use disorders (SUDs) that exacerbate the situation. Getting help is essential to protect yourself from the ongoing effects of trauma.
Trauma Processing Techniques to Try
Everyone experiences trauma differently, so it stands to reason that each person will need different trauma processing techniques to heal. Some examples of treatment modalities for trauma include the following.
Behavioral Therapies
Many types of behavioral therapies are helpful for those dealing with trauma. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used, as it helps restructure your thoughts, while dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be especially helpful for those experiencing severe emotional dysregulation. Your therapist may also use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a targeted therapeutic modality designed to process therapy.
Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness exercises can teach you how to be in the present moment and observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This can help alleviate emotional distress when you encounter memories or triggers associated with the traumatic event.
Expressive Therapies
When you first begin trauma treatment, you might find it difficult to verbalize your thoughts and feelings about the event since they can sometimes be too painful. Expressive therapies allow you to process your emotions nonverbally through activities like painting, music, and movement.
Reach Out to Promises Brazos Valley for Trauma Therapy Today
If you’re interested in addressing trauma head-on so you can find relief from your symptoms, contact Promises Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086. Our trauma therapy program offers a variety of therapeutic modalities to help you heal and move on with your life. You can also reach out today through our online form to learn more.