Trauma Therapy
Online & in-person counseling in Winter Park, FL
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Types of Trauma
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Common Trauma Symptoms
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Trauma Focused Therapy
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Benefits of Trauma Therapy
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, leaving lasting emotional and psychological scars and each person responds differently. From the haunting symptoms of PTSD requiring specialized treatment, to the profound impact of intergenerational trauma passed down through generations, understanding the complexities of trauma is essential. Trauma isn’t just something to “get over.” It is a process and you don’t have to do it alone.
Types of Trauma
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event, disrupting daily life and well-being. Individuals with PTSD may also experience heightened reactions to stimuli, avoidance behaviors, and emotional numbness. The traumatic event could be a car accident, going through a natural disaster like a hurricane, or sexual assault. Any experience that causes distress and leaves lingering negative effects. It’s important to know that two people that experience the same distressing event can feel the impact differently.
Complex Trauma
Complex trauma is caused by prolonged exposure to traumatic experiences, often occurring within interpersonal relationships or environments such as abusive households, war zones, or long-term exploitation. Unlike single-event traumas (i.e. falling off a ladder, birthing trauma, or a biking accident), complex trauma involves repeated or ongoing exposure to distressing events, leading to profound psychological and emotional impacts. Individuals with complex trauma may experience a range of symptoms, including severe anxiety, dissociation, relationship challenges, and issues with regulating emotions.
Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma, often referred to as historical trauma, describes the lingering effects of traumatic events passed down through generations. This type of trauma can stem from significant historical events such as genocide, leaving lasting emotional and psychological impacts on descendants. What is intergenerational trauma? It's the inherited emotional wounds and coping mechanisms resulting from past atrocities, impacting individuals' well-being and relationships today. Past generational traumas like the Great Depression, the world wars, slavery, and so many more. Intergenerational trauma isn’t limited to events that impacted the masses, it can also be caused by forms of abuse passed down by family. By understanding the deep-rooted effects of historical trauma like genocide and abuse, we can begin to address and heal these inherited wounds, fostering resilience and breaking the cycle for future generations.
Common Trauma Symptoms
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Trauma can disturb sleep quality, limiting restorative sleep. You might struggle to fall asleep, struggle to stay asleep, or struggle to wake up. It can cause restlessness and nightmares. If you’re not feeling rested, you might be struggling at work, feeling impatient with your kids, or struggling to take care of yourself.
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Intrusive thoughts and memories are involuntary and occur frequently. They can be negative beliefs of the self or the world caused by the traumatic experience like “It is my fault,” “I should have stopped it,” or “I am not safe.” These intrusive thoughts and memories can be overwhelming, leading to heightened anxiety, flashbacks, and avoidance in an attempt to try and cope with the traumatic experiences.
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Avoidance is used as a coping mechanism to try and escape intrusive thoughts, memories, and emotions. Even though avoidance can offer temporary relief, it can affect you ability to function and your quality of life. It can also lead to more severe symptoms and disorders like substance abuse, self harm, and even suicide. Avoidance pushes down the issues and leaves them untreated.
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Hypervigilance is a heightened state of alertness and sensitivity to potential threats. You might find yourself constantly scanning your environment for danger, which can feel draining and leave you with high levels of anxiety.
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Dissociation is a protective mechanism that the brain does when it is feeling overwhelmed. You’ll feel disconnected from the present, thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. You become detached from reality. There are two subtypes of dissociation called depersonalization; detached from the body, having a sense of looking down at yourself, and derealization; when you feel like you’re dreaming and things aren’t real.
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Trauma can manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, or muscle tension, reflecting the interconnectedness of emotional and physical well-being. Studies show that chronic stress and unresolved trauma symptoms can lead to an increase in chronic illness*.
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Panic attacks can be caused by intense fear. You will experience heart palpitations, sweating, and a sense of impending doom. You might even feel like you are having a heart attack or dying.
Trauma Focused Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Maybe you’re wondering what the best therapy for trauma is and there are a few really great ones out there — EMDR is one of them. EMDR helps people process and cope with traumatic memories by using techniques like following hand movements or tapping. The traumatic memories get stored properly in the brain so that they aren’t impacting how you see yourself and the world around you. Research has shown that this therapy supports your brain's natural healing process, making it easier to deal with distressing experiences. Many find EMDR effective in reducing symptoms of trauma, among many other disorders, offering a way to heal and feel better.
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
Everyone goes through something and we all have our wounds. Trauma therapy offers unique benefits for individuals navigating the complexities of trauma, serving as a healing balm for emotional wounds. Think of trauma as a deep, untreated wound that impacts your well-being and daily life. Trauma therapy acts as a cleansing process, gently addressing and clearing out the emotional debris and pain associated with traumatic experiences. By creating a safe and supportive environment, EMDR for trauma therapy enables individuals to explore and process these deep-seated wounds, fostering healing and resilience. Just as cleaning a wound prevents infection and promotes healing, trauma therapy helps to address the lingering effects, allowing individuals to heal, grow, and reclaim their lives.