“Healing Doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means that the damage no longer controls our lives.” - David Kessler
What is Trauma?
Each person experiences trauma differently and how one individual deals with a traumatic event isn’t necessarily the same way another would handle it. Trauma can be a one-time event, like an accident or a natural disaster, or it can be something that happens continuously, like abuse or neglect.
One type that is often overlooked is generational trauma; where the negative impacts of a previous generation's experience are passed down through time - eventually becoming embedded within a families' culture. This could show itself through difficulty discussing emotions openly or displaying them without shame; feelings of anxiety among parents towards their children; family dynamics where boundaries are lacking or rigid.
Traumatic or stress-related disorders
-
Reactive Attachment Disorder (childhood disorder)
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (childhood disorder)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-
Acute Stress Disorder
Adjustment Disorder
Other Specified Trauma-and stressor-related disorder / Unspecified Trauma-and Stressor-Related Disorder.
Common symptoms of traumatic and stress-related disorders
Experiencing distress that is out of proportion to the severity or intensity of the stressor.
Overwhelming guilt or shame
Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Being easily startled or frightened
Feeling emotionally numb
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event
Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event
Negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
Hopelessness about the future
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Feeling detached from family and friends
No matter what form it takes, trauma can have a lasting impact on your mental and emotional health, but it doesn’t need to become your identity.
EMDR Therapy
The primary treatment model that I use throughout my practice is EMDR which is recognized as one of the most effective and efficient forms of treatment for trauma. But, what exactly is EMDR therapy?