Understanding Trauma and PTSD

Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can deeply affect a person’s life, long after the turbulent period or event has passed. Whether caused by abuse, loss, violence, or a deeply distressing experience, trauma can lead to lingering emotional wounds.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional response to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences. Trauma can result from a singular event, repeated or prolonged exposure to injurious circumstances, or a combination of multiple and varied disturbances to well-being.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. It involves prolonged psychological distress and can interfere with daily life in a number of ways.

Common Symptoms of PTSD:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares
• Hypervigilance or being easily startled
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Avoidance of reminders
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

Trauma Can Affect Women and Men Differently

Trauma can deeply impact women, often influencing both their mental and physical health. Women who experience trauma may struggle with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The societal expectation for women to be nurturing and resilient can sometimes lead them to internalize their distress, resulting in feelings of guilt or shame. This internalization can manifest in various ways, including chronic health issues, eating disorders, or challenges in personal relationships.

Men can be profoundly affected by trauma as well. Men may experience a range of psychological and physical symptoms, including depression, anxiety, anger, and difficulties in relationships. Societal pressures to appear strong and self-reliant can lead many men to internalize their trauma and withhold emotional expression. This can result in maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or aggression, as they struggle to manage their distress. Isolation exacerbates mental health issues, so treatment and support are critical.

Treatment and Healing

There are a variety of treatment approaches to healing trauma and PTSD. Whichever trauma-focused therapeutic approach you and your therapist decide on, the goals of that treatment will always include:

• focusing on the trauma and its impact
• manageably introducing trauma-related stimuli in a controlled approach
• helping you to process and integrate your memories, emotions and what you believe about your trauma

Frequently used therapies for treating trauma include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Somatic Therapies
• Narrative Therapy
• Dialiectical Behavior Therapy
• mindfulness and grounding techniques

Telehealth or In-person Therapy for Trauma Treatment?

Numerous studies have established comparable outcomes for both virtual and in-person therapy. This leaves therapy consumers to choose the treatment environment they prefer. Some people prefer to be in the same room with their therapist, while others appreciate the accessibility and flexibility that treatment over the web offers. With regard to treatment for trauma, virtual therapy offers the advantages of the comfort and safety clients may experience in their home environment.