How Healing Can Be Found Through Trauma Therapy
Trauma happens for a variety of reasons and shows up in a variety of ways. Perhaps you experienced abuse, a natural disaster, war, the death of a loved one, or a terrible accident. Sometimes, trauma from a highly stressful experience can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or even substance abuse disorders. Disorder or not, trauma is an extremely difficult thing to live with.
Processing trauma is crucial to healing from it. Unfortunately, this is the part many people struggle with. Our natural response may be to avoid thinking about it or avoid the things that remind us of it. However, this is not the answer. While it seems to work, it's actually further cementing the experience in your brain rather than processing it healthily.
The good news is that trauma therapy can help.
Why Trauma Therapy Matters
Trauma lives on in our brain and body. We may have mental symptoms, including:
Sleep problems
Irritability or aggressiveness
Feelings of numbness
Blaming others or oneself
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Reckless behavior
Avoidance
Flashbacks and nightmares
And physical symptoms including:
Fatigue, or even Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Poor concentration
Panic attacks
Irritable bowel syndrome
Startling easily
Fast heart rate
This is a very stressful way to live. It happens because we get stuck in our fight-or-flight response. This response keeps us safe from danger, and it works very well at that in the short-term. However, we cannot exist in this state for extended periods of time.
Trauma therapy helps you process your experience and begin to come out of that fight-or-flight mode.
How Trauma Therapy Promotes Healing
In trauma therapy, the goal is not to erase the traumatic memories, but to help you heal by giving those memories less power over you. In therapy, you will normalize your responses to your experience and develop coping skills to help you manage stressful feelings and responses.
Depending on your needs, there are a handful of trauma treatment methods that are very effective.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
This method helps you get "unstuck" from your trauma. As mentioned above, it's common to get stuck in fight-or-flight mode after experiencing trauma.
In CPT, you will challenge the unhelpful beliefs you hold because of your trauma and begin working to change those beliefs.
Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT)
Used commonly for kids and teens with trauma, TF-CBT helps young minds identify false beliefs, address unhealthy behaviors, and develop healthy ways to cope. This includes helping them develop self-soothing skills and learn to express emotions.
Play therapy may also be a good supplement to this for younger children.
Prolonged exposure (PE)
In this method, you confront the root of your fear and aim to reduce your anxiety. In PE, you'll work on controlling your breathing, talking about your experience, and gently confronting your fears in the real world.
The goal is to help you realize you are safe now and can face difficult emotions, thoughts, memories, and places.
Somatic therapies
Somatic therapies focus on how trauma affects the body. The goal is to release bottled-up trauma's effects and reduce both physical and mental symptoms. Body awareness and grounding techniques are key tools here.
Psychodynamic therapy
This is all about understanding how past trauma affects your current emotions, behaviors, and even relationship patterns. The goal here is to help you understand some of the unconscious motives driving these things.
You may look at childhood experiences, family dynamics, relationships, etc., and how they may be shaped by trauma. In time, you'll improve your relationships and self-esteem.
The right approach for you may involve aspects of more than one of these methods. If you're ready to overcome trauma, reach out today. Together, we'll set you off down a path of empowerment and healing.
Click here for more information on Trauma Therapy.