Traumatic StressA traumatic event can change a person’s life dramatically. If a single experience is big enough, it's capable of altering someone’s entire thought process. If you are dealing with a traumatic experience, you may be feeling some of mixed emotions which can lead to confusion and anxiety. There's an explanation for what you're feeling and there are ways to help. Here are some of the most common causes of trauma:
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event. When that trauma leads to post traumatic stress disorder, the damage may involve a physical changes inside the brain and to the brain's chemistry, which damages the person's ability to adequately cope with stress.
Symptoms Of TraumaEveryone's symptoms and reactions to certain events are different. They all depend on our own personal tolerance levels, since we all deal with things in different ways.
Some common symptoms include:
These symptoms can have an effect on your perception of yourself. resulting in certain behaviors, such as eating disorders, low self esteem, and overdoing a daily routine (such as excessive cleaning). Trauma can create "triggers" in our minds: A trigger is usually an event or situation that reminds us of the trauma that we were in, that event "triggers" a certain reaction. Fear is a common trigger that may cause one to isolate themselves or stay away from certain situations or people because they are afraid to go through the trauma again. Your Reaction - After a traumatic event you may be in shock. You might feel that reality is indistinguishable, have unusual aggression, helplessness, confusion or forgetfulness. You may feel like the people around you don't understand, but don't let this break you. If the emotions are overwhelming or affecting your daily routine it's important that you consult your physician, they will be able to refer you to the proper source of help. Coping With TraumaSteps can be taken to help with the healing process. Here are some suggestions of things that you can do to help yourself along. 1. Give yourself proper time to heal. After experiencing a traumatic event your brain, and nerves need time to recuperate, traumatic stress has a strong effect on our nervous system. 2. Ask for support, have a good social circle. Having someone, or a group of people to let those difficult feelings out to can help in emotional healing. Talking about it can help you release any pent up emotions and can give you room to breath. 3. Find a creative outlet. Expressing yourself is a key step to healing. Find a healthy hobby such as painting, writing, exercising, etc, to focus your attention on. 4. Do not blame yourself. When traumatic events happen it's our natural tendency to wonder how it could have been prevented. Often we blame ourselves. This is unhealthy, and can cause negative personality traits to grow within us. Such as self hate, low self esteem, and an unnecessary fear of repeating a mistake. Remember that some situations are unchangeable, unforeseen or unavoidable accidents. Blame is not the answer. Try to acknowledge your denial - Denial is another common issue that a person can develop. When an event occurs denying that it happened or had an effect on you is unhealthy. It does psychological damage. If you or a loved one thinks you may be suffering from denial, please consult your physician. To cope with traumatic stress effectively we need to keep our bodies and our minds healthy. Never disregard your feelings. Take your physical and mental health seriously as it is your livelihood. Don't let traumatic stress get to the point where it controls you. Take the bull by the horns in a sense. Take control of your life.
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