Trauma

Trauma is the emotional and physical response that happens when someone goes through a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It can be due to a single event like a car accident, natural disaster or personal loss, or something ongoing like abuse, violence or neglect. Trauma affects how people think, feel and respond to the world around them. It’s more than just feeling sad or scared — trauma can change the brain and body in ways that can impact everyday life. Even if two people go through the same experience, one person may develop trauma and the other may not. Everyone responds to trauma differently, and each person’s experience is valid. Trauma isn’t always visible, and many people carry their pain silently.

There are different types of trauma, and understanding the type of trauma someone is dealing with can help tailor the kind of support and care they need and deserve. No one trauma experience is exactly the same. The different types of trauma include:

Psychological trauma — Psychological trauma is harm to a person’s mind. It happens when a person experiences something too much for them to handle emotionally. It can leave them feeling scared, confused and like they can’t trust anyone. Psychological trauma may lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Emotional trauma — Emotional trauma is similar to psychological trauma, but it focuses more on the damage to a person’s feelings. It can result from events that cause intense negative emotions like fear, sadness or anger. It can make them feel like their emotions are spiraling out of control. People may find themselves reacting strongly to small stressors, withdrawing from loved ones, or feeling numb and disconnected. 

Complex trauma — Complex trauma is when a person experiences multiple traumatic events, often over an extended period. When complex trauma occurs, it often happens in childhood, like abuse or neglect. Complex trauma can have a very deep and long-lasting impact on a person’s development and how they relate to others. Children who grow up with complex trauma may struggle with self-esteem, emotional regulation and forming healthy attachments as adults.

Trauma can show up in a variety of ways. It affects everyone differently, but some signs are common and shouldn’t be ignored. Here are some signs and symptoms indicating that someone has experienced trauma:

• Having nightmares or trouble sleeping
• Avoiding certain people or places
• Experiencing significant mood swings
• Feeling on edge or easily startled
• Having trouble concentrating or remembering things
• Feeling disconnected from reality or oneself

Trauma can cause a wide range of intense emotions, such as:

• Anxiety
• Fear
• Sadness or depression
• Anger
• Guilt
• Shame 
• Numbness

Trauma can also affect a person’s body, leading to:

• Frequent or severe headaches
• Issues like nausea, diarrhea or constipation
• Fatigue or low energy
• Sleep problems
• Chronic pain or muscle tension
• Increased heart rate

If trauma isn’t addressed, it can lead to long-term issues that affect every part of a person’s life. These may include:

• Relationship problems, such as difficulty with trust or communication
• Challenges with daily life, making it hard to work, go to school or take care of oneself
• Substance use as a way to cope with emotional pain
• Self-harming behaviors
• Chronic physical health conditions such as heart disease 
• Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety or PTSD

The good news is that with the right care, people can heal and build resilience. It’s never too late to ask for help.

One of the most well-known conditions related to trauma is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. While not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD, it’s a serious condition that needs treatment. PTSD can make daily life feel overwhelming and isolating. Symptoms of PTSD can include:

• Flashbacks to the traumatic event
• Nightmares or night terrors
• Avoidance of triggers or reminders of the event
• Emotionally distancing from others
• Always feeling on alert (hypervigilance)
• Irritability or angry outbursts
• Feelings of guilt or blame

PTSD symptoms may show up shortly after the traumatic experience, or they may appear weeks, months or even years later. Everyone experiences PTSD differently.

Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. However, PTSD is a direct result of trauma. The risk is higher if the trauma is intense or long lasting or happens during childhood. People who lack support after a traumatic event are also at a higher risk. PTSD can develop from complex or repeated trauma, and it often requires a multilayered approach to healing.

Therapy is one of the most effective treatments for trauma. Talking to a trained professional can help a person process what happened, understand their feelings and learn healthy coping skills. Therapy provides people with a safe space where they can explore painful memories and find a path toward healing. 

Different types of therapy can help people process and heal from trauma, for example:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — CBT is a common type of therapy that helps people challenge and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It can help people learn to cope with the memories and feelings related to the trauma.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) — EMDR is a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories and reduce their impact, helping people feel like the traumatic memories are no longer overwhelming. 

Somatic therapies — Somatic therapies focus on the connection between the mind and body. They help people release the physical tension and energy that can result from trauma by using movement, breathing or touch.

Group therapy — Group therapy brings people together who have had similar experiences. It provides a safe and supportive environment where each person can share their stories, learn from others and develop healthy coping skills. Sharing stories and hearing from others can help reduce feelings of isolation. 

Medication can also be a part of treatment. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication can help manage symptoms like depression and anxiety, which often accompany trauma. It’s important to note that medication doesn’t cure trauma, but it can make it easier to participate in therapy and manage daily life. A psychiatrist or doctor can help determine what medications, if any, may be helpful.

Trauma-informed care is an approach that understands how trauma affects people. It focuses on creating safe, supportive environments that avoid retraumatizing a person and focus on healing. It’s based on these principles:

• Physical and emotional safety
• Trustworthiness
• Peer support
• Collaboration and mutuality
• Empowerment, voice and choice
• Cultural sensitivity, recognizing and respecting different backgrounds and identities

At Guidelight, we make trauma-informed care a core part of everything we do. Our staff are trained to recognize the signs of trauma and respond with empathy and understanding. From intake to discharge, our focus is on creating a healing space for our clients. We listen without judgment, honor each person’s story and support them in finding their path forward. 

We offer several programs to support people in healing from trauma. Whether someone needs a lot of support or just a little extra, we meet them where they are. Our team is compassionate, experienced and committed to helping each person move toward recovery. Our levels of care help with trauma recovery are:

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) — Our IOP is a step up from weekly traditional therapy and offers approximately three hours of programming a day for three days each week. It includes one-on-one therapy sessions and group sessions. Our IOP is for those who need structured support but can return home each evening. 

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) — A step up from an IOP, our PHP offers more hours of care each day, totaling approximately five hours of programming per day, for five days a week. It’s a great option for people who need extra support without needing to stay overnight. Our PHP provides daily structure, therapy and additional programming.

Healing from trauma, whether it’s related to experiences like physical or emotional abuse, accidents, or witnessing distressing events, is a journey that demands patience and profound understanding. 

We understand that trauma can manifest in different ways, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, or defensive mechanisms that make relationships and life challenging to navigate. Our trauma-informed treatment is tailored to your unique needs, ensuring a personalized path to recovery. 

Through evidence-based therapies, we aim to empower you with effective tools to help you navigate and overcome the trauma you have experienced. 

Together, we will work toward fostering growth, self-empowerment and a renewed sense of hope for a brighter future. Remember, you aren’t defined by your past, and we are here to help you take the steps toward a more fulfilling and joyful life beyond trauma. 

Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial evaluation.