TRAUMA
Sometimes in our lives, things that are out of our control happen unexpectedly and leave us shattered.
Have you found yourself dwelling on why you feel certain emotions? Or maybe you avoid feeling anything?
Do you see yourself doing certain things that feel self-sabotaging, and then you get mad for doing this to yourself?
Is it hard to trust people and believe in what you see?
When situations bring feelings that are too strong, we either tend to avoid them, or we become angry for having to deal with it, or we get paralyzed not knowing how to react; other times, we engage in complying, people-pleasing, and changing who we are to avoid conflicts and those situations.
Those are all normal responses when someone has experienced trauma.
Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event that can be caused by a sudden and unexpected event or as a result of being exposed to challenging lifelong experiences that affect the person's sense of safety.
After experiencing trauma, it is normal to question if our thoughts are coming from reality or if our trauma is distorting reality.
Through therapy, you can heal from them and feel alive and present again.
OTHER TYPES OF TRAUMA
RELATIONAL TRAUMA
Relational trauma is the trauma caused by an unhealthy relationship with close ones. It is typically experienced when growing up in unhealthy environments such as having someone emotionally unstable or unavailable, someone with an addiction, or with a mental health condition, in environments with a lot of arguments, violent behaviors, or where you need to step on eggshells. Experiencing neglect or emotional abused by a closed ones also creates trauma. This type of trauma can also be experienced in romantic relationships when there is any form of abuse. As humans beings, we develop meanings out of how loved ones interact with us. This can affect our self-image, how we relate to other people, how we cope with big emotions, and our ability to make decisions. In addition to potentially developing depression, anxiety, and substance use. With therapy, it is possible to heal those wounds, make new meanings and build new patterns to relate to others.
BETRAYAL TRAUMA
It is the trauma that comes from a violation of trust. It is typically associated with a break of trust in intimate relationships, but can also be caused by a parental figure, in friendships, and in other interpersonal relationships. It feels like you can never trust anyone. It affects your sense of self-worth, causes suspiciousness, anxiety, anger towards self and others, self-blame, and difficulties “moving on”. Rebuilding your self-esteem, trusting again, building new relationships, and “moving on” are possible.