Trauma Symptoms 101
What is trauma?
We have all heard the word “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),” but what does it really mean? There is a societal misconception that only PTSD affects war veterans, survivors of sexual abuse or people who experience an event that ended in severe injury or harm. Anything that you experience or perceive as threatening is a trauma and can result in the development of PTSD. Trauma can be defined as “anything that is too much, too soon or too fast for our nervous system to handle, especially if can’t reach a successful resolution,” stated Peter Levine. As a trauma therapist, I believe we need to expand our awareness and understanding that trauma symptoms can affect anyone that has experienced, was exposed to, witnessed or learned about an event(s) that led to feeling threatened. You might think, “What I went through was not as bad as my friend who was shot” or “I ended up being safe and unharmed in the accident so it should not affect me as much as it does.” This prevents you from seeking the help you need and deserve. In addition, our bodies do not know the difference between a real or perceived threat. This means that whether or not the event(s) resulted in “actual or physical” harm it can still leave a psychological, emotional or spiritual impact.
What are examples of trauma?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be “argued” that all people have experienced a traumatic event(s). Examples include but are not limited to front line workers or family members witnessing people die or taking care of the severely ill; being diagnosed or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; being hospitalized; the fear of yourself or a loved one becoming ill; the threat of losing ones job, income or house; or not being able to leave the home. These current traumatic events can also re-trigger past trauma(s) that were previously forgotten, resolved or buried. Other examples of trauma include but are not limited to war, sexual assault, car accidents, childhood neglect, abandoment, physically assault, racism and discrimination.
PTSD Symptoms
Starting at the moment the trauma occurs, our body and mind begin to produce sensations, thoughts and feelings that can be overwhelming. These symptoms fall into multiple categories as laid out by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V (DSM-5) that help understand and identify our internal trauma experiences.
Trauma Symptoms: Intrusive Symptoms
The first group of symptoms are called intrusive symptoms. An intruder is something or someone that enters into a space that does not belong to them; they are unwanted. It can be very distressing when you begin to re-experience the traumatic event(s) through unwanted upsetting memories, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional distress or physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders. If we use The COVID-19 pandemic as an example, it is complex because it is an ongoing trauma, which means it does not just happen once nor does it have a specific end date. Additionally, it can be complicated by grief and loss, multiple stressful events occurring at the same time, past traumatic experiences and the sense of loss of control. This real or perceived lack of control creates a sense of panic and the uncertainty of the pandemic may exacerbate these symptoms. Currently, there are many traumatic reminders that people encounter on a daily basis including frequent news and social media updates, people talking about the COVID-19 and having to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. It is almost impossible to completely remove yourself from these trauma reminders, which can lead to a constant state of distress.
Trauma Symptoms: Avoidance Symptoms
The next category of PSTD symptoms are called avoidance symptoms. There are two ways that people avoid trauma related stimuli. The first way is avoiding thoughts or feelings that bring up reminders of the event(s). You try to avoid feelings of shame, guilt, loss of control, helplessness or distrust which may lead to avoidance of connecting with others or trying new things. The second is avoiding external reminders of trauma such as watching the news, going on social media, walking outside, going to the grocery store, etc. Anything that you perceive as connected to the traumatic event(s) are avoided, including any smells, sounds or tastes. The goal of avoidance is to keep yourself safe, but it can lead to worsening anxiety, angst and depression.
Trauma Symptoms: Changes in thoughts and mood
A trauma or series of traumatic events leads to significant changes in one’s thoughts and mood. It may happen suddenly or develop over time and can include exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma; negative emotional response or feelings; decreased interest in activities; feeling isolated and difficulty experiencing positive emotions or sensations. Additionally, you may experience memory loss or the inability to remember certain aspects of a traumatic event(s). You might describe these episodes as “blacking out.” Due to the trauma, you may to develop overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world. This can manifest in various ways such as losing trust in the world, believing the world or someone specifically is “out to get you” or starting to believe negative things about yourself such as you are “weak.”
Trauma Symptoms: Arousal and Reactivity
In addition to shifts in thoughts and mood, how you respond to internal and external experiences change. Trauma creates changes in arousal and reactivity. Irritability or aggression; risky or destructive behavior; difficulty concentrating, and sleeping are amongst the many symptoms that can occur. Hypervigilance is also common, which is the experience of increased arousal and sensitivity to your environment. You may feel as though you are on high alert all day and night and are constantly surveying their surroundings. This can manifest by being easily frightened, jumping when approached suddenly or after hearing a loud or unknown noise.
Trauma is stored in the body
PTSD and trauma symptoms are not a choice or a weakness of the mind. The symptoms that manifest are not conscious or controllable behaviors/experiences. If they were, you could just tell them to go away. Trauma does not just occur in the mind; it also leaves imprints on the body. The symptoms you experiences are the nervous systems’ way of communicating there is an unresolved internal threat.
Trauma Symptoms and the Nervous System
Traumatic memories are stored in the body and manifest through our bodily sensations. The language of the nervous system is sensation. When these sensations arise, it is our body’s way to communicating with us that it needs to “deactivate” the energy. When you consciously or unconsciously suppress sensations out of fear or desire to avoid the uncomfortable feelings, the energy remains stuck in your body and symptoms continue to be present after the trauma is no longer physically present. Sensations are not something to fear; rather, they provide you with valuable information that you can use to move towards healing. By changing your perspective from fear to curiosity, understanding the role of the nervous system and befriending it, you can reduce the personal sense of shame that you should be able to “control” or “just stop” the trauma symptoms from arising.
Trauma Resources:
Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255
Suicide Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI): Call 800-950-6264 during standard business hours or text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling
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If you notice any of these symptoms of trauma or PTSD and they are creating emotional distress or impairment in your life, it may be helpful to speak to a trauma therapist. At Embodied Wellness, PLLC, our therapists have advanced training in EMDR, Somatic Therapy, DBT and IFS to treat your trauma symptoms.
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