Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and emotional well-being. It can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healing from trauma is a process that requires patience, self-care, and often professional support from mental health services. This article aims to provide information on the different approaches and strategies that can aid in the healing process and recovery journey.
What is Trauma?
Trauma refers to a psychological and emotional response to an extremely distressing event. It differs from the typical stressors of daily life, such as work pressures or family disagreements. Traumatic events are considered outside the range of normal human experiences and can lead to mental health disorders if left untreated.
While the definition of a traumatic experience may vary from person to person, mental health professionals and researchers have identified certain events as commonly traumatic. These include accidents, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, and exposure to violence or death. Seeking support from mental health treatment services or addiction treatment centers can help individuals process and heal from these experiences.
Impact of Trauma
Trauma can significantly impact an individual’s life and relationships. It may lead to changes in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Healing from trauma can be challenging, especially when accompanied by substance abuse or other mental health conditions. Treatment programs at drug rehab centers or alcohol rehab centers that offer evidence-based therapies like EMDR and dialectical behavior therapy can be beneficial in the recovery process.
What Classifies as Traumatic Events?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates over 60% of people experienced at least one traumatic event. Around 30% of those individuals experienced traumatic stress and events multiple times. Common traumatic events include:
- Bullying, often contributing to childhood trauma
- Community violence like gang activity, terrorist attacks, becoming a refugee, homelessness, mass shootings, or living in high-crime areas
- Natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and fires
- Physical trauma like being shot, stabbed, beaten, robbed, or other violence
- Sexual trauma like rape, assault, prostitution, or sex trafficking
- Intimate partner violence, including emotional, sexual, or physical abuse
- Medical trauma like chronic illness, traumatic medical procedures, mistreatment by medical professionals, or devastating diagnoses
- Traumatic grief like sudden death of a loved one, losing multiple loved ones, witnessing death
Traumatic events are often classified as acute (single event), chronic (repeated or prolonged exposure), or complex (combination of multiple events). Addiction treatment services at recovery centers can help address trauma and co-occurring substance use disorders through comprehensive treatment plans.
What Does Trauma Do To the Body and Mind?
Immediately after a traumatic event, direct victims may experience numbness and physical symptoms. Over time, extensive trauma can lead to permanent changes in the brain, and some survivors develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Approximately 6% of the population has or currently suffers from PTSD.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that over 60% of people have experienced at least one traumatic event, and around 30% have experienced traumatic stress and events multiple times. Seeking prompt mental health resources and treatment services from professionals at recovery centers can help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences.
Healing from Emotional and Psychological trauma
Healing from trauma can seem complex, especially if accompanied by substance abuse or other mental health disorders. However, trauma therapy at addiction treatment centers utilizes trauma-informed care practices to help survivors process and grow from their experiences. A supportive environment and community are key in the recovery journey.
Defining Trauma
If you have suffered from a catastrophic life event, you have likely suffered from psychological and emotional trauma. Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, assault, or natural disaster.
While each person’s definition of traumatic experiences varies, mental health professionals and researchers have classified certain events as traumatic. Trauma and the events causing it are more common than you might think.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates over 60% of people have experienced at least one traumatic event. However, around 30% have experienced traumatic stress and events multiple times. Addiction treatment at drug rehab centers or alcohol rehab centers can provide the support needed to heal.
Traumatic memories and events may vary, but some common types include bullying, community violence, natural disasters, physical trauma, sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, medical trauma, and traumatic grief. Seeking treatment services is an important step in the recovery process.
Types of Trauma
Traumatic events are often classified as acute, chronic, or complex. Acute trauma is a single event, while chronic trauma is repeated or prolonged exposure. Complex trauma combines multiple acute or chronic events.
Even after one traumatic event, changes to the body and brain are likely. Depending on the trauma type, physical and emotional reactions will vary. However, seeking prompt mental health resources at treatment centers can help individuals begin healing with the support of addiction specialists and evidence-based treatment methods.
Immediate Changes
These occur directly after the event for direct victims and can include physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, bodily injury, nervous system changes, nightmares, fatigue, and insomnia. You may feel numb for some time after experiencing trauma.
Psychological Changes
Trauma can also cause psychological symptoms immediately or weeks, months, or years later. These can include negative emotions, mood swings, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, anger, fear, guilt, and depression.
Extensive trauma can lead to permanent brain changes. Some trauma survivors develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Around 6% of the population has or currently suffers from PTSD. Mental health treatment services can provide the support needed for lasting recovery.
Healing is not linear and depends on the types and amount of trauma experienced. Trauma can affect how we interact with others, upset the body’s equilibrium and emotional balance, and leave you feeling hopeless and disconnected.
Trauma therapy at addiction treatment centers uses evidence-based research to help process and treat trauma. Methods include EMDR therapy for reconnecting and re-evaluating difficult emotions, support groups for relating to those with similar experiences, professional medical advice, and talk therapy. Individualized treatment plans are tailored to each person’s unique needs and recovery goals.
Begin Healing From Trauma Today with Gloria Rehab
Gloria Detox and Rehab Center offers personalized treatment plans to help individuals overcome substance abuse issues. Their inpatient and outpatient programs provide a supportive environment for recovery, with services like individual counseling, group therapy, and medication assisted treatment. The center’s approach addresses both alcohol and drug rehab needs, as well as co-occurring mental health disorders.
Contact Gloria Detox and Rehab Center at (818) 659-9444 or visit their website to learn more about their addiction treatment center and begin your journey to recovery.
