Unfortunately, almost everyone will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives. We often think of these events as something large and intense, like a soldier experiencing the nightmare of a battlefield. But traumatic events can include things like natural disasters, human-caused disasters, acts of violence, sudden loss, or even negative childhood experiences.
People respond to trauma in different ways, but there are some common threads to consider. Understanding what a typical trauma response is can help you identify the symptoms of what you’re going through, so you can get the help you deserve to move forward.
Let’s take a closer look at what a trauma response is and what you can do if you’re struggling to move on from a traumatic experience.
Recognizing Your Reaction
Almost immediately after experiencing a traumatic event, your mind and body will have some sort of reaction. This reaction can look different for everyone, but it’s important to understand that it’s the result of your brain’s “fight or flight” mode being triggered.
Some people might experience more emotional reactions, like anxiety or sadness. Others will react physically, dealing with nausea, headaches, or an increased heart rate.
As time goes on, trauma responses can become more behavioral. You might start to avoid things that remind you of the experience, but you might also still deal with bad memories and flashbacks. It’s not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to struggle with intrusive thoughts, which can lead to self-destructive behaviors.
How Long Does a Trauma Response Last?
Because trauma responses can impact nearly every aspect of your life, being able to work through what you experienced is important. Thankfully, many people who go through a traumatic event will only deal with the aftermath for a short time. Most people recover from these events in several weeks and can go back to living healthy, normal lives.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for everyone.
If you’ve experienced extreme trauma or you’re having a hard time letting go, your trauma responses can become severe and overwhelming. They can end up impacting your quality of life.
How Many Trauma Responses Are There?
Research has started to recognize that everyone can react to trauma differently. You’ve undoubtedly heard of the fight-or-flight response. But, now there are labels like fawn, freeze, flop, and even fine.
How you respond to trauma is a defense mechanism. Some people tend to go numb and try to dissociate themselves. Others want to pretend that they’re fine when they’re really struggling. The most important thing is to understand that how you respond to trauma can be unique, so it’s important to recognize when something feels off.
If you find that you’re dealing with negative emotions or behaviors, or struggling with flashbacks or bad dreams, you’re likely harboring a traumatic experience, even if you don’t fully understand your response.
What Can You Do?
There are certain things you can do on your own to work through the symptoms of a trauma response. Practicing self-care every day, being more mindful, and leaning on your support system can all make a difference.
But, if you truly want to be able to move forward without letting your trauma hold you back, therapy is often the best option.
Therapy will help you understand where your trauma stems from. It’s not always easy to go back to a traumatic experience on your own. So, let your therapist provide a safe space for you. When you get to the root cause of your trauma, you can start to take safe steps forward by processing it, and eventually overcoming the negative memories.
Trauma doesn’t have to dictate the way you live your life. Please reach out for more information or to set up an appointment soon. Call Now 4432665533
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