What is Trauma?
It may seem obvious to some, but not everyone knows exactly what trauma is. When we say trauma we are generally referring to any painful event that causes us to have a lingering emotional response. Most of the time that leads to trouble coping with life.
When you think of trauma you might think of the most common examples as witnessing the horrors of war, being involved in a serious car accident, or the sudden death of a loved one.
While these are certainly traumas, they are not the only things that can cause trauma. It's easier to think of trauma as any painful memory (which can include prolonged experiences) that causes distress in your day-to-day life.
How do I know if I have trauma?
If you think you might be dealing with trauma, first just know that you are not alone. Unfortunately, trauma is something that affects a significant portion of the human population around the world.
With trauma comes some of the following: emotional pain, trouble coping, and distress.
This distress can come in the form of:
nightmares
hypervigilance
avoiding people or places associated with the trauma
feeling disconnected or numb
insomnia
intrusive thoughts
guilt or shame
reliving the event regularly
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or you feel a distinct emotional response when you recall certain memories, it is possible that you might have trauma. The best thing to do would be to speak with a professional about it.
What type of therapy is best for trauma?
There are lots of effective treatments for trauma such as:
It would be hard to say that there should be any one treatment that is best for everyone. When I meet with a new client we will typically spend some time getting to know each other and working on some of the symptoms of the trauma rather than getting right to the root.
Generally speaking, EMDR is considered one of the most effective treatments for most people. Click here if you would like to read more about EMDR.
Do I have to talk about my trauma with my therapist?
To some extent, yes. Most forms of trauma therapy start with asking the client to talk about what happened to them in whatever amount of detail they feel comfortable with. A good therapist should never push you too hard or force you to do anything.
The narrative approach gets the client to slowly face the trauma, which is ultimately necessary for any type of healing. No matter what form of therapy we are using to treat trauma, it always works towards the same end, which is facing the memory head-on and reducing the distress associated with it.
Do psychedelic therapies work for trauma?
By now most people have probably heard about the various studies being done using substances such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine to treat trauma. I am fully in support of the continued research and application of these methods, but with one very important caveat- we need to be very careful not to portray these methods as panaceas.
They are simply additional tools in the process of healing trauma. They are not magic and they don't always work for everyone, and most people who see success with these methods also do other things to keep up with their mental health.
It's also incredibly important that people don't go experiment on themselves with these substances, because that can have disastrous results. Working with a highly trained professional is the only way I can recommend these approaches.
Can I use yoga and meditation to heal my trauma?
In general, things like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are great for people with trauma, and I do recommend them, but there are certain circumstances where, for example, someone might not be ready to do a lot of yoga or meditation because it can be re-traumatizing to be so present with thoughts and feelings or to be so focused on the body.
When in doubt move slowly and listen to your gut. If you feel like doing any of these activities is causing your trauma to worsen then don't persist with them. Consult a professional who can help guide you and figure out what will work for you.
Do you need help healing from your trauma? Reach out to us today and schedule a free consultation.
Other Mental Health Services Available at Strive On Counseling
As Asheville therapists, we understand that every individual has a unique set of mental health needs. Therefore, we offer many services and forms of therapy. More specifically, our services include individual counseling, anxiety treatment, EMDR trauma therapy, therapy for men’s issues, mindfulness, Buddhist counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, teletherapy / online therapy. Some other resources we offer include guided meditations, supplements, a list of books and other useful resources, and online courses. If you would like more information about any of these services, please reach out today, and start doing therapy in North Carolina!