Any time you endure a terrible experience, it has the potential to result in trauma. Each situation is unique and it can be difficult to fully understand your response. It requires time and expertise to discern a potential diagnosis. Not everyone experiences Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Trauma has become quite the buzzword lately but, of course, there is so much more to it than what you read in a meme.
This is partly why it makes sense to contact a trauma therapist. If you have undergone a violent or abusive event, there will be some fallout. Finding out what that means for you is important.
What is Trauma Therapy?
There are myriad specialties within the mental health field. A trauma therapist is also called a “trauma-informed therapist.” The basic premise is that not everyone can immediately recognize when trauma is at the root of certain feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Your trauma therapist may use any number of treatment approaches, e.g.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
The important distinction is that they are doing so with an understanding of how trauma can impact and shape a person’s mental and physical well-being. In such a setting, you can learn plenty about trauma — and recovery.
Some of What You Can Learn From a Trauma Therapist
The Basics About Trauma
I touched on some of it above but, again, trauma is far more nuanced than what you may see in a movie character. For example, there is something called generational trauma that is not so easy to identify. The more you know, the better positioned you are to figure out what needs to be done in your specific case.
You Are Not Your Trauma
After a horrific event or series of events, you may unknowingly come to identify yourself based on these experiences. Trauma therapy teaches you that what happened to you does not define you. This fundamental change can shift your awareness from the past to the present. In the present is where healing happens.
Practical Input
You obviously need to function on a daily basis. There are trauma-related symptoms that need to be addressed and managed. The trauma may have led you down a road of addiction from which you are working to recover. Your trauma therapist will help you develop the skills you need to live a rich life even as you go through your treatment protocol.
Acceptance
Whatever you went through was not your fault. Accepting this is not surrender. On the contrary, it will increase your ability to thrive. Remember:
There are times when you are not okay and this, in itself, is okay
You are not defined by trauma or trauma therapy
There is no useful reason to compare yourself to others
You will feel angry and resentful about past events and this is normal
Experiencing a relapse is not a sign of failure
PTSD or Not PTSD?
Thanks to pop culture, we may believe that unless you are diagnosed with PTSD, the event wasn’t that bad. Let’s be clear. There is an important distinction between a traumatic event and a potentially traumatic event. But, either way, you may need to start therapy. No one except you and your trauma-informed therapist is qualified to assess the fallout of what you’ve endured. Don’t get caught up in labels.
Reach Out to Regain Optimism
From the depths of trauma, it may seem impossible to see any hope. Trauma therapy teaches you that it will get better. You can be yourself again and love yourself again. It all starts with a free and confidential consultation. Let’s connect. If you’d like to read more about Trauma and PTSD Therapy click here.