To understand the prevalence of trauma, it is critical to first understand the history of trauma. This will help to provide context for the current state of trauma, and how it has changed over time. Trauma is a very real and pressing problem in the United States. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in 2016 there were an estimated 194,500 deaths due to injury in the U.S. This amounts to about 53 deaths due to injury per 100,000 people in the U.S. population. Of these deaths, 70% were due to unintentional injuries, 26% were due to suicides, and 3% were due to homicides.
A traumatic event is defined as “a stressful event or experience that causes psychological trauma” (NCTSN, 2018). Trauma can be caused by a single event, or it can be the result of repeated exposure to adverse experiences. Trauma can have a profound effect on an individual’s mental and physical health. It can lead to the development of mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it can also cause physical health problems, such as chronic pain.
There are three main types of trauma, Acute, Chronic and Complex.
A traumatic event is a huge cause of how someone can start struggling . For Example : Car accidents , natural disasters , violent personal assaults , or even being diagnosed with a life-threating illness .
Aside from the issues listed above, the more you prolong treatment, the deeper you will go into denial. You will begin to suppress these issues which can cause even greater emotion, physical and psychological damage. Trauma comes in 5 stages: denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance, and depression
The first stage of trauma recovery is denial, a refusal to accept that an event was traumatic. By suppressing the memory of the experience altogether, the brain may try to cope with the experience. This may be voluntary or involuntary. It is possible to become irritable or have trouble concentrating when an individual pushes down trauma. Alternatively, they may withdraw from friends and family members. A person’s ability to perform well at school or at work may be impacted by their tendency to avoid their feelings.
After you are able to identify the trauma and bring it to the light, you might feel angry and upset toward what happened to you. You may experience “Trauma Dumping,” which is a related form of Anger. In Trauma Dumping, some people may overshare distressing experiences at inappropriate moments or unexpectedly to friends, family, or random strangers. In this condition, you have no regard for how hearing about your traumatic experience can overwhelm the listener, who may end up feeling horrible or drained after receiving emotionally heavy information.
Once you reach the angry stage, all your emotions and thoughts can lead to bargaining. Bargaining is when you begin to feel like all the traumatic events to them were their fault and it was deserved.
The negotiations can be external, such as promising to change through prayer, or during internal dialogues and ‘what if’ scenarios
People may begin to feel a sense of helplessness resulting in intense feelings of sadness and emptiness. In this stage, a person dealing with trauma may isolate themselves from others and lose interest in activities they once found enjoyable.
In this stage the patient has come to accept all events that happened and are ready to seek treatment. It can come in many signs from it being voiced or even starting to attempt to move forward .
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that can be used to treat trauma. CBT focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps people to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behaviors that may be contributing to their distress. CBT is an effective trauma treatment, helping people to reduce their symptoms and improve their functioning.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals regulate their emotions and improve their relationships with others. One of the main goals of DBT is to help individuals manage their emotions in a healthy way, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma. By teaching skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance, DBT can help individuals cope with difficult emotions and experiences related to trauma.
Trauma has become a widespread problem throughout the United States. This kind of condition can lead to consequences with physical health, relationships, and mental health. Getting treatment for trauma can help with finding recovery and gaining a better quality of life. If you or a loved one are struggling with any form of trauma, reach out to Embrace today. Our team can answer any questions you may have and give you a better understanding of our outpatient program.
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