Treatment for Chronic Trauma
Chronic trauma can significantly affect every aspect of a person’s life. Not only does it diminish physical and psychological well-being, without proper treatment, symptoms can last for years — thereby increasing the risk of developing destructive coping mechanisms.
Fortunately, seeking trauma treatment from a licensed, clinical psychologist has been found to be very effective for understanding the root cause of the trauma, identifying symptom triggers, and creating a path toward recovery and healing.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT)
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps patients become more aware of negative or inaccurate ways of thinking and how that thinking is contributing to their problems. By gaining a better understanding of what motivates someone to think or act a certain way, patients can learn to respond more constructively. CBT is particularly useful for helping those who have experienced trauma, however, it can be a useful tool that anyone can use to learn to better manage stressful situations.
EMDR
EMDR, otherwise known as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a common type of psychotherapy used to help victims of chronic trauma process the difficult memories and emotions they feel. Using a variety of techniques that involve eye movements, hand tapping, and other forms of sensory input, patients can work through painful or even repressed memories while enduring a minimal amount of additional distress.
Causes
Those who have experienced chronic trauma may have felt like their distress would never end and that they just had to endure whatever continued to come their way. Because of this, even after the trauma has ended, a person who has experienced chronic trauma will likely be at a greater risk for chronic behavioral health conditions and health-risk behaviors.
Chronic trauma can be influenced by one type of long-term distress, such as exposure to war and military combat or a natural disaster, but it can also occur after a series of unique distressing events. Someone who was in a car accident that then had to deal with chronic illness and then the death of a loved one, could likely suffer from chronic trauma.
Symptoms
One of the distinct differences between chronic trauma and acute trauma is the manifestation of symptoms. Those experiencing acute trauma will likely see symptoms immediately following the event. However, symptoms of chronic trauma may not surface for weeks, months, or even years after the trauma has ended.
Symptoms of chronic trauma can be complex and varied. Without trauma treatment, they often increase in severity and are disruptive to normal daily functioning. Over time, many people who experience symptoms of chronic trauma are likely to engage in maladaptive coping behaviors such as excessive drinking or drug abuse.
The following is a list of some of the most common symptoms of chronic trauma:
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- Depression
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- Anxiety
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- Easily startled
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- Violent outbursts
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- Nightmares or flashbacks
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- Emotional detachment
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- Inability to remember key aspects of the traumatic event
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- Overreaction to normal events
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- Sleep problems
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- Social withdrawal
Blair Wellness Group | A Professional Psychological Corporation
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We value the trusting relationship with all clients to serve as a meaningful resource in achieving the shared goal of wellness. For tailored treatment approaches, contact Blair Wellness Group today.
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Complications for Chronic Trauma
Complications arise when a person doesn’t receive treatment to deal with their chronic trauma. Although someone’s first instinct is to usually ignore or avoid the painful memories that are the cause, doing so won’t make them go away. On the contrary — not addressing the root of the problem will only make things worse. Over time, and depending on the source of the trauma, some people may develop unhealthy behaviors that can put even more stress on their health, job, relationships, and financial stability. Some complications of chronic trauma include engaging in fights or other violent acts, drug or alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, reckless driving, and other high-risk behaviors.
Chronic Versus Other Forms of Trauma
Trauma is a very personal experience that affects everyone differently. That being said, trauma can generally be categorized in one of three ways: acute, chronic, or complex. Acute trauma usually occurs immediately following a traumatic event and lasts for up to one month. Chronic trauma happens when a person is exposed to prolonged periods of distress and professional trauma treatment is usually needed to fully recover. Complex trauma is the result of multiple traumatic experiences usually associated with an interpersonal relationship. Some examples of complex trauma are domestic violence and child abuse.
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