By Kate Smiley, LCSW — Licensed clinical social worker specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and EMDR therapy
Experiencing a single traumatic event, or repeated trauma, can lead to significant mental health issues. Receiving care specialized in trauma has been associated with better mental health outcomes and an enhanced quality of life.
Key points
- Treatment is often effective for those dealing with trauma and PTSD.
- PTSD is a chronic condition marked by severe distress.
- Unaddressed trauma can lead to lasting impacts on both mental and physical health.
- Trauma-informed CBT is effective for children and teens, while other approaches are available for adults.
Quick navigation
Overview
Trauma arises from enduring an unbearable event and feeling unsupported or unprepared to handle it. It can stem from a single frightening incident, such as an assault, car accident, or natural disaster, or repeated “minor” offenses, like frequent verbal mistreatment by primary caregivers during early childhood.
Trauma impacts individuals differently; an event that one person may find minimally traumatic could profoundly affect another for years. Instead of judging the severity of a traumatic event, it’s more beneficial to understand trauma within the context of your personal experience and its impact on your current life.
Certain issues can frequently be linked to trauma, though they may also stem from other causes. These issues include mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, rumination and compulsive overthinking, decision-making difficulties, sleep disturbances, low energy, lack of motivation, irritability, challenges in forming healthy relationships or maintaining employment, and a pervasive sense of struggling in life without knowing the cause or solution.
Trauma and PTSD
Symptoms
Diminished ability to function in everyday life
Trauma interferes with your ability to learn and process information, as it triggers an instinctive shift into survival mode when your sense of safety is compromised. During such times, it’s beneficial that your thought process focuses on ensuring your safety. However, once the immediate danger has passed, healing the neurological disruption caused by the trauma can be challenging, making it difficult to function effectively in everyday life.
Mental health challenges
Trauma is closely linked to mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, phobias, and ADHD. The impact of trauma can disrupt executive functioning skills, affecting your ability to prioritize, manage time effectively, maintain a healthy routine, and sustain professional employment.
Trauma encourages unhealthy behaviors
Extensive psychoanalytic research confirms the link between trauma exposure and the emergence of dysfunctional and uncontrollable behaviors.
“Dysfunctional avoidance” describes the effort to evade dealing with unpleasant and distressing experiences related to different types of interpersonal trauma. This behavior increases the likelihood of substance abuse and engaging in problematic or self-harming activities (including suicidal thoughts and risky sexual behavior) while diminishing the ability to self-regulate harmful behaviors.
If you find yourself dealing with unhealthy compulsions or behaviors related to food, sex, substances, or technology, unresolved trauma could be a major contributing factor. The good news is that addressing and healing your trauma often also addresses the root cause of these behaviors, making it significantly easier to change them.
Physical health ramifications of trauma
Beyond lifestyle and behavioral challenges, trauma often leads to poor physical health. Exposure to interpersonal trauma is closely linked to a decline in physical well-being.
Children who experience trauma face a higher risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, obesity, stroke, and substance use disorders, along with mental health challenges.
Causes and risk factors
The likelihood of developing PTSD or other adverse responses to trauma can be influenced by:
- Hereditary and environmental variables.
- Repeated exposure to traumatic events.
- Feeling helpless during traumatic events.
Treatment for trauma
Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for trauma available for both adults and children. Trauma-informed therapy can play a crucial role in the recovery process.
Your therapist may suggest:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) utilizes eye movements to aid in the processing of traumatic memories. Click here to learn more about EMDR.
- Trauma-informed CBT for teenagers, adolescents, and children
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) educates individuals on alternative ways to think, respond, and react to situations to lessen anxiety and fear. CBT has been extensively studied.
- Exposure therapy is a CBT technique used to treat anxiety disorders. It aims to address the fears underlying an anxiety condition to help individuals engage in activities they have been avoiding. Occasionally, exposure therapy is paired with relaxation exercises.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness or other approaches.
Reach out today
There are several effective treatments available to address trauma and anxiety disorders, with approaches like EMDR and CBT offering substantial benefits. Healing from trauma is a journey, and professional support can make a significant difference. If you or a loved one are struggling with the effects of trauma or anxiety, reach out to Kate Smiley at Re-Imagine Therapy. With specialized care and support, you can begin the path toward recovery and a healthier, more fulfilling life. Contact Kate Smiley today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward healing.
By Kate Smiley, LCSW
Kate earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California with a concentration in mental health and holds a BA in psychology from Pitzer College. Her clinical work focuses on helping clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, and create meaningful emotional change.
Related information
Briere, J., Hodges, M., & Godbout, N. (2010). Traumatic stress, affect dysregulation, and dysfunctional avoidance: a structural equation model. Journal of traumatic stress, 23 6, 767-74
Dimopoulou, I., Anthi, A., Mastora, Z., Theodorakopoulou, M., Konstandinidis, A., Evangelou, E., Mandragos, K.E., & Roussos, C. (2004). Health-Related Quality of Life and Disability in Survivors of Multiple Trauma One Year After Intensive Care Unit Discharge. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 83, 171-176.
López-Martínez, A., Serrano-Ibáñez, E.R., Ruíz-Párraga, G.T., Gómez-Pérez, L., Ramírez‐Maestre, C., & Esteve, R. (2018). Physical Health Consequences of Interpersonal Trauma: A Systematic Review of the Role of Psychological Variables. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 19, 305 – 322.
Sanderud, K., Murphy, S., & Elklit, A. (2016). Child maltreatment and ADHD symptoms in a sample of young adults. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7.
Schnurr, P.P., & Green, B.L. (2004). Understanding relationships among trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and health outcomes. Advances in mind-body medicine, 20 1, 18-29