Traumatic events are common and many people can develop mental health issue as a result a result of these events. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 61% of men and 51% of women experience at least one such event in their lifetime. Traumatic events can have a long-term impact on your physical, psychological, and emotional health.
Unsolved emotional trauma can have negative consequences such as suicidal thouhts and behaviour, depression, and PTSD. However, it is possible to overcome the effects with professional help. Therapy sessions with a clinical psychologist can provide you coping skills and peace of mind to enhance your overall well-being.
This blog explores how clinical psychology can guide individuals that are scarred by a traumatic experience on their life’s journey and help them heal, grow, and thrive.
Any event that makes you feel physically threatened or grievously emotionally disturbed is trauma. Although everyone's reaction. If different trauma. You can experience trauma in various forms and negatively impact your physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual well-being. Some of the events in your life that can cause trauma include
In most cases, there may be few outward signs that expose the emotional turmoil that people undergo after a post-trauma. The earliest reactions to trauma are shock and denial. However, your responses to traumatic stress may vary once you progress beyond the initial shock stage. You may:
Clinical psychology studies aspects of an individual’s emotional, behavioral, and social life and well-being. Clinical psychologists help individuals with mental health issues to overcome their discomfort and make adjustments with the help of a range of assessment and intervention methods.
Clinical Psychologist can use therapeutic approaches for their sessions. These are:
Building a therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is essential to the therapeutic relationship treatment process. It establishes feelings of confidence, honesty, and reassurance that allow you to feel safe and comfortable enough to work toward you goals.
Oh, what types of emotional trauma are recognized? How common are they and how are they best treated?
Emotional trauma can manifest in various forms, including but not limited to:
Triggered by a traumatic event, leading to intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and hyperarousal.
Often stemming from prolonged or repeated traumatic experiences, such as childhood abuse or neglect, resulting in difficulties in emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.
Similar to PTSD but with a shorter duration, typically lasting up to a month after a traumatic event.
Caused by significant life changes or stressors, resulting in emotional and behavioral disturbances.
The prevalence of emotional trauma varies among individuals and populations. It is relatively common, with many people experiencing traumatic events at some point in their lives. The best treatment for emotional trauma depends on individual circumstances. It often involves a combination of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and medication, particularly for PTSD or related conditions. Supportive social networks and self-care practices can also play a crucial role in the healing process.
It's essential for individuals to seek professional help to receive personalized and effective treatment.
Several therapeutic techniques are available to help patients recover from trauma. Let’s learn about some of the therapies.
This technique involves identifying the thought patterns and learning new skills to reframe them. It teaches you to manage your emotional and behavioral symptoms better. While monitoring your progress, the therapist offers solutions to problems and highlights your achievements. The therapy usually lasts 12 to 16 weeks.
In this technique, you recall and relive the trauma in a therapeutic setting. It desensitizes you to the memory of the event. It uses rhythmic bilateral stimulation that enables you to release the pent-up emotions related to the trauma.
DBT is a talk therapy that helps you develop healthy ways to combat stress, manage emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships.
It focuses on identifying and resolving unconscious processes manifested in your present behavior to give you a deeper insight into how you feel and think
These interventions have their roots in ancient Buddhist meditation practices such as Vipassana and Zen. this type of interventions works to increase your awareness of your physical, mental, and emotional state in the present moment.
If not addressed the after-effects of traumata may last a lifetime. However, many effective tools can help you to heal. In physiotherapy learn effective skills to deal with trauma, find peace within yourself, and move ahead with renewed confidence. While the most important step toward healing is seeking therapy from a trauma-informed therapist, the other significant steps are:
Taking out time and doing things for yourself are important parts of healing. You may pursue a hobby that is exciting and enjoyable for you or spend more time pampering yourself.
Doing exercises ensure that you are physically better equipped to handle stress. Some exercises like yoga and tai-chi impact both your mind and body. Also, during physical exercises, your body releases the feel-good chemical endorphin.
Besides having fun doing such activities, you also get a sense of satisfaction. You recover faster when you engage your brain in literary or creative pursuits.
Meditation increases self-awareness and focuses on the present. It helps build stress-management skills and stops negative thoughts and emotions from overpowering your personality.
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