Trauma has been described as a profound deviation from normal life experience. Trauma may occur in childhood; when it can actually reprogram the neurological pathways. This impacts normal emotional functioning later in life. (Many adults traumatized as children develop multiple addictions, PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, or other dissociative disorders later in life.)
Adults experience trauma in the form of catastrophic natural or life events, assault and rape, loss of a significant person, abusive relationships, POW experiences, occupational trauma from military / police work, violent crime, exposure to violence, and other severe stresses.
Trauma can produce Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the survivor.
Ongoing stress will produce PTSD in children later in life, adults generally only develop PTSD in response to specific traumatic events or a series of traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD include hyper vigilance, free floating anxiety , hyper startle, hyper arousal (being “on guard” all the time), etc.
(Trauma based attachments.) These are learned survival skills, which work to protect the psyche during and immediately following the trauma. Eventually these coping mechanisms work against healthy emotional functioning. (An example being an inability to trust based on childhood abuse, this protects the child during the abusive episodes, but later severely compromises intimacy and adult relationships.)
Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD Include:
“The symptom profile of adults who were abused as children includes posttraumatic and dissociative disorders combined with depression, anxiety syndromes, and addictions. These symptoms include (1) recurrent depression; (2) anxiety, panic, and phobias; (3) anger and rage; (4) low self-esteem, and feeling damaged and/or worthless; (5) shame; (6) somatic pain syndromes (7) self-destructive thoughts and/or behavior; (8) substance abuse; (9) eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia, and compulsive overeating; (10) relationship and intimacy difficulties; (11) sexual dysfunction, including addictions and avoidance; (12) time loss, memory gaps, and a sense of unreality; (13) flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and images of trauma; (14) hypervigilance; (15) sleep disturbances: nightmares, insomnia, and sleepwalking; and (16) alternative states of consciousness or personalities.”
Treatment Options
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach shown to help children, adolescents, and adults overcome trauma-related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following sexual abuse and other traumatic events. The treatment—based on learning and cognitive theories—addresses distorted beliefs and an attribution related to the trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is both a therapeutic tool and a trauma treatment that can address challenges in your past, your present, and your future. Its effectiveness has been shown in many clinical studies, and it is the therapy of choice for traumatic memories and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Creating Safety for Women : Using the “Seeking Safety” model by Lisa Najavitis, we explore a wide range of treatment topics including: Safety, Taking Back Your Power, Recovery Thinking, Setting Boundaries, and Coping with Triggers.
This group is for women only. Sessions are 1-1/2 hours in length and meet once a week for 12 weeks. An advanced group will continue the process for an additional 12 weeks for those interested. The group is “modified closed” meaning no new members may join after week 5. Group size is limited to 6 women. Group meets on Thursdays from 9 – 10:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per session.