These days, trauma comes in all forms, including trauma that stems from the use of technology. There are many different ways that people can become traumatized by technology. When this happens, chronic trauma therapy in Scottsdale can help to address the issue and focus on interventions to help build resilience in the digital age. We’re going to take a closer look at what is considered technology-facilitated trauma, how it impacts mental health, and the therapy treatment that can be used to help patients.
Chronic Trauma Therapy in Scottsdale: A Closer Look at Technology-Facilitated Trauma
When someone is the victim of technology-facilitated trauma, they may have been harassed online, cyberbullied, or threatened. Moreover, any of these misuses of technology can result in severe trauma to victims who are now left to pick up the pieces.
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
Social media and messaging apps may harass, intimidate, or humiliate others online. Additionally, cyberbullies can use text messages to harm others. Many times, cyberbullies don’t use their real names, making it more challenging to track them down.
How prevalent is cyberbullying? Statistics from the Pew Research Center found that nearly half of teens in the U.S. have been bullied or harassed online [1] Cyberbullying is also not a teenage problem, with statistics showing that almost 40% of adults have been victims of cyberbullying. [2]
Revenge Porn
Technology can ignite trauma when intimate images or videos are distributed without the consent of the person depicted. This is often done as a form of revenge, which can result in severe psychological damage, especially since many of these images can remain in the cyber world.
Impersonation
People can become the victims of technology-facilitated trauma if they are impersonated online. Their names and images may be used to create fake profiles and spread false information. This can damage a person’s reputation and lead to harassment, which can become a traumatic experience.
Controlling Technology Use
If someone is controlling the use of technology or checking someone’s text messages or social media activity, it can lead to technology-facilitated trauma. Being controlled can bring feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as other mental health issues.
Technology-Facilitated Trauma’s Impact on Mental Health
Technology-facilitated traumas, such as cyberbullying, can have damaging effects on a person’s mental health. It can make them feel angry, afraid, and isolated. This can spark feelings of depression and anxiety that can truly impact a person’s life. It can even lead to suicidal thoughts in the most severe cases.
People who have been cyberbullied may also feel ashamed and embarrassed, forcing them to isolate themselves, which can be traumatic. Some victims of cyberbullying can also develop PTSD. They may experience flashbacks and nightmares that become part of their daily lives as they relive their technology-facilitated trauma. [3]
How Chronic Trauma Therapy in Scottsdale Can Treat Technology-Facilitated Trauma
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one form of therapy that can help victims of technology-facilitated trauma. It teaches people to choose healthier responses to stress and is used to treat many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. It is done with a mental health professional in a structured and neutral setting. Patients learn how to view challenging situations with clarity to respond healthily.
Additionally, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy are sometimes used with cognitive behavioral therapy. This allows patients to reprocess negative feelings associated with cyberbullying and other traumas.
While these treatments are commonly used to treat trauma, therapy can also adapt to address the trauma that technology can cause. This can include lessons on digital literacy and online safety.
Digital literacy is understanding how to navigate and figure out technology. People can learn how to protect themselves online to steer clear of predators and cyberbullies. Moreover, these types of lessons can be intertwined with traditional therapy sessions to provide a comprehensive approach to helping people deal with their traumas and not become victims again.
Teaching digital resilience is also essential because it helps patients overcome online negative experiences and pressures. By becoming resilient, patients can learn how to prevent themselves from falling victim again to predators. Understanding online threats and learning about skills and solutions to recover from the stress these types of incidents can cause is vital to help overcome trauma.
Seeking Chronic Trauma Therapy in Scottsdale at Healing Foundations Center
Healing Foundations Center can help victims of technology-facilitated trauma through chronic trauma therapy. Trauma-focused treatment can include techniques such as structural dissociation, somatic experiencing, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
At Healing Foundations Center, we offer individual trauma recovery outpatient care and an intensive outpatient program with individual and small group therapy sessions. Contact us today to learn how we can help you deal with the trauma impacting your life.
Sources:
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/
[2] https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30614771/