Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a terrible event such as a crime, abuse, or witnessing violence.[1] Trauma impacts people differently depending on what they have experienced or may have witnessed. The impact trauma can have can result in different symptoms with a short-term or long-term impact. Not everyone experiences the same type of trauma. Other types of traumas will affect how an event influences a person. We’re going to explore the various kinds of traumas as well as what causes them and how outpatient therapy in Scottsdale can help treat trauma patients.
Understanding Different Types of Traumas With Outpatient Therapy in Scottsdale
There are several different types of traumas that someone can experience. These include:[2]
Acute Trauma
Acute trauma is the result of a single stressful event. It can lead to long-term mental health problems if not treated. Someone may suffer from acute trauma after being the victim of violence or witnessing a traumatic event happening to someone else.
Chronic Trauma
Chronic trauma is the response to ongoing traumatic experiences. Chronic trauma can include being the victim of child abuse, domestic violence, or bullying. Emotional abuse can also be an example of chronic trauma because it weakens a person’s self-esteem by constantly making them feel bad about themselves.
Poverty is another example of chronic trauma. Children who grow up in poverty may be more likely to experience violent events and may not have enough food or adequate shelter. This can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as anxiety and depression.
Complex Trauma
Complex trauma can occur when someone experiences multiple traumatizing events or has prolonged exposure to trauma. This is similar to generational trauma. War-related experiences, as well as sexual assault and childhood abuse or neglect, are all examples of complex trauma.
Complex trauma can cause long-term physical and mental health problems. Experiencing this type of trauma can also make it difficult to form healthy relationships.
A person can also experience secondary trauma, which happens when someone close to you experiences a traumatic event and you feel the impact.
Common Trauma Causes
As mentioned above, several different events and situations can cause trauma. These include:
Being involved in or witnessing a serious accident
Whether you’re in a bad accident or witness one, you may experience trauma as a result. Seeing these types of incidents can lead to nightmares and flashbacks of the event.
Experiencing or witnessing violence
Witnessing or experiencing violence can be traumatizing. This can include experiencing abuse, war combat, witnessing these things, or other graphic content.
Assault and abuse
Physical assault, sexual assault, and emotional abuse can all lead to a traumatic response. You may also experience trauma if someone close to you is the victim of an attack.
Death
The death of a loved one can be traumatic for a person to cope with, especially if you have witnessed the person dying.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can be traumatic. This is especially true if you are displaced by them or they cause the death of those around you.
How Trauma Impacts the Body
Trauma impacts the body in many ways, immediately and, at times, for years to come. Some of the immediate impacts include:
- Sadness
- Confusion
- Exhaustion
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Numbness
There are also delayed effects of trauma, such as sleep disorders, persistent fatigue, depression, flashbacks, and avoiding emotions or activities that are associated with trauma. People may experience one or several of these trauma symptoms.
If a person’s response to trauma is more severe, it can include severe dissociation symptoms as well as intrusive memories that can impact a person’s feeling of safety. A person may also feel constantly distressed, so much so that they cannot rest.
Post-Traumatic Stress
Some people who experience a traumatic event have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who have PTSD feel stressed or scared, even when they are no longer in a dangerous situation.
For many people, PTSD symptoms develop within three months of the traumatic event. They can also begin years afterward, as each person reacts differently. To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person’s symptoms must last longer than a month and be severe enough to impact a person’s life.
These are the diagnostic criteria for PTSD:
- One or more re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, frightening thoughts)
- One or more avoidance symptoms (avoiding people and places that remind them of the trauma and avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the event)
- Two or more arousal or reactivity symptoms (feeling tense, trouble sleeping, angry outbursts, being easily startled)
- Two or more cognition and mood symptoms difficulty remembering the trauma details, negative thoughts, feeling guilty, loss of interest in activities)
Seeking treatment for PTSD is especially important because, left untreated, it can impact relationships, professional life, and everyday activities. It can also lead to other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.
Treating Trauma
Trauma can be treated using a variety of techniques. The course of treatment will depend on the person and the type of trauma they experienced. Group and individual therapy sessions are often utilized to help people work through their trauma.
As part of their treatment program, people may also engage in somatic experiencing, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and structural dissociation.
Seek Outpatient Therapy in Scottsdale at Healing Foundations Center
As an outpatient therapy treatment center in Scottsdale, AZ, Healing Foundations Center provides trauma patients with a variety of treatments to help them cope with their experiences. Our team has the expertise to help people deal with what has happened to them so they can work past the trauma to live happy and successful lives. We offer individual trauma recovery outpatient care as well as intensive outpatient programs that include weekly individual sessions and small group therapy sessions.
If you or a loved one is looking for outpatient therapy in Scottsdale, AZ, contact Healing Foundations Center today to learn more about our programs.
Sources:
[1] https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/trauma#definition