The Manifestation of Trauma: When it’s Time to Seek Help

Image Credit @brett_jordan

Trauma is a heightened emotional response resulting from a distressing event that can cause various emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms to manifest. 

Due to the pervasiveness of trauma in our society—with 6 out of every ten men and 5 out of every ten women experiencing at least one trauma throughout their lifetime—specialized treatment is more readily available than ever before to help manage symptoms and begin the healing process. 

We know that confronting painful memories can be uncomfortable and so it’s common to see individuals compare, minimize, or deny their suffering to others. Understandably, implementing self-protective measures against a foreign body like trauma helps us to feel safe as it’s less threatening than re-living it; however, internalizing trauma delays the healing process, leaving one vulnerable to continued suffering. That is why recognizing the warning signs and knowing when to seek help is critical.  

Here, we discuss how various types of trauma can manifest from one individual to another and how to know when it’s time to seek help.

Understanding Trauma

Trauma can be acute (relating to a single incident), chronic (exposure to repeated and prolonged trauma), or complex (exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events).

Those who have undergone a traumatic event may also experience a range of cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and physical changes in their daily life.  

Symptoms often include: irritability and mood swings, difficulty concentrating, nightmares and/or flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, interrupted sleep patterns, relationship problems, substance misuse, anxiety and/or fear, depression, dissociation, and shame and guilt, among others. 

Typically, after experiencing or witnessing a distressing event, trauma responses will last for a short duration while the brain and body work to restore balance. Still, some may experience long-term interruptions in their life, making it challenging to process their trauma and take steps toward healing.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In some cases, symptoms may worsen, last for months or years, and interfere with daily functioning leading to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To be diagnosed with PTSD, an individual must meet the criteria stated in the DSM-5-TR for a minimum of one month. 

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include: 

  • Intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares, recurrent memories)

  • Avoidance (desperate attempts to avoid thinking, talking, or surrounding oneself with anything associated with the event) 

  • Negative changes in thinking and mood (hopelessness, memory problems, relationship difficulties, detachment, lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities, anhedonia)

  • Changes in physical and emotional reactions (being easily startled, engaging in self-destructive behavior, interrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating, irritability, aggression, guilt, or shame)

Symptoms can vary over time and from person to person. Certain individuals may experience heightened symptoms in times of stress or when a memory of the event is triggered. 

Early Childhood Trauma

Early childhood trauma refers to traumatic events that occur between the ages of 0 and 6. 

It was previously suggested that young children are protected from the impact of trauma because they cannot yet verbalize their thoughts and feelings or make sense of distressing events. However, research now shows that young children are affected by situations deemed dangerous to themselves or their caregivers. 

According to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), “Young children who experience trauma are at particular risk because their rapidly developing brains are very vulnerable. Early childhood trauma is associated with reduced size of the brain cortex. This area is responsible for many complex functions including memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thinking, language, and consciousness.”

Traumatic stress in children can result from many experiences, such as physical and sexual abuse, witnessing incidences of domestic violence, or resulting from natural disasters, accidents, the loss of a parent or caregiver, or painful medical procedures.  

Symptoms of childhood trauma in ages 0-2 may include poor verbal skills, memory problems, excessive crying or screaming, and poor appetite.

Children ages 3-6 may exhibit learning challenges, poor skill development, behavior problems, acts of verbal abuse, lack of trust, self-blame, low confidence, somatic complaints, and attempts to re-enact the traumatic event. 

Adverse Childhood Experiences 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years).”

According to a survey across 25 states, 61% of adults have experienced at least one ACE during their upbringing and about 1 in 6 adults report experiencing 4 or more ACEs during their formative years. 

While there are many adverse situations a child can experience, examples most frequently include: 

  • Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse

  • A mother treated violently

  • Living with someone who was mentally ill in the household

  • Someone who abused alcohol or drugs in the household

  • Incarceration of a member of the household

While ACEs differ from trauma, prolonged exposure to adversity can lead to trauma later. What is considered “traumatic” is more about someone’s perception, which is oftentimes an automatic response. Not every child who experiences a traumatic event (certainly never to be minimized or excused) will become traumatized by it. Though, many will. 

Founded by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, the higher number of ACE’s, the greater the risk for engaging in and developing the following later in life: alcoholism, mental health challenges, unsafe sex, suicidal behavior, smoking, liver disease, and other health conditions.  

When to Seek Help

If you begin experiencing overwhelming thoughts and feelings surrounding a traumatic event or notice your daily functioning is being affected, you may want to consider reaching out to a mental health professional. It can be challenging to ask others for support when we need it the most but it can also be a gateway for restoring our health and well-being. 

Treatment is Available

Several techniques are proven to be effective in treating trauma: cognitive processing therapy, trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy, somatic therapy, and inner child work. Seeking assistance from a trained professional will allow you to find the services that work best for you. 

Here at Hope Mountain Behavioral Health we have a specialized team of therapists who can help you address your symptoms and begin healing.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!

Mental Health, Tips, Trauma, TherapyJeff Mowerytrauma, symptoms, stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, asking for helpComment