Hidden Dangers of Trauma: Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore and Treatments That Can Change Your Life

Being afraid or fearful after something dangerous or scary, like an accident, the loss of a loved one, or a violent encounter, is your body’s natural response. When you are in a frightening situation, your body responds with a rush of chemicals to make you more alert and survive- known as the ‘flight or fight’ response.  

However, this response of your brain to dangerous events can sometimes lead to chronic problems, such as trouble sleeping, anxiety, feeling at the edge, being startled easily, etc. Even for many, these symptoms don’t go away and become so severe that they affect your relationships or work. It might be a sign you are suffering from a trauma. 

Trauma can cause neurobiological consequences. In this article, you will learn signs and symptoms to recognize trauma and effective treatments to manage and treat this medical condition. 

What's Meant by Trauma?

An emotional response to a traumatic incident, such as child abuse, a natural disaster, or an accident, is referred to as trauma. These potentially fatal events can impair person's ability to cope, often affecting their physiological and psychological well-being. One might feel helpless, overwhelmed, shocked, or find it difficult to process their experiences. 

Trauma can have long-term effects on individuals’ well-being and develop into a mental health disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  This medical condition is classified into the following categories:

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma

When experiencing any traumatic event, it’s normal for you to feel anxious, scared, or uncertain about the future. Your nervous system can become overwhelmed by extreme stress, triggering the following intense physical reactions and emotions.  

Physical Symptoms of Trauma 

• Fatigue or feeling dizzy or faint 
  
• Unexplained aches and pains 
  
• Trembling, shaking, feeling choked up, experiencing cold sweats, or having a lump in the throat 
  
• Racing thoughts 
  
• Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or frequent nightmares  
  
• Loss or increase in appetite 
  
• Digestive problems, such as nausea or irritable bowel syndrome 
  
• Headaches and migraines 
  
• Increased heart rate or hypervigilance 
  

Emotional Symptoms of Trauma 

• Shock or disbelief 
  
• Flashbacks and intrusive memories 
  
• Anxiety, fear, or panic attack 
  
• Feeling irritated, frustrated, or being easily angry 
  
• A persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, shame, or emotional numbness 
  
• Social withdrawal, feeling disconnected from friends and family 
  

How to Treat Trauma?

The good news is that, with proper medical treatment, you can recover from your trauma. In this section, you can discover some of the effective treatments to help you deal with the psychological and physical effects of a traumatic event:  

Therapy 

A first-line treatment for trauma, therapy involves working with trauma-focused or trauma-informed therapists. Your therapist may recommend that you pursue any of the following therapies depending on your symptoms, psychological state, and general health: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people recognize and change their distorted thinking patterns related to trauma. It allows them to regain control over their behavioural and emotional responses. Usually, standard cognitive behavioural therapy takes 12 to 16 weeks. 
  
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): CPT involves re-evaluating how an individual thinks after a traumatic event. During this therapy, you will get to know how you view yourself, others, and the world around you post-trauma.  
  
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) TherapyDR) Therapy: This therapy is different from most talk therapies. Your therapist will not ask you to explain your trauma but do eye movements or tapping while focusing on images related to your trauma. EMDR therapy will help you become unstuck so your brain can heal naturally.  
  
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): This type of CBT therapy applies behavioural therapy techniques. During the PE therapy, you will be gradually exposed to your trauma-related situations, memories, thoughts, and physical sensations to help you stop avoiding your trauma reminders.  
  
• Somatic Therapy: This therapy focuses on body-based techniques to help your mind and body process trauma that is stored in the body. Somatic therapies include somatic experiencing, acupoint stimulation, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and touch therapies. 
  

Medication

In some trauma cases, mental health doctors might prescribe medication, particularly when symptoms are severe. For instance, if you are suffering from trauma-related aftereffects, like depression and anxiety, you might be prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Furthermore, benzodiazepines might be prescribed for panic and anxiety symptoms.  

Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, sleep aids, or other medications can help you manage your symptoms, but it will help you more to combine these medicines with therapy. 

Self-Care and Lifestyle Changes

Other than going for therapies and taking medications, you can practice several self-care and lifestyle changes to cope with the physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms of trauma. 

• Mindfulness: Practicing mindful breathing, yoga, meditation, or other mindfulness-based exercises can help you stay grounded in the present and reduce anxiety or fear. 
  
• Exercise: Trauma can activate your body’s flight or fight response, and exercise can help mitigate its aftereffects. Aerobic exercises have been found to work as an effective therapy for people suffering from PTSD. Hence, you must work out for thirty minutes most days of the week.  
  
• A Balanced Lifestyle: Practising a balanced lifestyle means having a healthy diet, sleeping restfully for 7-9 hours, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and engaging in enjoyable activities. 
  
• Seek Support: You can relieve your emotional burden by talking to your friends, family, or support groups about your distressing experiences. 
  

Final Say

Trauma is more than just a painful memory; it’s a psychological and physiological wound that can disrupt your entire life. First, you need to determine whether or not you are suffering from a trauma by recognizing your symptoms. And then understanding your physical and emotional state and undergoing the right treatment can help you regain control over your life.