What is Trauma?

No two experiences are the same, and everyone responds differently. Trauma refers to the experience of an event, repeated event, or a circumstance that can have lasting harmful effects on the individual’s physical and emotional wellbeing (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). It can occur from physical injuries or psychological injuries caused by a disturbing event or circumstance. Though many people think about trauma in terms of significant negative events, it can occur from any instance that causes pain and/or negative emotions on a person. No event is too small to be considered traumatic. There are three main types: Acute, Chronic, or Complex.

Acute:

A single event that caused intense stress. The overwhelming threat from a specific incident can cause your body to become stuck in a threat response after the event has stopped. It can be a natural disaster, physical assault, a car crash, singular instance of sexual abuse, loss of a loved one, bullying, or any instance that causes your autonomic nervous system to become overstimulated by the feeling of threat (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022).

Chronic:

Repeated instances of an event. Some examples include domestic abuse, war, neglect, repeated instances of sexual abuse, bullying, or any other events that occurred more than one time.

Complex or Multiple:

Exposure to several events over time. This can refer to an event that occurred in the context between people, specifically close relationships. Some examples of complex trauma can include childhood abuse, domestic violence, family disputes, and other familial conflicts.

It is important to recognize that trauma can occur from any instance, and no issue is considered too small or insignificant to cause a traumatic response. Everyone reacts differently to situations. It is important to seek help and work through the experience.

Responses: how can trauma impact your wellbeing?

There are many ways that it can impact your psychological health. Responses can happen immediately after the event occurred, or you may experience a delayed response.

Possible emotional responses:

• Feeling anxious, sad, angry
• Trouble sleeping and concentrating
• Frequent crying
• Emotional Numbing
• Flashbacks to the event
• Feeling irritable
• Having nightmares
• Avoiding places, people, or things that bring back memories of the event
• Isolating from family and friends

Possible physical responses:

• Headaches
• Stomach pain and digestive problems
• Feeling unusually tired
• Fast heart rate and sweating
• Being easily startled
• Spacing out and trouble living in the present moment
• Feeling disconnected

Trauma therapy

Know that you do not have to keep feeling the way you are right now and you do not have to deal with this alone. In working with a trauma therapist in Atlanta you will have a safe and confidential space to work towards helping you heal/  You can meet with a therapist in the office or virtually. Many of our therapists are also licensed throughout the US, so you do not need to live in Atlanta to meet with our team.

We pride ourselves on providing compassionate, personalized, and thoughtful counseling. During the first appointment, will work with you to establish trust and understand your experiences. We will go at your own pace and will not push you beyond what you are ready for. You may be ready to talk about your trauma or you may not, and both are okay. Therapy may be focused on how to ground and calm yourself, how to set appropriate boundaries and when you need these boundaries, and how to feel relief of your symptoms. When you are ready, counseling sessions may move towards processing. The event(s) can be processed without having to recall details of the event. Your therapist will be with you to process the painful emotions, thoughts, memories, and the impact they are having on you.

Benefits of Therapy 

Some of the things you may notice changing in therapy include:

1. Reduced anxiety, sadness, and distress and having tools to manage difficult emotions
2. Improved healthy coping skills
3. Better understanding of yourself
4. Reduced guilt and self-blame
5. Improved relationships
6. Improved ability to respond to triggers 

Questions about therapy 

 I am afraid to think about the event, how can therapy help if I am not ready to talk about it?

Therapy moves at your own pace. You will have control of what you do not want to talk about. Our experienced Atlanta based therapists will check in with you throughout counseling about how you are feeling. It is even typical in to first start with anxiety management techniques to help you feel more safe and secure before diving into the event.

I don’t know if my experience is technically trauma, is therapy the right fit?

If you have experienced an event or events that are having a negative impact on you today therapy can help.

I have been in counseling before and it didn’t help, how will this be different?

Working with someone who has specific training, experience, and expertise is incredibly important. The psychologists who specialize in trauma at the practice have worked with clients who have experienced trauma in settings such as private practice, counseling centers, medical centers, and the veteran affairs administration. Our therapists uses somatic, EMDR, as well as cognitive therapy. We use research supported approaches to help you.

We know that asking for help might feel challenging. We offer complimentary consultations  and are happy to answer any questions that you have.

*While our office is based in Atlanta, we are able to provide services to clients throughout the state of Georgia. We also hold various other state licensures and provide online sessions to clients throughout the country.

Ways to cope with trauma

It is so important to turn to positive coping strategies after a traumatic event. It may be easy to turn to unhealthy coping strategies like drugs, alcohol, and isolation, but these types of coping behaviors can worsen your psychological and physical well-being. Though it is not easy to face trauma, it is critical to engage in positive coping strategies to recover.

Healthy coping strategies:

1.Try not to isolate yourself, spend time with loved ones

You may be tempted to withdraw from friends, family, and social instances. However, connecting with others can be helpful in your healing process. Connection and companionship can help reduce feelings of stress and hopelessness. Though talking to a loved one about your trauma may be helpful, it is also perfectly okay to not talk about it with others.

2.Find a licensed therapist who has experience with trauma to help you navigate your struggles

It is a very overwhelming experience to try to navigate trauma by yourself, and a therapist can guide you towards healing and help you cope better. It is so important to have a safe person to discuss your feelings with. Know that in therapy it will go at your pace, and you will not be pushed to talk about anything you are not ready for. At Best Within You Therapy & Wellness we are here to support you whenever you are ready.

3.Try meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga

Meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, and yoga are a great way to relieve stress and connect your body with your mind. There are even trauma informed yoga practices. These forms of self-care can help you connect with the present moment. 

4.Take care of your body

Is it important to give your body the fuel it needs to be able to function throughout the day. It is important to eat regular meals and to drink enough water. Also, try to get outside and get some sunshine if you are able to. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and elevate your endorphins. Though exercise may be the last thing you want to do when you are feeling poorly, exercise can enhance your mood.

5.Follow a routine.

Routines can be a healthy way to establish consistency within your life.

When your mind is elsewhere, sometimes daily tasks can be tempting to ignore and feel impossible to accomplish. Though easier said than done, establishing a routine can reduce feelings of hopelessness and stress.