“An unacknowledged trauma is like a wound that never heals over and may start to bleed again at any time.” Alice Miller
Before their initial meeting, I typically ask new clients to fill out some preliminary paperwork to gather background and historical information. It gives me a better grasp of the patient’s symptoms, issues, and areas for improvement they are hoping to address in therapy.
“Have you ever experienced any traumatic events?”
The answer to this question goes beyond just a yes or a no.
Sometimes people are very aware of how past trauma is connected to the issue that they are coming to treatment for. Understandably, they may not be ready to talk about it extensively in their first session. However, they are typically able to identify the trauma and the impact that it has had on their physical and emotional well-being.
For others, they are experiencing sleepless nights, feeling forever tensed up like a coiled spring, and difficulty trusting and connecting with other people in their lives.
And they have no idea why.
Childhood abuse or neglect, sexual assault, or witnessing violence all contribute to long-term physical and mental health problems that significantly reduce a person’s quality of life, frequently without the person’s awareness or consent.
If these occurrences occur throughout childhood, they can be overpowering and distressing for kids, who are likely unable to explain or describe them to others. Even when children are able to report their experiences, they can often be dismissed as being untruthful, or even worse, blamed for the trauma.
In situations where domestic violence is present in the home, the repetitive nature of the abuse makes the experience seem normal for children because they haven’t known anything else. Growing up in an environment where many forms of abuse or violence occur on a regular basis can cause a child to minimize the significance of these experiences or avoid thinking about them entirely.
During adolescence and through adulthood, people may suffer intense feelings of guilt and shame associated with the trauma, which can result in blocking out all memories in order to cope with the pain. Avoidance of people, places, and things that remind someone of the trauma frequently leads to symptoms such as intrusive recollections of the event, re-experiencing the event through flashbacks or dreams, and acute feelings of fear or anxiety.
People may also resist being labeled as a “victim” for fear that it may change how others think or feel about them. They often fear that they will be perceived as weak, or that others will judge them as a person or for their response to the abuse.
Trauma’s pain and stress can cause both physical and mental health problems, and these are the presenting concerns for which people typically seek therapy. Healing from traumatic experiences can reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms while also increasing self-esteem, worth, and confidence. Trauma treatment assists survivors in regaining an appreciation for life, a sense of connection with others, and a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Healing is possible.
If you want to begin your healing journey, please call (315) 520-8234 or press the Contact Me button to schedule a free phone consultation to see if we would be a good fit to work together.
