EMOTIONAL TRAUMA

 Emotional trauma arises from stressful events that shatter your sense of safety and security. These events may leave you feeling helpless, vulnerable, or constantly on edge. While people often associate trauma with life-threatening situations, any experience that overwhelms you or makes you feel unsafe can lead to emotional trauma.

Key factors that contribute to emotional trauma include:

• The event was unexpected.
• The experience was repeated over time.
• You felt powerless to prevent or stop it.
• Someone was intentionally brutal or abusive.

Trauma is subjective—what matters is not the event itself but your experience and reaction to it. Whether it’s a single incident or a prolonged stressor, such as growing up in a neglectful home, experiencing a violent attack, or grieving the death of a loved one, your response is valid and normal.

If you have a history of trauma or chronic stress, you may be more vulnerable to the effects of current traumatic events.

Trauma can affect your mind, body, and relationships in profound ways. Common symptoms include:

• Cognitive Challenges:
  Difficulty staying focused or concentrating
• Emotional Struggles:
  Feelings of anger, irritability, sadness, tension, hopelessness, guilt, fear, or disconnection
• Social Withdrawal:
  Avoiding people or isolating yourself
• Hyperarousal:
  Constantly feeling “on edge” or being easily startled
• Sleep Disturbances:
  Nightmares, night terrors, insomnia, or persistent fatigue
• Physical Symptoms:
  Unexplained aches, pains, or a racing heartbeat
• Functional Difficulties:
  Struggling at work, school, or home
• Relationship Challenges:
  Difficulty developing or maintaining healthy relationships
• Avoidance Behaviors:
  Staying away from things that remind you of the trauma
• Coping with Substances:
  Using drugs or alcohol as a means of escape

If you’re struggling to recover from a traumatic experience—whether it happened in childhood or more recently—know that trauma can be treated effectively. With the right support, you can feel safe, empowered, and in control once again.

The timeline for healing varies depending on the trauma and individual circumstances. Some people experience relief in a matter of weeks, while others may take two to three years. The important thing to remember is that recovery is possible, and you don’t have to face it alone.

You can heal. You can reclaim your life.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder triggered by terrifying or life-threatening events. While the natural response to danger—commonly referred to as “fight, flight, freeze, or fragment”—is designed to ensure safety and diminish once the crisis passes, PTSD disrupts this process. Instead of subsiding, symptoms persist and may worsen over time, lingering for months or even years. This prolonged state of stress and fear can make day-to-day functioning extremely difficult, even when the original danger is long gone.

Individuals with PTSD may experience a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Nightmares
• Flashbacks or re-experiencing the trauma
• Frightening thoughts
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma, including thoughts, places, or discussions
• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
• Persistent feelings of anger, guilt, worry, or depression
• Difficulty forming close relationships
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Trouble remembering details of the traumatic event
• Constantly feeling on guard or hypervigilant
• Being easily startled or jumpy
• Difficulty sleeping or experiencing insomnia

PTSD symptoms can be triggered by various situations, objects, or sounds that remind an individual of the traumatic event. Common reactions include:

• Re-experiencing the trauma: Flashbacks accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, muscle tension, or a racing heart
• Continuous stress: Difficulty concentrating, managing emotions, eating, or sleeping

For some, symptoms include a persistent state of hypervigilance or emotional dysregulation, making it hard to focus on daily activities.

People with PTSD are at an increased risk for:

• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Chronic pain
• Heart disease and other physical illnesses

PTSD also heightens vulnerability to additional mental health challenges, compounding the difficulties of daily life.

The timeline of symptoms is an important factor in distinguishing PTSD from other trauma-related conditions:

• Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): Symptoms occur within 3 days to 3 weeks after a traumatic event.
• PTSD: Symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks.

Symptoms may appear weeks, months, or even years after the initial event and can fluctuate depending on general stress levels or exposure to reminders of the trauma. For example, hearing a news story about abuse may trigger past memories and intensify symptoms.

While PTSD can feel overwhelming, it is treatable. Therapy, support systems, and self-care strategies can help individuals regain control, manage symptoms, and move toward a healthier, more empowered life. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, reaching out for professional help is the first step toward recovery.

PTSD can arise when an individual experiences, witnesses, or learns about a traumatic event. A variety of factors contribute to the likelihood of developing PTSD, including:

• Life Experiences: Previous trauma or exposure to prolonged stress
• Genetics: A predisposition to anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
• Risk Factors:
  • Temperament
  • Brain chemistry
  • Lack of a social support system

Why do some individuals develop PTSD while others do not? People under heavy stress, those who have suffered recent losses, or those who have been traumatized at a young age are more vulnerable. Each person’s reaction to trauma is unique and entirely normal in the context of abnormal circumstances.

PTSD can develop at any age and result from a wide range of experiences, including:

• Combat or military exposure
• Accidents
• Receiving a life-changing diagnosis
• Sudden loss of a loved one
• Natural disasters
• Abuse, incest, or rape
• Situations where someone feels alone, overwhelmed, or at risk of harm

Trauma affects everyone differently, and there is no right or wrong way to respond to a traumatic event.

Effective treatment for PTSD often combines medication, psychotherapy, and complementary approaches. Erick Sandstad collaborates with psychiatrists to help clients identify core issues and work at their own pace toward healing. Group support, such as specialized grief and loss or women’s empowerment groups, is also recommended as a vital part of the recovery process for trauma survivors.

Since trauma is held not only in the brain but also in the body, treatment includes access to a range of trauma-focused therapies:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• DBR Therapy
• Brainspotting Therapy
• Diaphragmatic Breathing: For tension release and increased awareness
• Progressive Relaxation Techniques
• Self-Hypnosis
• Trauma Reversal Hypnotherapy Sessions

These therapies help clients process trauma, release stored emotional and physical tension, and re-establish a sense of safety and control.

Research on PTSD is continually evolving, leading to new and effective treatment approaches. With professional support, clients can regain their sense of safety, confidence, trust, and control. Through therapy, individuals develop healthy coping skills to manage emotions and move forward toward a fulfilling and empowered life.

You are not alone, and healing is possible.

SHADOWS BEFORE DAWN, by Teal Swan

WAKING THE TIGER by Peter A Levine

THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel Van Der Kolk