Trauma reactions happen when there is no action, help, or support available. Traumatic events overwhelm the human psyche in areas of control, connection and trust, and safety. They produce psychological, emotional, cognitive, and memory changes of the individual that lasts long after the actual danger is over. Responses to your traumatic experiences may feel abnormal or like you are going crazy. Although your reactions may feel unusual, or like no one else could understand why you do the things you do or feel the way you do, they may be typical to many people who have endured a traumatic event.

After a traumatic experience some reactions you may feel include:

• hyper arousal-feeling like you are on permanent alert to the danger that may be right around the corner and/or heightened startle reaction
• sense of self is shattered
• feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, anger, guilt
• feeling shame-not feeling good enough, lovable enough, worthy, valuable
• isolation
• inability to trust
• nightmares, sleep disturbances
• vigilance or compulsive routines
• intrusive thoughts, fragmented thoughts
• body memories
• re-enacting or putting self at risk for re-enactment of the trauma

One fairly normal coping mechanism to trauma is amnesia, forgetting all or part of the experience. Really what has occurred is the the cognitive or thinking part of your brain gets blocked, while the sensory part of your brain gets activated. That’s why it may be difficult to remember details of your story of what happened.  No matter how much we wish the memory of the trauma would be forgotten, it is stored in your body on a cellular level. The trauma wants to get out, to be processed in a healthy manner and released. However if it does not get released, many times you will have reoccurring traumatic events, as if the original trauma had a voice crying out, “Look at me! Look at what happened and how I have impacted your life and continue to impact it!” When keeping the secrecy of the event(s) becomes so strong, the story may come out as a symptom instead of dealing with what really occurred. These symptoms may manifest themselves by repeated victimizations, illnesses, loss of relationships, accidents, divorces, dreams/nightmares, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders or other ways your mind/body/spirit is trying to get your attention.

The conflict is whether to deny the trauma and the impact of it on your life, or talk about it and work through it on a somatic level. But when the truth of what happened starts to be acknowledged and shared, the healing can actually begin.

Trauma work is about healing, transformation and restoration. Whether you have been directly traumatized, or have been exposed to the atrocities of another’s trauma, there is help available. Come on in. You don’t need to carry this burden alone. I look forward to working together.

I invite you to call me at (303) 514-4732 or click here to contact me for a 30-minute complimentary consultation.

Come in for Compassion, Leave with Confidence