Trauma: What is it? What do you do with it?

 Trauma is the distressing emotional response to a shocking or unexpected experience. Traumatic experiences go above and beyond normal human hardships by destabilizing a person’s sense of security and safety. Some common side effects of trauma can include:  

• Intrusive or unwelcome thoughts
• Being easily triggered
• Feeling overwhelmed or having a hard time controlling emotional responses
• Negative self-talk, feelings of guilt, or shame, a sense of being “bad” or “broken”
• Being easily startled or jumpy, overly concerned about safety or danger
• Avoidance behaviors
• Dreams, nightmares, unwanted thoughts in regards to the trauma
• Extreme anxiety, unidentified anger or sadness, inability to feel happy

Left unaddressed, the influence of trauma can cause quite a bit of angst or anguish in the lives of those who have experienced it. The good news is that trauma responses do not have to be a lifelong prognosis.

CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a data backed form of talk therapy that has been proven very effective. If you have attempted talk therapy, and still feel as if there remains some underlying distress, EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is another highly effective option!

If you have experienced trauma, you are a survivor! You are not helpless or broken. At counseling by Penny, we can offer the treatment that best suits your specific needs. Give us a try!

Amy Brow is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Counseling By Penny. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and also EMDR. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at 817-657-1115