A major problem that impacts millions of individuals globally is emotional trauma. An upsetting or stressful incident that has a long-lasting effect on a person’s emotional, mental, and physical health can cause trauma. People who have experienced emotional trauma frequently aren’t even aware of it until they start to exhibit symptoms that are detrimental to their day-to-day functioning. This article will examine the symptoms of emotional trauma in adults and provide some methods for identifying and managing its manifestations.

It is possible to recover from unresolved trauma, so keep that in mind. In actuality, it frequently occurs with clients. You can learn to get past the experiences from your past that are holding you back and heal if you’re prepared to put in the effort and get expert assistance.

UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL TRAUMA:

It’s critical to comprehend emotional trauma’s definition and causes before delving into the symptoms that adults may exhibit. A variety of events, from childhood maltreatment to adult occurrences like sexual assault, marital abuse, or automobile accidents, can cause emotional trauma. These are known as “Big T” traumas at times. However, recurring traumatic incidents or persistent pressures can also result in trauma. One term for this might be “Little t” traumas.

Trauma may have a long-lasting effect on a person’s life, regardless of how it strikes—especially if it goes unprocessed. Unprocessed Trauma can occur both consciously and unconsciously when an individual suppresses or forgets the triggering event. This can create dissociation as a coping method when the trauma is suppressed or hard to deal with.

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL TRAUMA?

A bad encounter, incident, or sequence of events that leaves a lasting impression on a person’s feelings, actions, and beliefs is known as emotional trauma.

In addition to the more significant and well-known “Big T” traumas, less significant but no less impactful traumatic events can also cause signs of trauma in later life. The term “little T” traumas, often referred to as little or daily traumas, is described as less severe, but it is still a traumatic event that can have an impact on a person’s emotions and mental health.

A few instances of “little t” traumas are as follows:

• Taunting or bullying
• Verbal or emotional abuse
• Pet loss
• Parental divorce or separation
• Stress in work or at school
• Moving frequently or relocating
• Being in or witnessing a vehicle collision
• Hospital stays or medical treatments
• Natural calamities (such as earthquakes and floods) that do not directly cause harm to people
• Loss of a close friend or important relationship

These (and other) experiences, particularly those that occur during early life, can have a profound effect on how we develop social skills and how our brain processes relationships, change, loss, stress, and identity. “Little T” traumas may nonetheless have a significant effect on us, causing our nervous systems to become tense and our brains to become permanently alert, even if “Big T” traumas are frequently included as risk factors for diagnosing trauma disorders.

LIFE IMPACTS OF UNPROCESSED OR “STUCK” TRAUMA:

Unresolved emotional trauma can negatively impact an individual’s life in a variety of ways. This may consist of:

• Resilience on an emotional level
• Trustworthiness, self-worth, shame or guilt, control needs, and the capacity to put up with discomfort
• Degree of comfort with fragility
• Response: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
• Style of attachment
• Intimate connections
• Selecting a romantic companion
• Aversion to change
• Physical well-being

This is a limited list that can include more. It is important to assess your situation and if you are experiencing these challenges, it is important to get the help you need.

Unresolved emotional trauma can have a major negative influence on a person’s quality of life and lead to what are commonly referred to as “triggers.” An individual who has gone through emotional trauma, for instance, might find it difficult to build strong connections or deal with anxiety and sadness.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL TRAUMA:

It’s critical to identify adult emotional trauma symptoms in order to treat the condition before it becomes worse. These are a few of the most typical signs of emotional trauma that people may encounter on a physical, emotional, behavioral, or cognitive level.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA:

Individuals who have experienced emotional trauma may present with a range of physical symptoms, which might be attributed to the body’s reaction to protracted stress and worry. A person’s body is always in a state of heightened arousal when they are going through emotional stress, and this can cause physical symptoms.

Trauma-related physical symptoms might include, but are not limited to:

• Exhaustion or persistent fatigue
• Lack of sleep or irregular sleep habits
• Migraines or headaches
• Constant discomfort, stiffness, or tightness in the muscles
• Digestive issues such as nausea, stomachaches, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Appetite changes, such as overindulging or appetite reduction
• Elevated heart rate, palpitations, or pain in the chest
• Breathing difficulties, hyperventilation, or shortness of breath
• Feeling weak, lightheaded, or dizzy
• Skin conditions like eczema, rashes, or hive

*Note that many other medical conditions might result in similar symptoms. Before making assumptions, please see a doctor if you are having symptoms.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA:

Dealing with the emotional aftereffects of trauma can be especially difficult since they can affect a person’s relationships, career, and general quality of life.

Trauma-related emotional symptoms might include, but are not limited to:

• Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks related to the traumatic event
• strong emotions of panic, worry, or terror
• Keeping away from triggers or reminders of the trauma
• Hypervigilance, or being alert for dangers all the time
• emotions that are detached, numb, or emotionally shut down
• having trouble focusing or having memory issues
• persistently depressed, hopeless, or depressed sentiments
• Anger flare-ups, emotional instability, or irritability
• Shame, remorse, or self-blame stemming from the tragic event
• Social disengagement or seclusion, refraining from connections or past interests

Emotional trauma survivors may also suffer from emotions of guilt, humiliation, and self-blame. Be gentle to yourself and get help from a therapist if you think you could be dealing with a traumatic past.

BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA:

Unresolved emotional trauma frequently results in behavioral symptoms or patterns as the victim tries to cope or make up for the anguish that never goes away.

Trauma-related behavioral symptoms might include, but are not limited to:

• Avoidance of people, places, or circumstances that bring up the unpleasant experience
• Avoiding ties or social contacts, withdrawing from society
• Alterations in sleep habits, such as excessive or ineffective sleeping
• Changes in eating habits or appetite, such as binge eating or losing interest in food
• Increased usage of drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism for upsetting emotions
• Self-destructive habits, such as stabbing or burning oneself
• Aggressive or impulsive actions, such as furious outbursts or violent altercations
• Inability to build new ties or trust others
• Risky or careless actions, going for thrills, or taking part in risky activities
• Challenges with day-to-day living, such as a job or school or ignoring personal obligations

HEALING TRAUMA?

If you show symptoms of trauma, you may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But it’s important to remember that not all traumatic experiences will lead to a diagnosis connected to trauma. When you talk with your doctor or mental health professional, they will ask you about the symptoms you are experiencing and how long ago the incident occurred.

Suppose you are still experiencing symptoms sometime after the event and they significantly interfere with your day-to-day functioning. In that case, your doctor may perform a diagnostic evaluation to see if you meet the criteria for an adjustment disorder, trauma or stressor-related disorder, or both. This will depend on the details of your symptoms.

TREATMENT:

If you have experienced trauma, it may be helpful to consult with a therapist. A therapist can not only provide you with support, but also aid in understanding the symptoms you are experiencing.

The symptoms that the trauma has led you to endure will dictate the therapeutic plan. It may consist of medication, psychotherapy, self-care, or a combination of these. Treatments often focus on treating co-occurring mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, or PTSD in addition to helping patients integrate their emotional responses to the trauma.

PSYCHOTHERAPY:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used as part of treatment to assist patients in analyzing feelings and ideas associated with trauma and in substituting realistic thinking for pessimistic thinking.
  
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an additional method that combines CBT components with movements of the eyes or body.
  
• A particular kind of cognitive behavioral therapy called Cognitive Processing Thearapy (CPT) has shown promise in treating PTSD symptoms in people who have experienced a range of traumatic experiences, including as sexual assault, child abuse, conflict, rape, and natural disasters.
  
  CPT helps patients learn how to question and change harmful ideas connected to the trauma. It is typically administered over the course of 12 sessions. By doing this, the patient helps to lessen the traumatic event’s continued negative impact on their present way of life by developing a new perspective and conceptualization of it.

MEDICATIONS:

If a traumatic event has resulted in a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are medications that may be helpful as part of your treatment. These medications may include:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be treated with antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) such as sertraline or escitalopram, which are prescribed by a doctor such as a family doctor or a psychiatrist.

Anxiety & Relaxation Techniques:

A traumatic event can cause anxiety and having tools to de-stress and help calm these symptoms is important to decrease the negative impact. 

Some of these techniques can include: 

• Grounding techniques
• Mindfulness
• Breathing techniques
• Hypnosis
• Challenging negative thoughts

Coping:

It is critical to increase healthy coping strategies, like reaching out for social support after experiencing a traumatic event, and to reduce unhealthy ones, like quitting alcohol or drugs.

The following are some techniques to help in coping and trauma processing:

• Recognize and give meaning to your feelings. Even while you don’t have to force yourself to communicate your feelings to other people, you still shouldn’t try to ignore them.
• Find a support group where you may talk to people who have gone through similar experiences.
• Give yourself time to work through your feelings. These feelings won’t pass immediately. In the meantime, treat yourself with kindness.
• Take note of your physical health. Regularly eat a balanced diet, try to get enough sleep, and engage in regular exercise.
• Spend time with those you care about. Although it may seem pleasant to be alone, isolating oneself can make it more difficult to deal with the aftereffects of trauma. Permit yourself to rely on the people who adore and uplift you.

Establishing a schedule or habit on a regular basis might be helpful as well. Traumatic events have the power to seriously impair a person’s life. They might give someone the idea that things are chaotic and unclear in life. Living a routine day to day may make your life more predictable and organized and decrease anxiety.Even though it won’t completely remove the tension and anxiety from the traumatic event, sticking to a schedule can help with anxiety from other sources in your life.

Make sure to schedule time for self-care activities in your schedule. Staying busy with your schedule is not a good idea, it is a form of avoidance. For example, if you spend all of your time working, you won’t have much time to think back on the unpleasant incident, but the event will stay in the back of your mind unprocessed. Unprocessed trauma will continue to affect you.

Parting Notes:

We at The Insight Clinic recognize that seeking help with bravery is the first step towards recovery. Our skilled group of therapists specializes in providing compassionate and knowledgeable guidance to people on their road toward trauma recovery. We offer a secure, accepting environment where you may examine your experiences, deal with your feelings, and create useful coping mechanisms. Make an appointment with us right now to start regaining your well-being.

Take the first step towards a happier, healthier you by booking your online therapy session now. Our compassionate therapists are here to support you every step of the way.