Experiencing or witnessing a disturbing event can occur almost anywhere and at any time in your life. For some people, the experience may be forgotten, but many others may be haunted by the memory of an event for a long time. While people usually want to prevent unfortunate or dangerous situations, we can’t always avoid them. If you are left experiencing intrusive memories or symptoms after a traumatic experience, you are not alone. Seeking the help of a therapist can help you process the experience, find resolution and/or find relief from overwhelming symptoms.

Understanding Your Kind of Trauma

Each traumatic experience is unique and your way of processing it can be different. Often trauma is defined as either single incident trauma (experienced after a single traumatic incident that occurs once, ex: a car accident) or complex trauma (occurring multiple times over extended period of time, ex: physical abuse throughout childhood). If you had a childhood experience that has not completely healed, it can come to the forefront with another traumatic event. And if you experience depression or anxiety, you may be at a greater risk.

Both single incident trauma and complex trauma can result in symptoms that can overwhelm you and affect your ability to function. They may not be experienced or recognized immediately, however, for some time following the event, you may experience physical signs, such as sleeplessness, exhaustion, loss of appetite, and unexplained pain. You may also have emotional symptoms, such as irritability, panic attacks, or anxiety. It is also common for people experiencing complex trauma to have difficulty making decisions or concentrating.

Symptoms can worsen as the memory of the experience stays with you. Symptoms experienced after a trauma may become PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) if they are experienced for 30 days or more after the experience or event. Symptoms that emerge less than 30 days after a trauma are often considered Acute Stress Disorder (ASD).

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a condition that can develop following a person’s exposure to something that threatens safety either directly, as a witness, indirect exposure or learning that someone close to them was exposed to a trauma. Such events can include but are not limited to, natural disaster, sudden death, assault, combat, car accident etc.

After said incident individuals with PTSD will report re-experiencing the event through unwanted memories, nightmares and/or flashbacks and will often experience great distress emotionally and physically when this occurs. Because these symptoms are so difficult there will be a natural desire to avoid thinking about, talking about or having feelings related to the experience.

PTSD can also result in difficulty remembering aspects of the experience, negative thoughts about yourself and/or the world, excessive blame, decreased interest in things you previously enjoyed, irritability, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance and a heightened startle response. This condition can leave you feeling unsafe and feeling as if you’re in danger when you may not be.

There are no defined explanations why some develop PTSD, and some do not after a traumatic event. According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD may develop due to a combination of several factors – genetic predisposition to anxiety or depression, natural disposition, and your brain’s production and secretion of certain neurotransmitters.

According to studies, there is an adaptive value for remembering distressing and dangerous events. This can increase your survival instincts and adrenaline levels, so you can respond better and faster if you are faced with an emergency. The adrenaline, however, can slow some brain functions – particularly the hippocampus where memories are processed. When not processed fully, the memory of the trauma can linger, and manifest as nightmares or “flashbacks.”

Therapy: Regaining Emotional Health

Long after a traumatic experience, you can still hold on to the memory. PTSD symptoms can be overwhelming, in that they seem to affect all areas of your life. The sight of a red car can bring back the memory of an accident or loud or sudden noise can make you feel as if you’re experiencing the event again. Some of these memories and symptoms can have a profound impact in your family, relationships, work and overall health.

With PTSD symptoms in full force, your adrenaline can be high, which can trigger the “fight or flight” response. Without relief, this can pose harm to your physical and emotional health and interfere with your daily actions. If you feel as though trauma has resulted in your daily life being too difficult or you feel you may be missing out on the joys that life can offer, now is the time to do something about it. Seek treatment with a therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services — Cameron, NC – on Hwy 87, near Linden Oaks. Call today to make an appointment!

Related Articles:

• PTSD: How Can Therapy Help?
• Identify and Resolve PTSD Symptoms with Therapy
• Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Moving Forward with Renewed Hope
• After the Trauma | Life with PTSD