Symptoms of Trauma Disorders
Trauma disorders are complex and resilient and affect your mental and physical health. This can be very damaging to day-to-day life and relationships as these patterns of intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, and dissociation are not healthy. Here are some symptoms of trauma disorders:
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusions often appear as vivid flashbacks, during which time the person may be reliving the trauma. They trigger these memories because of sight, sound, and smell. People may have problems controlling these memories or stopping them. Intrusive thoughts may appear as nightmares, which often lead to the person waking up with a panic attack. The possibility of experiencing a nightmare may cause some people to stop sleeping or have insomnia. A lack of sleep deteriorates emotional and personal health.
Avoidance
Avoidance cases are those in which people purposely avoid things that cause them to recall the trauma. These could be people, places, or even talking to people. They tend to socially isolate or miss events, stop doing things they once loved, or lose interest in the activity. The time this withdrawal takes place can slowly inhibit what the individual can do daily, making them increasingly lonely and no longer present to those closest to them.
Emotional numbness occurs when people don’t feel what they are supposed to or feel disconnected from others. They might feel that joy, excitement, or love is out of reach, and they may no longer enjoy activities that once brought them happiness. Such a disconnect can strain personal relationships, as the individual seems cold and withdrawn.
Dissociation appears when someone disconnects from their surroundings, self, or even reality. People with trauma may say they feel outside their bodies, looking at themselves from a distance. Sometimes, the world may seem unreal, almost dreamlike, or distorted. If infrequent, the disconnection can cause difficulty with daily tasks, as they’re unable to focus or feel present in the moment.
Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal manifests as being always tense and constantly on edge in what should be safe situations. People may react more to their surroundings, leaping at sudden sounds or movements. Symptoms include feeling irritable, difficulty concentrating, and easily stressed out. The inability to relax may disturb sleep, leading to constant exhaustion and hypersensitivity to stress. Pervasive negative thoughts about oneself or the world are accompanied by guilt or shame. People could blame themselves for the trauma. This negative self-perception can lead to someone feeling like they don’t matter.
Memory Problems
People appear to have memory problems when they cannot recall details about the traumatic event. They might need help remembering dates, the names, or just the sequences of events. An incomplete memory can frustrate the attempt to process the trauma and make healing more difficult. If left over an extended period, these gaps in memory can contribute to confusion or detachment from what took place.
Seek Trauma Intervention
Trauma disorders have a significant impact on those they affect, sometimes destroying their safety, relationships, and general well-being. Symptoms—like intrusive thoughts and nightmares or emotional numbness and hyperarousal—can be hard to deal with and need professional support to deal with effectively. Contact psychotherapists to help you with trauma issues.
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