Trauma

What is trauma?

Trauma is an emotional and psychological response to a distressing, frightening, or overwhelming experience. Traumatic events can affect how you think, feel, and respond to situations, sometimes long after the experience has ended.

While trauma affects everyone differently, some people develop lasting mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What types of experiences can cause trauma?

Trauma can result from a single event or repeated exposure to stressful or harmful situations. 

Common causes include:

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• Childhood neglect or adverse experiences
• Domestic violence
• Serious accidents or injuries
• Natural disasters
• Military combat
• Sudden loss of a loved one
• Witnessing violence or a traumatic event
• Bullying or ongoing emotional distress

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops lasting symptoms. However, professional support can be beneficial when trauma interferes with your daily life.

What are the symptoms of trauma?

Trauma can cause emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms, including:

• Persistent fear, anxiety, or sadness
• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares or difficulty sleeping
• Irritability or mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
• Avoiding reminders of traumatic experiences
• Feeling constantly alert or unsafe
• Difficulty trusting others or maintaining relationships

Symptoms may appear immediately after an event or develop weeks, months, or even years later.

How is trauma diagnosed?

Tammie provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations at Mindful Mental Health to understand your symptoms, medical history, and personal experiences.

During your evaluation, she discusses how trauma affects your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and daily functioning. She also screens for related mental health conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Trauma itself isn't necessarily a psychiatric diagnosis, but an evaluation can help identify trauma-related conditions and determine appropriate treatment.

How is trauma treated?

Trauma treatment focuses on helping you manage symptoms, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve your emotional well-being.

Depending on your needs, your personalized treatment plan may include:

• Individual psychotherapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Medication management for associated symptoms
• Stress management and relaxation techniques
• Coping skills development
• Lifestyle education
• Family or group therapy

Tammie works with you to identify appropriate treatment options and may recommend specialized trauma-focused therapy or additional resources when needed.

With consistent support, you can learn to manage trauma-related symptoms and regain a greater sense of stability and control.

To learn more about trauma treatment, schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment at Mindful Mental Health by phone or online today.