We often think of trauma as a mental or emotional problem: but, trauma also has effects on the body...
We often think of trauma as a mental or emotional problem: but, trauma also has effects on the body.
And, not just in your heart.
Trauma is a serious issue. Research shows that up to 90% of adults in the United States have experienced trauma in their lives.
Trauma has long-lasting impacts on every part of your life.
Unfortunately, it's common for people to tell traumatized people to "Get over it," or, "Forget about it."
This is because they think that trauma only exists in the past. It doesn't.
Trauma lives on in your body long after the events that caused it have ended.
People who have experienced trauma are at much higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
It's important to remember that there is no normal or correct way to respond to trauma.
Some of the documented trauma effects on the body are confusion, numbness, sadness, anxiety, agitation, physical arousal and rigidness, and less expressiveness.
These are typically most pronounced immediately after the traumatic event.
However, these can develop into a more permanent response if the traumatized person develops PTSD.
Research says that 1 in 13 Americans will develop PTSD in their lifetime.
PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a disorder that causes the body to become permanently stuck in a stress or survival response.
Women are statistically more likely to develop PTSD than men.
The effects of trauma on the body include a permanent stress response.
This includes more tense and constricted muscles that may result in long-term fatigue or muscle aches.
Stretching or getting a massage might help with this, but your body will need to learn it's no longer in danger in order to stop the contracting impulse.
Your body has a stress response system that is thrown off by trauma.
This happens because the body is placed into a permanent stress response.
When your body is stressed, it releases a stress hormone called Cortisol.
While Cortisol's purpose is to help your body heal, it can cause damage when produced long-term like it does after trauma.
It increases your likelihood of developing heart disease and depression.
People who have experienced trauma often struggle with emotional regulation and coping.
Trauma might also trigger altered perceptions.
Traumatized people are in a state of high alert and might respond to non-threatening situations as if they were dangerous.
People who are traumatized typically experience difficult and negative emotions on an everyday basis.
They might feel uncontrollable emotions such as anxiety, anger, intense fear, flashbacks, and depression.
They might find themselves disengaging from conflict or find work more stressful than they used to.
They might feel too much fear and anxiety to go about their normal lives.
They might struggle with being overly dependent or too easily discouraged.
Seeking counseling for trauma can help with these effects.
This article has already mentioned that trauma produces a permanent state of hypervigilance.
There is a physical reason for this and it is the changes that trauma makes to your brain.
The three main parts of the brain affected by trauma are the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex.
The hippocampus controls your memory.
The amygdala is your brain's instinctual and emotional center.
The prefrontal cortex regulates your emotions and impulses.
All three parts are important for managing stress and they lose the ability to do that well after trauma.
Your brain cannot distinguish between a traumatic experience that happened in the past or the memory of it.
This means that your amygdala gets placed into frequent overload: it perceives any memories of the event as actual threats.
When your amygdala gets kicked into a stress response from a traumatic memory, it affects your brain's ability to regulate emotions and instincts.
Your brain is placed into a reactive, protective place.
This impedes your ability to perform long-term planning and make rational decisions.
Your brain's ability to function and remember properly becomes physically injured by the trauma.
Often, we think our trauma isn't significant enough to warrant an extreme response. However, this isn't true.
The response to trauma isn't determined by the severity of the trauma, it is determined by an individual body's reaction to it.
For example, trauma experienced as a child can cause long-term changes to the body that affect your health.
This is because your body grows up with survival as a learned response.
In addition to increasing cortisol production which increases stress-related illnesses, trauma also reduces your body's ability to produce another hormone called oxytocin.
Oxytocin has been called "the love hormone," since it is produced by a mother caring for her children or when you fall in love.
Trauma actually reduces your ability to produce oxytocin and the accompanying feelings of love, connection, and sociability. Oxytocin is also connected to good moods which means you might experience apathy or boredom because of reduced production.
The long-term effects of trauma on the body are tragic.
They put people at higher risk for many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Trauma also increases people's risk of becoming an addict.
People who don't understand that their physical symptoms are caused by trauma might choose self-medication to deal with it.
Seeking trauma treatment is the first step to getting control of your life and body back.
Trauma counseling can give you the tools to cope with stress without worsening the impact on your body
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
Common types of trauma associated with addiction include childhood abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, and witnessing or experiencing life-threatening events.
Traditional therapy approaches may not adequately address the specific needs of clients with trauma histories. Trauma-informed care focuses on acknowledging and validating clients' traumatic experiences, creating a safe therapeutic environment, and providing targeted interventions that foster healing and resilience.
The length of trauma counseling varies greatly depending on the individual and the nature of their trauma. Some people might find relief after a few months of consistent therapy, while others may need longer. It's important to remember that healing from past trauma is a process that takes time and everyone's journey is a different story.
Yes, it's normal for boundaries to evolve as your healing journey progresses.
Communicate any changes in your boundaries with your therapist, who can help you navigate these adjustments and ensure that your needs continue to be respected and prioritized.
Yes, trauma therapists can indeed help with childhood trauma. Therapies like play therapy can be particularly effective for children, providing a supportive environment where they can express their feelings and cope with traumatic experiences.
Yes, Medicaid covers trauma-informed therapy services. This approach is designed to acknowledge and understand the pervasive nature of trauma to facilitate healing. Licensed therapists specializing in trauma-informed care are available within the Medicaid network.
