Trauma in St. Louis, MO
Trauma is defined as a distressing experience that a person witnesses or is involved in and can be anything from a single event such as a car crash to a lifetime of the same event such as war that affects a person in someway. These events can affect people in different ways and traumatic events can cause short-term problems or become a lifelong struggle depending on several factors. Not all trauma turns into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but that doesn’t mean these events don’t cause stress in some way.
Symptoms of Trauma
- Short-term impacts of traumatic events are symptoms often remedied with time and positive support. Shock and a grieving period are normal for any traumatic event but short-term impacts don’t usually affect other aspects of a person’s life such as other relationships, the sense of self, and daily life functioning.
- Long-term impacts of traumatic events are symptoms that begin to affect other aspects of a person's life.
- Sense of Self: Shame, guilt, low self-esteem
- Daily Life: Flashbacks, Triggers, Fear, trouble sleeping, change in worldview
- Relationships: Quick to anger, feeling disconnected, unpredictable emotions
This is not an exhaustive list and everyone reacts differently to traumatic events
Protective Factors
Protective factors are other things in our lives that help protect us from the long-term effects of trauma. Some of them are:
- Strong Social Support
- Financial Support and Security
- Coping Skills
- Family Support
- Mental Health Support
If you need mental health support and working through trauma, we are here to help! Reach out and schedule an appointment!