Trauma Therapy in W1G and Online
What is Trauma?
Trauma refers to the emotional effects that result from experiencing a highly distressing or stressful event. These events can vary in impact, as what one person finds traumatic may not affect others in the same way. Trauma can disrupt your sense of safety, self-worth, and emotional regulation, influencing relationships and leading to feelings of helplessness, shame, and fear. Early-life trauma can be particularly difficult, and unprocessed emotions from childhood may intensify as you grow older, making it crucial to address these feelings to prevent long-term emotional distress.
What are the causes of Trauma?
Trauma is often triggered by experiencing a distressing event, whether recent or in the past. A trauma response can be caused by single or repeated traumatic experiences. When multiple events occur, this is known as complex trauma. Triggers may resurface memories, leading to emotional reactions. These triggers are often linked to the senses, such as smells, sounds, sights, or specific textures, and can remind you of what happened before or during the event. Examples of trauma include car accidents, violence, natural disasters, childhood neglect, abuse, etc.
What is the impact of Trauma?
While triggers are usually harmless, they can make your body respond as though you're in danger, activating the fight/flight/freeze response. When thoughts or memories of the trauma persist or worsen, it may result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which disrupts emotional regulation. Trauma can also harm relationships, making it difficult to set boundaries or trust others, especially if your trauma is linked to a relationship. This may lead to being drawn into unhealthy dynamics similar to those that caused the trauma.