Therapeutic focus

Trauma

Trauma results from a bad experience and is accompanied by negative thoughts and feelings that are overwhelming and challenging. This impacts on our interpersonal relationships, how we think and feel. Trauma is often life-changing. It can be from a single incident or many incidents over a long time.

Being a victim of crime is unexpected, frightening and overwhelming. Often there is no sign of physical injury, but the traumatic event has a serious impact on the victim. It is common for people who have experienced traumatic situations to have very strong emotional reactions. Understanding the normal responses to these abnormal events can help you cope with your feelings, thoughts and behaviours, and help you recover.

Trauma can happen at any given time and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a major life crisis (e.g. robbery,  abusive relationships, accidents, natural disasters etc.) that sparks the need for counselling.  Trauma can just be that life has gotten too much and you are in need of some guidance to get through the storm.

Trauma is an emotional reaction to an abnormal situation that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Trauma can cause feelings of powerlessness and can diminish a person’s sense of self. Trauma does not discriminate and can be pervasive. Trauma can happen at any time and it does not necessarily have to be a life-changing event. Trauma can also be that life has become too much and assistance is needed in navigating your emotional and physical responses. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are very typical responses. Longer-term responses include flashbacks, strained relationships, physical symptoms and unpredictable emotions.

Traumatic events can happen to anyone, a person is more likely to be traumatised by an event if you are already experiencing a heavy stress load or living in high crime areas, experiencing bullying or abuse, recently suffered a loss or have been traumatised before. Unresolved adverse childhood experiences disrupt a child’s sense of security and influences your adult life.

Adverse childhood experiences include but are not limited to the following:

• An unstable or unsafe environment
• Separation from a parent
• Serious illness
• Intrusive medical procedures
• Sexual, physical or verbal abuse
• Domestic violence
• Neglect

Unresolved childhood trauma can result in fear, helplessness, anxiety and low self-esteem. This can carry on into adulthood, resulting in anxiety, stress, depression, and volatile or high-risk behaviours.