Over 223 million adults in the United States have experienced some type of traumatic event in their lifetime.1 Trauma is a singular or repeated incident that has negatively impacted a person’s life and caused significant long-term damage that hinders the person’s ability to move on. They often involve experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. They usually take a toll on a person’s mental health and can affect their relationships, work, and overall quality of life. Without professional help like that found in our mental health treatment program, many people will struggle to ever see improvement. Luckily, our Banyan Lake Worth rehab offers a trauma treatment program to help these individuals achieve healing.
The Impact of Trauma
People may feel the effects of trauma emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Emotionally, trauma can make people feel depressed, anxious, afraid, angry, and ashamed. It might be challenging to control one’s mood when experiencing such powerful and overpowering feelings. It may also lead one to form unhealthy bonds.
Trauma can psychologically lead to the emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a person, including intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance. These signs can make it difficult to focus, sleep, or carry out daily activities. Trauma can alter the body’s stress response system physically, which can result in symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and chronic pain. It can have a long-lasting effect on a person’s relationships, career, and overall quality of life. Individuals can, however, overcome the consequences of trauma and enjoy productive lives with the right support and care.
Different Types of Traumas
There are several types of traumas, including physical and psychological trauma. They stem from events that can happen both directly or indirectly to the individual and may occur at any time in a person’s life. Trauma recovery is usually different depending on the type of trauma as well as the severity of the symptoms.
Common examples of significant traumatic events that often require trauma treatment of some kind include:
- Rape or sexual abuse
- Robbery or mugging
- Assault
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Physical violence
- Abduction and kidnapping
- Automobile accident
- Public shootings or acts of terrorism
- Natural disasters
- War and Combat
- Loss of a loved one or several loved ones
- Prolonged illness or medical problems
- Bullying
Signs of Trauma
If a person experiences one or more of these traumatic events, they may begin to exhibit symptoms associated with trauma, including:
- Nightmares
- Sleep problems
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Avoidance of people and/or environments related to the traumatic event(s)
- Depression
- Trouble completing everyday tasks
- Substance abuse
Without our trauma treatment program, these symptoms may get worse. Eventually, these symptoms may grow into PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, or addiction.
Trauma and Mental Health
In between trauma and addiction is a psychological imbalance. In many cases, patients can experience an acute or reoccurring mental disorder resulting from their traumatic event. Victims of trauma and addiction are particularly at risk for developing depression or an anxiety disorder. If these issues are left untreated, they can easily lead to substance abuse and ultimately chemical dependency.
The Connection Between Trauma and Addiction
It is not uncommon for people struggling to cope with a traumatic event to turn to drugs or alcohol for help. These substances may act as an effortless way to numb pain, forget, ease anxiety, sleep, and escape, but their use does more harm than good. Overall, these substances may make the symptoms worse or negatively impact the person’s overall mental health. Also, if a person turns to drugs or alcohol every time they experience symptoms, or even preemptively, this behavior becomes habitual.
Their brain will start to alter in ways that reinforce this behavior, and chemical dependence will eventually occur. Many people are unaware of the negative consequences that come with using substances to cope until it is too late. This self-destructive behavior becomes a dangerous cycle, but with the help of our addiction and trauma treatment programs at our Lake Worth drug rehab, you may be able to break this cycle for good.
How Does Trauma Recovery Work?
After a traumatic event, the body typically recovers and heals by descending from a state of heightened stimulation. The high energy levels can drop, the internal alarms can silence, and the body can return to its natural equilibrium and balance. This should usually happen within a month or so after the event.
However, for individuals who show signs of trauma-related disorders such as PTSD, recovery may take longer. In these cases, the trauma recovery process may require:
- Moving to a safe environment
- Developing coping strategies
- Mental health assessment to understand the severity of symptoms
- Trauma education
- Trauma-focused therapies, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
- Developing skills for emotion regulation
- Incorporating mind-body approaches such as mindfulness, yoga, and meditation into daily life
- Ongoing support, such as an aftercare program following treatment
The rate at which someone recovers from trauma varies from person to person. While some individuals can completely heal from the impact of a traumatic event, others may require ongoing support to sustain mental well-being.
The Stages of Trauma Recovery
When a person begins this type of recovery, they should remember it will occur in different stages. Each of the 4 stages of trauma recovery requires different skills and tools to overcome, giving an outline for the healing journey.
The stages of healing from trauma include:
- Safety and Stabilization: Building a sense of security and stability in one’s life is the main goal of the initial trauma recovery stage. In this stage, the goal is to lessen symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks, and nightmares that can interfere with the person’s ability to work normally. The person will learn coping mechanisms to control strong emotions, grounding strategies to stay in the moment, and relaxation strategies to quiet the body and mind during this phase.
- Remembering and Mourning: Processing the distressing event is the second stage. People may start to remember the horrific experience in greater detail at this point. It is crucial to provide a nurturing environment that can aid in their memory processing and integration. Mourning is necessary because it enables people to express their grief for their losses, validate their suffering, and recognize their feelings.
- Reconnecting: The third stage involves reestablishing relationships with oneself and others. In this phase, one should focus on regaining confidence in both themselves and other people, creating wholesome relationships, and discovering fresh perspectives on life. This period may also entail discovering fresh passions and pursuits that enrich and enrich life.
- Integration: The final stage of trauma healing involves integrating the traumatic experience into one’s life story. Finding a new identity and meaning that incorporates the trauma but is not defined by it is a requirement of this stage. It involves moving forward with increased resilience and awareness of oneself and the wider world.
Trauma Bonding Recovery
Breaking the emotional bonds forged in abusive or traumatic relationships is a necessary part of trauma bonding recovery. An essential first step is identifying and comprehending the dynamics of trauma bonding.
Therapy, such as the services offered in our trauma treatment program, can assist people in examining and processing the significance of the bond, especially when conducted by a trauma-trained professional. It’s crucial to set up appropriate boundaries, regain self-worth, and create coping mechanisms.
A friend, family member, or support group can offer more perspective and strength. Breaking the trauma bond gradually entails recovering personal agency, cultivating self-compassion, and laying the groundwork for healthier future relationships.
Identifying and Treating Trauma at BHOPB
At our Florida trauma treatment center, our professionals embark on a thorough assessment process to understand each patient’s unique journey, starting with a comprehensive patient history and psychological examination. Through this meticulous evaluation, we aim to discern the level of trauma the individual has experienced, categorizing cases into three tiers that reflect the severity of trauma endured.
Once the level of trauma is identified and its correlation with the patient’s addiction is established, we swiftly craft a tailored therapy plan. This plan encompasses a blend of group and individual counseling sessions, augmented by a diverse range of specialized trauma management therapies. Our residential trauma treatment program at Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches is meticulously designed to assist patients in confronting past traumas, empowering them to develop new coping mechanisms and reclaim control over their lives.
Moreover, our dual diagnosis program approach integrates addiction treatment with trauma recovery efforts, addressing both the psychological and physical ramifications of substance abuse. By identifying trauma triggers and fostering healthy coping mechanisms beyond substance reliance, we guide patients towards sustainable recovery. Throughout their journey with us, patients are encouraged to engage in open dialogue, enabling them to process and communicate their traumas in a supportive environment conducive to healing. Through a combination of individualized and group counseling sessions, alongside our comprehensive trauma recovery programs, patients receive holistic care aimed at fostering resilience and facilitating meaningful progress towards lasting wellness.
Healing from past trauma is possible with the right support. Give yourself or your loved one a chance to move past the debilitating emotional pain and suffering of trauma at our trauma awareness and treatment center in Florida. Contact us or call (561) 220-3891 to learn more.
Source:
- National Council of Mental Wellbeing – How to Manage Trauma
