Trauma is the effect of a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It can be difficult to process and deal with the aftermath of such an event, which is why therapy can be so helpful. It is important to address the emotional and physical symptoms that may arise to effectively treat trauma. So, why is trauma therapy so hard?
People who have experienced trauma may feel disconnected from their bodies and have trouble regulating their emotions. This can make it difficult to trust others and to feel safe in the world. It can be hard to open up about what happened and relive the trauma to process it. However, with the help of a therapist, people can begin to heal and learn how to cope with their experiences.
The traumatic event you’ve experienced may have left you feeling scared, alone, and helpless. You may feel like no one understands what you’re going through. But some people care, and who can help. Seeking out therapy is a courageous first step in your healing journey.
Why Is Trauma Therapy So Hard?
A traumatic event is something that happens to you that is so overwhelming and scary that it changes the way you think about yourself and the world. It can happen once, like a car accident, or something that happens over and over, like being abused by a parent.
Trauma can cause physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches and emotional symptoms like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can be hard to talk about what happened and even harder to relive the trauma to process it.
Trauma therapy is so hard because it requires you to face your fears and relive the trauma. However, it is also so important. To heal, you must address the emotional and physical symptoms that may arise. With the help of a therapist, you can begin to understand what happened and why it affected you the way it did. You can learn how to cope with your experiences and begin to heal from the trauma. Here are a few reasons why trauma therapy is so hard:
Trauma Takes Our Front Brain Offline:
The prefrontal cortex is the part of our brain responsible for planning, decision-making, and regulating our emotions. When we experience trauma, this part of our brain goes offline, making it difficult to think clearly and make rational decisions.
Trauma Changes Our Brain Chemistry:
Trauma can cause a change in our brain chemistry, which can lead to symptoms like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Sometimes, these changes can be so severe that they require medication to help regulate our emotions. Our brain is wired to remember traumatic events, making it hard to forget what happened.
Trauma Can Make Us Feel Disconnected From Our Bodies:
When we experience trauma, we may feel disconnected from our bodies and have trouble regulating our emotions. This can make it difficult to trust others and to feel safe in the world. You can’t just “snap out of it.”
Recovering from trauma is a process that takes time. It’s not something that you can just “snap out of.” To heal, you must address the emotional and physical symptoms that may arise.
Trauma Can Be Hard To Remember:
Often, people who have experienced trauma may have trouble remembering what happened. This is because the brain protects us by forgetting the event’s details. If you try to force yourself to remember, you may only feel more upset. Sometimes, writing down what you remember or talking to a therapist about your memories can be helpful.
Trauma Can Be Triggered By Anything:
Anything can trigger a memory of the trauma, and these triggers can be both external (like a noise) and internal (like a thought). It can be hard to control your reactions to these triggers, and you may feel overwhelmed or even dissociating (feeling disconnected from your body). A study on police officers who had experienced trauma found that anything from a loud noise to a specific smell could trigger a traumatic memory.
Trauma Can Make You Feel Like You’re Going Crazy:
Because trauma affects our brains, it can make us feel like we’re going crazy. We may have trouble sleeping, concentrating, or even just feeling safe. It’s important to remember that you’re not crazy and that what you’re feeling is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Sometimes it feels like the trauma will never end.
Trauma Can Make Us Feel Alone:
When we experience trauma, we may feel like no one understands what we’re going through. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. It’s important to remember that you are not alone and that there are people who care about you and want to help. You know more than you think:
Even though it may not feel like it, you know more than you think. A study on combat veterans with PTSD found that people who had experienced trauma were more likely to have “gaps” in their memories of the event. However, when they were asked to free-associate (to say the first thing that came to mind when they heard a word), they could fill in these gaps. This suggests that even though we may not remember everything, our brain still knows more than we think.
Do You Ever Fully Heal From Trauma?
There is no one answer to this question. For some people, the effects of trauma may never go away completely. However, with time, healing is possible. You can do many things to help yourself heal, such as seeking therapy, practicing self-care, and talking to someone who understands what you’re going through. Here are some organizations where you can find professional trauma therapists for you:
=>Regain.us Couples & Marriage Counseling
It is a long and difficult process, but it is possible to heal from trauma. Remember that you are not alone and that there are people who care about you and want to help. You are strong and capable, and you can get through this. You can seek trauma therapies online and offline and look for a therapist that suits your needs. You can’t force yourself to heal, but with time and care, you will.
Trauma therapy can heal you. Remember, healing is a process, and it takes time. Be patient with yourself, and know that you will get through this.
Wrapping Up
The healing process can be long and difficult, and it’s easy to feel like it will never end. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone in this. Some people care about you and want to help you heal. With time and patience, you will begin to feel better. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma, please reach out for help. Some people care, and who can help. Seeking therapy is a courageous first step in your healing journey.
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What IS Moral Reconation Therapy?