How Trauma can Present
- easily upset or startled
- difficulty trusting others or trusting oneself
- changes in sleep patterns
- emotional swings
- re-occurring/repeating narrative of life or certain experiences that involve self-shaming and hopelessness
- difficulty concentrating and focusing
Trauma can cause a person to react to an experience with fear and helplessness, they may relive the event and/or avoid being reminded of it. Other symptoms may include depression, anxiety, and poor concentration. These symptoms can cause major disruptions in daily life and cause people to act in a way that is out of character. Some people will turn to uncharacteristic behavior or substances to avoid the trauma.
Multiple treatment options are available including medications and therapy. Therapy must be individualized for each patient to prevent reexperiencing the trauma which could be overwhelming.