WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA
Psychological trauma, in its broadest definition, is a unique individual experience that causes us to develop mistaken beliefs about ourselves and our world. It is not the external, objective facts that determine if an event is traumatic, but your own emotional experience which can become fixed in both the body and the mind. These extraordinarily stressful events can leave you feeling that the world is unsafe and you are helpless in a dangerous world.
Therapist often divide trauma into two types: minor traumas, also called “small t” traumas and major or “big T” traumas. The “small t” traumas are those experiences that assault our feelings of competency and worth, they to occur over time and build upon one another. Some examples would be humiliation, shame, being bullied or ridiculed, being ostracized and emotional neglect or abuse. Examples of “big T” traumas are natural disasters, childhood physical, sexual abuse and emotional abuse, war experiences, rape, serious car accidents and violent losses. These are the traumas that can result in the symptoms associated with PTSD, which includes anxieties, phobias, flashbacks, nightmares, fears and difficulty with relationships both at work and home. All traumatic experiences affect our sense of competency and self-worth.
Situations that threaten our survival or our identities set off the fight, flight or freeze response. The theory is when we are traumatized what was experienced (the images, feelings, physical sensations and negative beliefs) get stuck in our body and mind, leaving us unable to find resolution from them. This means we can re-experience a bad feeling or belief about ourselves when we are exposed to similar situations.
Finding relief from traumatic memories can be life changing. Call or e-mail me to schedule a free 20 minute consultation.
To read more about Trauma click on this link:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm
Psychological trauma, in its broadest definition, is a unique individual experience that causes us to develop mistaken beliefs about ourselves and our world. It is not the external, objective facts that determine if an event is traumatic, but your own emotional experience which can become fixed in both the body and the mind. These extraordinarily stressful events can leave you feeling that the world is unsafe and you are helpless in a dangerous world.
Therapist often divide trauma into two types: minor traumas, also called “small t” traumas and major or “big T” traumas. The “small t” traumas are those experiences that assault our feelings of competency and worth, they to occur over time and build upon one another. Some examples would be humiliation, shame, being bullied or ridiculed, being ostracized and emotional neglect or abuse. Examples of “big T” traumas are natural disasters, childhood physical, sexual abuse and emotional abuse, war experiences, rape, serious car accidents and violent losses. These are the traumas that can result in the symptoms associated with PTSD, which includes anxieties, phobias, flashbacks, nightmares, fears and difficulty with relationships both at work and home. All traumatic experiences affect our sense of competency and self-worth.
Situations that threaten our survival or our identities set off the fight, flight or freeze response. The theory is when we are traumatized what was experienced (the images, feelings, physical sensations and negative beliefs) get stuck in our body and mind, leaving us unable to find resolution from them. This means we can re-experience a bad feeling or belief about ourselves when we are exposed to similar situations.
Finding relief from traumatic memories can be life changing. Call or e-mail me to schedule a free 20 minute consultation.
To read more about Trauma click on this link:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm
DEBORAH HAARSTAD, M.F.T.
License #MFC21007
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 484-7242
License #MFC21007
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 484-7242
