The Impact of Trauma on Your Health
Learn more about trauma and your health from EMDR therapist, Alexia Eller, LMSW as share more about the connection between the trauma and the physical body.
Trauma can be a variety of things in different areas of life, SAMSHA describes trauma as an event or circumstance resulting in physical harm, emotional harm, and/or life-threatening harm. Trauma does not discriminate towards any age, gender, race, socioeconomic status or ethnicity.
Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event for one individual may not have lasting effects on them, but for others it is possible that it can impact them negatively and cause different stress reactions (1). SAMSHA suggest that research shows those who experience mental health conditions, substance use and other risky behaviors can be linked with a traumatic event.
Ways that trauma impacts our health:
Isolation - Sometimes we seclude ourselves from others without realizing it to avoid certain external stimuli that may trigger us into feeling like we are reliving that event we want to get away from.
Impact the stress response system - When we face danger, the body releases stress hormones to prepare us to either fight, flight or freeze so we can survive, but when trauma is present it can have detrimental effects on our health.
Psychological Struggles - Experiencing a traumatic event can cause our minds to have distressing dreams, flashbacks or avoid other thoughts closely related to the event.
Unhealthy behaviors - Sometimes those who have survived a horrific event struggle with a range of emotions including depression and anxiety that can lead to choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or feeling dependent on others continuously.
So how do we break that chain reaction of going down into other risky behaviors or choices with our relationships, jobs, friends, family and other areas of our lives? Exploring healing can be key for some individuals who experience trauma, whether it is a one time event or recurrent situation. Some therapeutic interventions such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have been proven to be helpful in assisting individuals with overcoming the trauma symptoms they are experiencing. Therapy can provide healing and positive impacts on long-term health outcomes by creating positive coping skills and gaining support from others who may have endured a similar event as you.
If you feel that you are having a negative impact on your health that could be trauma related and want to explore that in a safe environment with a licensed professional, feel free to reach out to our office, whether online therapy, group therapy or in person at our Arlington, TX based therapy office. We have options to meet your needs. Connect with a member of our team today.
