You can free yourself from anxiety

Trauma can happen to anyone, and it can surface in many unforeseen ways.

As a Marine Corps veteran, I understand the emotional and mental health effects of combat. When you serve in the military, you can be exposed to different traumatic events than civilians, however, statistics show that PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) can impact veterans as well as the general population at almost the same rate. Seven out of 100 veterans will have PTSD, while six out of 100 adults will experience PTSD in their lifetime.

Trauma can happen to anyone, and it can surface in many unforeseen ways.

How do you know if the feelings you are experiencing are trauma-related? And how do you know if you need help from a mental health professional?

Many people just don’t know the impact of trauma. It can cause severe social, emotional, relationship and work-related problems.

Traumatic events can happen at any age, but a great deal of trauma arises during a child’s formative years and has lasting effects on mental and physical well-being.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adverse childhood experiences – potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood – are common. About 61 percent of adults surveyed across 25 states report they had an adverse childhood experience such as violence, abuse, neglect or substance use. One in six adults report four or more adverse childhood experiences.

Here is an example of an adverse childhood experience: a child behaves in a way that is unacceptable to the parent. The parent doesn’t just correct the child, which is expected, but also withdraws his/her love in words or actions, such as the “silent treatment” or criticism in order to “teach” the child a lesson. If the parent’s behavior is repeated, the child begins to see themselves as unacceptable. Think of it as a set of shaded glasses that the child now wears, that have been colored through his/her experience, affecting everything they see. This self-perception tends to follow the child well into adulthood and impacts every area of their life, especially in relationships.

Most parents are well-intentioned and have no clue that their words and actions can shape their child’s personality. They forget to see a situation through their child’s eyes. It is how the mind registers these events, which can have a lifelong impact on the child, their coping mechanisms and their view of life (through those shaded glasses). The brain is processing the information, interpreting it and storing it as a traumatic memory, which gradually can result in dysfunctional behavior. Relationships suffer, work life can suffer, and the individual’s sense of self is eroded. Each person’s experience is unique, but there are common symptoms.

Here are a few:

  • having intrusive thoughts, including flashbacks or nightmares
  • avoiding what brings back memories of your trauma (eg, people, places, objects)
  • hypervigilance, or being very aware of danger
  • being easily startled or “jumpy”
  • beginning to see yourself differently (with guilt, shame, low self-esteem)
  • feeling overwhelmed easily or having trouble controlling your emotions
  • experiencing stress-related physical symptoms (eg, headaches. nausea, sleeplessness)

How do you know if the symptoms you are experiencing require treatment?

Ask yourself:

  • “How am I feeling on most days?”
  • “Is there something that causes me anxiety often?”
  • “Is there something that bothers me on most days?”
  • “Why am I struggling in my relationships?”

Are you dismissing your feelings by saying, “this is life.” Are you assuming this is the way you have to live?

You don’t have to! Do not minimize what is bothering you, and don’t wait until you feel like you life is completely falling apart.

Clients come into my office and ask, “what’s wrong with me?” The question they should be asking is, “what happened to me?”

Trauma is less about the event and more about how you responded.

What can you do on your own to manage the symptoms of trauma:

  • Lean on loved ones for support.
  • Prioritize self-care. Eat healthy meals, get plenty of sleep, stay physically active and spend some time every day relaxing.
  • Be patient with yourself. Overcoming the effects of trauma will take time.

I work with clients through evidence-based interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which will help them identify their trauma so they can begin to learn strategies for changing unhealthy thoughts and behaviors to manage their trauma successfully. I also provide plenty of encouragement and support.

With proper treatment by a therapist trained in trauma therapy, many people can overcome its negative effects; experience an improved quality of life; enjoy a strong, healthy and solid relationship; and heal.

Why not take the time to free yourself from your anxiety or depression?