Causes Of Emotional Trauma And Its Effects On Mental Health
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Exploring the causes of emotional trauma & ways to address traumatic stress
Emotional trauma may occur when an individual experiences or witnesses abuse, or a terrible or horrific event. In many cases, emotional trauma can impact a person in undesirable ways if it's not dealt with in a healthy manner. We cover what trauma is, what may cause emotional trauma, and the best ways to work through it.
A closer look at emotional trauma
The American Psychological Association explains the many impacts that trauma can have on a human being. Initially, a person may feel shocked or in denial as they come to accept what happened. Experiencing trauma can trigger anxiety, overwhelm, or grief. A person may find themselves thinking and acting differently, and having more conflict in their relationships. Physical signs of stress, such as headaches, chest pain, and nausea, may begin.
Most people recover from traumatic events and regain emotional well-being, but some develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic stress disorder is a complex mental health condition that usually begins in the months after a traumatic event. Symptoms last at least a month and are severe enough to interfere with a person's work, relationships, or other aspects of daily life. People with post-traumatic stress disorder may have flashbacks of the event, recurring nightmares, distressing thoughts, or physical signs of stress. They may also avoid anything that reminds them of the traumatic event.
What causes emotional trauma?
Many different types of events can cause emotional trauma. We explore some of these below.
Traumatic experiences, such as emotional or physical violence
Experiencing or witnessing violence is traumatic for many people. Violent traumatic events may include engaging in combat as a military member, being a victim of a random act of violence, witnessing a terrorist attack, or experiencing sexual assault. After experiencing or witnessing violence, a person may continue to feel afraid, even though they aren't still in danger.
Abandonment
Abandonment can trigger emotional trauma, particularly if the individual has an intimate relationship with the person who abandoned them. Abandonment during childhood might be especially likely to lead to emotional trauma, as it can be an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Abandonment may refer to a loved one choosing to leave, or involuntarily leaving, such as by dying or being imprisoned.
People who have felt abandoned may develop a fear of being abandoned again in the future or even mental health disorders.
Trauma from abuse
Abuse occurs when one person exerts power over another in a way that causes harm. Abuse can happen among partners in a romantic relationship, between a parent and child, or in another type of relationship. Abuse may be inflicted through physical violence, or it may predominantly happen verbally or through emotional manipulation.
When a person is abused, they often feel vulnerable, helpless, and unsure of how to respond. Many people wonder if they did something to provoke the abuse or mistreatment. An abuser may take advantage of this line of thinking and blame the person they are abusing. However, experiencing abuse is never the fault of the person who was abused.
Traumatic events such as natural disasters and accidents
Natural disasters include tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, and more. Often, natural disasters are sudden and unexpected and cause great damage to people and property. Although not caused by nature, accidents, such as car crashes or other unexpected physical accidents, feel similar to being involved in or witnessing a natural disaster.
Even if a person is not personally injured in a disaster or accident, they may experience trauma from witnessing it. Seeing a disaster or accident can feel overwhelming and frightening, and people often need to find healthy ways to work through these feelings.
Working through emotional trauma caused by traumatic events and traumatic experiences
Emotional trauma presents a significant challenge, but that doesn’t mean it's impossible to work through or overcome. The process of recovering from trauma can take time, and each individual may develop their own way of working through past experiences that were upsetting or traumatic. That said, there are common ways of dealing with emotional trauma that can help with the recovery process.
Employ healthy coping mechanisms for psychological trauma
Practicing healthy coping mechanisms may help a person move through trauma. Ideally, these mechanisms should be constructive and promote a better quality of life. For example, exercising, spending time in nature, taking a recreational class, talking to friends, or engaging in a new artistic hobby may help calm a person who's undergone trauma.
By contrast, consuming drugs or alcohol or engaging in other destructive behaviors won't help a person move through trauma as well as healthy coping mechanisms will. Consuming unhealthy substances can even worsen the symptoms of trauma.
Trauma doesn't feel good, and many people want to get over their trauma quickly. However, the timeline of healing cannot be forced. Everyone works through past hurts and deals with emotions on their own timeline. The desire to return to normalcy is understandable, but people who are going through emotional trauma may need to give themselves time to heal. When emotional trauma is involved, focusing on your well-being is more important than rushing to recover.
Talk with a mental health professional
Experiencing emotional trauma can leave a person feeling confused, afraid, or alone.
Talking with a professional therapist is an evidence-based coping method for dealing with emotional trauma.
Address the causes of emotional trauma through online therapy
It's normal to have concerns or reservations about therapy, though, if you haven't experienced it before.
Many people trying therapy for the first time feel uncomfortable revealing intimate details about themselves to a stranger, especially in an in-person setting. For this reason, you may feel more comfortable attending therapy in an online setting. Online therapy is a convenient alternative to traditional, office-based therapy that can be attended from your home or anywhere you have an Internet connection.
Efficacy of online therapy for PTSD and other mental health concerns
Studies have repeatedly found that online therapy can effectively treat people with anxiety, PTSD, or other concerns related to trauma. For example, an overview of 19 research studies found that therapy conducted remotely helped people with PTSD. Specifically, participants experienced a reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms, along with an increase in quality of life.
Takeaway
What is the most common emotional trauma?
Being emotionally or verbally abused, especially through domestic violence, domestic violence in the home, or sexual abuse, is frequently reported as the most common source of trauma. Such harm often begins as childhood trauma, leaving lasting marks on children and shaping how those children process emotional pain later in life. Survivors usually describe trauma symptoms like hypervigilance and a persistent sense of feeling helpless, particularly when the mistreatment involves physical threats.
Psychological trauma symptoms like exhaustion, anxiety, and confusion can be normal reactions, but it’s often wise to seek help from a licensed mental health professional regarding any trauma-related symptoms or concerns.
What are the different types of trauma?
The different types of trauma typically include acute trauma, chronic trauma, developmental trauma, complex trauma, secondary trauma, historical trauma, big-T trauma, and little-T trauma. Examples range from a car accident, a plane crash, or a natural disaster to acts of sexual violence and sexual abuse. For some children, repeated childhood trauma or persistent childhood neglect leads to lifelong difficulties, while children who witness racial trauma may develop stressor-related disorders. Trauma can also stem from the sudden death of a loved one, a severe injury, or other forms of harm that leave lingering traumatic memories.
What are the effects of emotional trauma?
Emotional and psychological trauma can cause physical and emotional reactions. A natural reaction may include feeling confused, sad, or anxious, and some people might feel numb or dissociate. These are common reactions to distressing events like injury or death, especially when a person feels unprepared or overwhelmed by their own reactions. Delayed trauma symptoms can involve nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, depression, avoidance of triggers, and ongoing muscle tension or fatigue. A person may also experience intense emotional pain and start feeling helpless, particularly if they are unable to regulate their mood.
Sometimes, a person can develop post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing trauma. This disorder often comes with psychological symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of situations that remind an individual of the traumatic event. Long-term childhood trauma can lead to a particular subtype of PTSD called complex PTSD or C-PTSD, especially when the feeling of helplessness is prolonged and unresolved.
Is trauma caused by stress?
Trauma can be defined as the impact of high levels of toxic stress, especially when trauma happened in an unsafe environment or involved experiences like substance abuse, death, or violence. You can also think of trauma as the emotional response to a stressful event, such as witnessing or experiencing physical harm, especially in children, where feeling helpless or overwhelmed can lead to lasting effects. In some cases, people may develop PTSD or other mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, when these situations cause an intense feeling of fear or distress.
What is emotional trauma?
The American Psychological Association in resources related to the emotional trauma in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an car accident, rape, or natural disaster.” This definition highlights that emotional and psychological trauma can stem from sexual abuse, sexual violence, prolonged childhood neglect, and even chronic adversity faced by children. Resources such as the Mental Health Services Administration website offer additional plain-language explanations.
How do I know if I have trauma?
Deciding whether you have experienced trauma often involves a structured conversation with a clinician. The Mental Health Services Administration recommends starting with an accredited provider who can explain evidence-based treatment options. Core elements of treatment often include trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, and a support group. A main goal is trauma recovery, helping you process events and reduce substance abuse. Supportive steps like keeping a well-balanced diet, choosing to avoid alcohol, and making time to pursue hobbies can also be beneficial.
If the trauma involves a significant relationship, a trusted family member may attend sessions or help with childcare, especially in households with many children, so that children receive age-appropriate treatment and avoid self-blame. Early intervention after childhood neglect or a death is also important, as unresolved grief can worsen symptoms. If cost is an issue, online directories list sliding-scale clinics where qualified professionals offer professional help.
Seek help from a mental health professional for ways to respond to traumatic stress
A mental health professional can help you determine whether you’ve gone through traumatic experiences and how they may be affecting you. They can also guide you in learning how to respond to current traumatic stress and potential future trauma so that you can overcome it and heal more easily.
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