Trauma
Online Alcohol/Drug Treatment & Mental Health Counseling
Newark, Ohio, Columbus Area Telehealth Therapist
Trauma can have a profound impact on our lives, affecting our relationships and emotional well-being. Located in the Columbus area, Newark, Ohio, if you are seeking trauma counseling, I am an experienced therapist here to help you on your healing journey. My personalized treatment approach is designed to address the unique challenges that trauma survivors face, allowing you to rebuild relationships and express emotions in a healthy and meaningful way.
One of the common challenges faced by trauma survivors is difficulty with emotional expression. The intense emotions that arise from trauma can be overwhelming and make it challenging to regulate emotions effectively. Our therapist will work with you to identify and articulate your emotions, providing you with the tools and techniques to express yourself in a healthy manner.
Trauma can also significantly impact attachment styles and intimacy. Survivors may develop insecure attachment patterns, leading to a fear of abandonment or a tendency to distance themselves from others. Our therapist will help you navigate these challenges, supporting you in forming and maintaining healthy and secure relationships. Through therapy, you can learn to trust others again and cultivate deep bonds.
Seeking help for trauma recovery is crucial for your overall well-being. As a compassionate therapist in Newark, OH, serving the Columbus area, I am ready to provide you with the support and guidance you need. Begin your healing journey today by contacting me. Together, we can help you heal from trauma, rebuild relationships, and reclaim a sense of connection and security in your life.
Trauma's impact on relationships
Trauma can have a significant impact on relationships and emotional expression. When someone experiences trauma, it can affect their ability to form and maintain healthy relationships, trust others, and feel safe in social situations. This can lead to isolation, loneliness, and a sense of disconnection from others.
Trauma can also affect emotional expression. People who have experienced trauma may have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions, or they may experience intense emotions that feel overwhelming and difficult to control. They may also struggle to regulate their emotional responses to stressful situations, which can lead to emotional outbursts or emotional shutdowns.
In addition, trauma can impact a person's attachment style, which is the way they form and maintain close relationships. People who have experienced trauma may develop an insecure attachment style, which can manifest as a fear of abandonment or a tendency to push others away. They may also struggle with intimacy and have difficulty forming close bonds with others.
Overall, trauma can have a significant impact on a person's ability to form and maintain healthy relationships and express their emotions. It's essential to seek help if you have experienced trauma and are struggling with its effects on your relationships and emotional well-being. Therapy and other supportive measures can help you heal from trauma and improve your ability to connect with others and express your emotions in a healthy way.
Trauma Safety.pdfChildhood trauma
Childhood trauma can have a significant impact on a person's functioning later in life.
Traumatic experiences during childhood can affect the development of the brain, especially in areas related to emotional regulation, self-esteem, and social skills.
People who have experienced childhood trauma may struggle with a range of emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and difficulties with relationships. They may also have difficulty regulating their emotions, managing stress, and coping with adversity. Childhood trauma can also have physical effects, including chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and other health problems. In addition, people who have experienced trauma may have difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships, which can lead to isolation and further emotional distress.
It's essential to seek help if you have experienced childhood trauma and are struggling with its effects. Treatment may include therapy, medication, and other supportive measures that can help you heal from the trauma and improve your functioning and overall quality of life.
Trauma impact
Trauma can have many physical effects on a person's health, some of which may not be immediately apparent. Here are some potential unknown physical effects of trauma:
1. Chronic pain: Childhood trauma can contribute to chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia, headaches, and back pain. Trauma can trigger physical changes in the body that make a person more susceptible to pain.
2. Cardiovascular disease: Childhood trauma has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. This may be due to the impact of trauma on the body's stress response system, which can lead to inflammation and other changes that contribute to cardiovascular problems.
3. Autoimmune disorders: Childhood trauma has also been linked to autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Trauma can trigger changes in the immune system that make a person more susceptible to these conditions.
4. Gastrointestinal problems: Childhood trauma can contribute to gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive disorders. Trauma can affect the gut-brain axis, which can lead to changes in gut function and contribute to these conditions.
5. Sleep problems: Childhood trauma can also contribute to sleep problems, such as insomnia and nightmares. Trauma can disrupt the body's stress response system, which can lead to sleep disturbances.
Fight or flight
The "fight or flight" response is a natural physiological response to a perceived threat or danger. It is an automatic survival mechanism that is controlled by a part of the brain called the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system.
When the amygdala perceives a threat, it sends a signal to the hypothalamus, which activates
the sympathetic nervous system. This triggers the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which cause a variety of physiological changes in the body. These changes include increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, increased blood sugar levels, and heightened sensory perception. This prepares the body to either fight the threat or flee from it.
In addition to activating the fight or flight response, the amygdala also plays a role in emotional processing and memory. Traumatic events can cause the amygdala to become hyperactive, leading to an exaggerated or prolonged fight or flight response.
This can contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as the brain continues to perceive a threat even when there is no actual danger present.
Overall, the fight or flight response is a complex and adaptive physiological response that helps us respond to threats and stay safe. However, in some cases, it can also contribute to the development of mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and PTSD.
Trauma stages
The trauma response is a set of physiological, emotional, and behavioral reactions that occur in response to a traumatic event. Simplified, it can be broken down into three stages:
1. Fight, flight, or freeze response: When faced with a threat or danger, the body activates the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the "fight or flight" response. This can involve increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones. In some cases, the body may also enter a state of freeze, where the person feels immobilized or unable to act.
2. Emotional response: Trauma can also cause intense emotional reactions, such as fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, or shame. These emotions can be overwhelming and may interfere with the person's ability to function normally.
3. Long-term effects: For some people, the effects of trauma can persist long after the event has passed. This can include symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, emotional numbness, and difficulty trusting others.
It's important to note that the trauma response can vary widely from person to person, and not everyone will experience all of these symptoms. Additionally, the severity and duration of the trauma response can also vary depending on the individual and the nature of the traumatic event.
Using EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach that has been used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders. It involves a series of standardized procedures that incorporate eye movements, sounds, or taps to stimulate the brain while the person recalls the traumatic event. The goal of EMDR is to facilitate the reprocessing of the traumatic memory in a way that reduces the associated distress and symptoms.
During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client through a series of eye movements or other sensory stimuli while they recall the traumatic memory. This process is repeated until the intensity of the distress associated with the memory is reduced. The therapist may also ask the client to focus on positive thoughts or beliefs to help them reframe the memory in a more positive light.
Flash EMDR is a technique that involves using brief sensory interrupting stimuli, such as blinking, tapping, calm scene, to create a shift in the client's attention. This can be useful in helping the client to process the unprocessed traumatic memory and reduce the associated distress. Flash EMDR is typically used in conjunction with other EMDR techniques, such as eye movements or bilateral sounds.
The exact mechanism by which EMDR and flash EMDR process trauma is not yet fully understood. However, it is believed that the eye movements and other sensory stimuli used in EMDR help to activate the brain's natural processing mechanisms, allowing the person to reprocess the traumatic memory and integrate it into their broader memory network in a less distressing way. EMDR may also help to reduce the emotional charge associated with the traumatic memory, allowing the person to move on from the experience and regain a sense of control over their life.
Tim Welch, LPCC, NCC, MAC, BC-TMH
Licensed for Telehealth in Ohio & Florida.
Tim@twelch.com
Newark, Ohio Licking County Online Individual Alcohol Counseling, Drug Counseling, EMDR, CBT, Anxiety, Depression & Mental Health Therapy.