What You Should Know about Trauma Therapy: A Brief Guide

Most people are bound to undergo a traumatic experience at some point in their lives, but some don’t take active steps to heal from it, resulting in a significant decrease in their generally positive view of life. They may even hurt others who don’t mean any harm. Worse, it can have serious consequences on their mental health, which can lead to depression, social anxiety, and other similar complications. 

If you feel that some form of trauma has significantly affected your perspective on things, it would be best to consider trauma therapy or counselling. Since this could be your first time really digging deep into what you are going through, it is understandable to be slightly hesitant. Just pace yourself, don’t worry about new experiences, and use this guide as a starting point to getting to a better place. 

What Is Trauma and How Did I Acquire It? 

Trauma is a mental condition that is associated with an overwhelming circumstance or event, leading to a state of fear, anguish, helplessness, and even anger. Most of the time, those who undergo traumatic experiences wish something else happened but were forced to witness something unfortunate instead. It can be one of the following: 

• Abuse during childhood by parents
• Bullying by fellow students
• Harsh breakups with a romantic partner
• Sexual assault 
• Major surgeries and medical conditions
• Losing a dear loved one (friend or family member) 
• Being caught in a tragedy (e.g., natural disaster, car accident)

Take note that trauma can also be something deep in your subconscious that may have been forgotten or blocked out because you were forced to repress it. Think of this as a coping mechanism, which may have been proper at the time but still comes out in other forms. Fortunately, many counsellors are equipped to deal with these difficult situations through talk therapy and other methods, allowing them to find out the root cause of your trauma. 

Why Do I Need to Seek Trauma Counselling Services? 

Trauma counselling and other forms of therapy are necessary since it is possible that going through processing alone is not healthy. Once you seek further help, it is normal to feel ashamed or get into a self-deprecating mindset, but this is all part of the process. This way, you have better control over your emotions, actions, and even negative flashbacks. 

What Are the Common Signs of Unhealed Trauma? 

Your trauma can manifest itself through cognitive, behavioural, and physical means. Cognitive signs are mostly mind-related difficulties, like feeling sad and angry because of a trigger. Consequently, your mood or behaviour around people can change drastically, leading you to act impulsively, like punching someone or locking yourself in the closet. Physical manifestations are generally linked to heart palpitations, fatigue, and insomnia. Take note of these signs, which can happen all at once, affecting your overall capacity to meet daily obligations. 

Conclusion 

Going through traumatic experiences can be tough, but therapy can provide the necessary interventions to make significant breakthroughs. It can even improve your general outlook on life, allowing you to be more self-assured and ready to take control of your destiny. Just trust the process and seek professional counselling near you. 

Chettiar Counselling & Associates can provide you with reliable trauma counselling in Guelph. Our team of professionals offers a non-judgmental space to ensure individuals like you can move past these unsettling emotions and thoughts. Consider signing up for online counselling by booking through our website or contacting 519-766-8292 for more information.